Manual of stakeholder mapping and engagement (D5.1)

Deliverable 5.1: This deliverable summarises and discusses the strategy of B-WaterSmart for stakeholder mapping and engagement. It is aligned with the constitution of the Communities of Practice (CoP), as well as the strategic vision of the Living Labs (LL), and the water-smartness definition of the project. The objective of this manual is to offer detailed guidance that can be applied to projects on water sustainability and circular economy, in support of a broad engagement of social and institutional actors, as well as mutual learning and the co-creation of innovative sustainable solutions. This will require the integration of diverse sources of knowledge, social and economic concerns, taking into account the diversity of territories in Europe, and ultimately contributing towards climate adaptation and innovative models of governance, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SGD), the Green Deal, the Paris Agreement and the plan Next Generation EU. The manual, which is aimed at a broad audience – including policy-makers, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGO), and the public at large – provides an introduction to the key current challenges in the fields of water and sustainability; summarises the best practices, and offers guidance on mapping stakeholders in projects related to sustainability and circular economy, and finally offers recommendations and useful references for planning a process of stakeholder engagement across these fields and beyond.