Engaging

Engaging Support

Now that you have a clear understanding of the relevant stakeholders, structures and resources available for integration, you are ready to engage stakeholders in the design, implementation and evaluation of the program. Setting up structures and mechanisms for continuous engagement prior to design and implementation will help ensure a more successful program.

Encouraging Buy-in

The stakeholder analysis should give you an understanding of the varying levels of support for the integrated SBCC program. Stakeholders will likely fit into one of four categories. Those who:

• believe strongly in the need for integration and are committed to bringing it to fruition;
• accept the idea of integration in principle but fail to demonstrate it in practice;
• express doubts about integration and are not yet fully bought in; or
• adamantly oppose the integration.

It may be necessary to advocate for an integrated SBCC approach to ensure broad support for your project. Clearly demonstrating the potential benefits of integration before the design and implementation of the project can help ensure a more successful project and decrease the need to continually make the case for integration throughout the project.