Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Lecture #1
What is Stakeholder Dialogue
and why is it important?
Warsaw, Poland
November 19th 2012
Phil Richardson
Galson
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Outline
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What is Dialogue?

Why is it important?

Some Definitions

Who is a Stakeholder?
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Dialogue as part of a step-wise process
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Levels of engagement
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Principles and basic components of an engagement strategy
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

What is stakeholder dialogue/involvement?
The NEA/OECD Forum on stakeholder confidence defines stakeholder
involvement as:

“An integral part of a stepwise process of decision making. At different
phases, involvement may take the form of sharing information, consulting,
dialoguing, or deliberating on decisions.

It should be seen always as a meaningful part of formulating and
implementing good policy. Stakeholder involvement techniques should not
be viewed as convenient tools for ‘public relations’, image-building, or
winning acceptance for a decision taken behind closed doors.”
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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Why is dialogue important?

To help develop better solutions acceptable to all
parties, by incorporating public values and
concerns into decision making

To build trust, in both the process and the
organisations involved

To gain community support for a project

To help counter external opposition to the project

To inform (don’t use the term ‘educate!) the public
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Some Definitions related to Stakeholder Involvement
Communication
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A one way process involving giving or disseminating information
Engagement
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A two way process where both parties speak but also listen
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Some Definitions related to Stakeholder Involvement
Dialogue

Dialogue can be defined as interaction and mutual learning. Parties (often
traditionally opposing) are brought together for the purpose of finding common
ground, redefining the terms in which they operate, identifying areas of
agreement and disagreement, and, crucially, developing enhanced
understanding of each other and of potential ways forward.
Consultation

Consultation is the opportunity for stakeholders (variously defined) to comment
upon issues and proposals during the course of their development. Crucially,
consultation implies that the power to make decisions, and the extent to which
comments are taken into account, remains at the discretion of the authorising
institution.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Deliberation

Deliberation is a form of discourse, theoretically and ideologically requiring
ideal conditions of equality of access and justification of arguments.
Deliberation involves reasoned debate between relevant actors. It draws on a
notion of procedural legitimacy, that is, if the conditions for deliberation are
fulfilled, then the outcomes are the best possible. Deliberation is largely
associated with models of deliberative democracy,
Participation

The degree of public participation in decision-making depends on the amount
of power transferred from the responsible authority to the public. Although the
word is used loosely to indicate taking part in a process, and although
participation can take place solely through taking account of a wider range of
views, the strong sense infers participation in taking decisions, not merely in
consultation on those decisions.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Who is a stakeholder?

Stakeholders are generally defined as those who have a specific interest in
a given issue or decision.

This group can include the general public.

There are normally two types of stakeholders: internal and external and
each plays a vital role. They can also be referred to as statutory and nonstatutory stakeholders

Internal (statutory) stakeholders are those involved in the decision making
process.

External (non-statutory) stakeholders are those most often affected by the
potential outcome of the project, either directly, or emotionally.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Who is a stakeholder?

IAEA
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The IAEA Handbook on Nuclear Law [IAEA 2003] states that: “Owing
to the differing views on who has a genuine interest in a particular
nuclear related activity, no authoritative definition of stakeholder has
yet been offered, and no definition is likely to be accepted by all
parties. However, stakeholders have typically included the following:
the regulated industry or professionals; scientific bodies;
governmental agencies (local, regional and national) whose
responsibilities arguably cover nuclear energy; the media; the public
(individuals, community groups and interest groups); and other
States (especially neighbouring States that have entered into
agreements providing for an exchange of information concerning
possible trans-boundary impacts, or States involved in the export or
import of certain technologies or material)”.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Who is a stakeholder?

OECD/NEA

The Forum on Stakeholder Confidence identifies a stakeholder as - “any
actor-institution, group or individual with an interest in or a role to play
in the societal decision making process”

Basically, anyone is a stakeholder who feels affected by a
project
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This can cause problems if they are left out!

Research who should be involved!
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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Stakeholder Categories
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Political and economic

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Environmental
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Environmental regulators, local community, NGO’s.
Social

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Government, local community, funding bodies
Local community, business groups, community groups
Technical
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Nuclear regulator, R&D institutions, universities.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Example of stakeholder groups from the UK
Academia and
learned
societies
Media
Society
CoRWM
Industry and
the supply
chain
International
Governments
Local
Government
NDA Staff
NGOs
Overseas
organisations
Regulators
Trade unions
UK
Government
and Devolved
Governments
Volunteer
communities
Statutory
consultees
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Should be part of a step-wise process
Recognised by IAEA in 2000 at the 44th Session of the IAEA General
Conference that:


technological solutions to the safe management of radioactive waste
exist, but public acceptance is needed;
a structured participatory process is needed for decision making;

consensus of all parties is unlikely and therefore a formal, transparent
decision making process with public participation is essential;

the decision making process needs to be step wise with the ability to
reverse decisions at a later stage;
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“INSAG has concluded that the expectations of
stakeholders of a right to participate in energy
decisions are something that the nuclear
community must address.
Decisions regarding such matters as the siting
and construction of a nuclear power plant are
no longer largely the domain of a closed
community of technical experts and utility
executives.
Today, the concerns and expectations of all
manner of persons and organizations — from
the local farmer to the international financial
institution — must be considered.”
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Levels of Engagement

Non-Interactive
 Inform: Selected information is
provided by the implementer to the
public in order to assist them in
understanding the problem,
alternatives, opportunities and/or
solutions under consideration
 Listen: The implementer listens to
the public feedback on analysis,
alternatives and decisions and
receives complaints, protest and
criticism
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
Levels of Engagement

Interactive
 Consult/Exchange: The public are


asked to discuss the problem with
the implementer and to add their
ideas and concerns, in order to
develop an overview of existing
arguments and perspectives
Collaborate: The public are able to
formulate propositions and
recommendations. They take an
active role in generating new ideas,
developing alternatives and
identifying the best solution to a
problem
Joint Decision-making: The public
are empowered to take part in the
final decision-making
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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Underlying Principles of an Engagement Strategy
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Be flexible and take account of local and national cultural norms, do not blindly apply
processes from elsewhere
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Recognise that stakeholder definitions vary from country to country
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Appreciate that many people have no experience of involvement in decision-making
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Demonstrate accountability (who is responsible for what?)
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Be clear about the purpose and indicate clearly where influence is possible
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Identify and understand stakeholder concerns from the beginning
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Build trust
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Practice openness and transparency
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Allow the strategy to evolve with time and experience
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Allow sufficient time (it always takes longer than expected!)
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
•
Key Stages
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Define the Purpose
Plan the programme
Review the plan
Promote the programme
Provide information
Consult
Participate
Extend participation
Compile input to decision
Feedback
Evaluate the programme
More in the next lecture…….
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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•
•
Can Engagement Go Wrong?
Yes

Some groups may purposely obstruct the process.

Can lead to longer project timescales and costs.

Can sometimes lead to decisions that go against the decision
maker.
However;

Important that the decision ultimately lies with the decision maker
who is accountable for that decision.

There are many examples of where avoiding engagement has
caused greater problems.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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Finally

There is not necessarily one single approach – communication with
stakeholders is generally nation and culture specific.

The level of stakeholder engagement should reflect the complexity of the
problem in hand.

Proper identification of stakeholders and their interests/concerns/aspirations
is the key to success.

Effective dialogue needs time and money (it may lead to delays in your
project).

Listen to your stakeholders by establishing a two way process and gain
trust.
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Lessons Learnt in the Area of Stakeholder Dialogue to Strengthen
National Competencies for Radioactive Waste Disposal
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