How to set up and manage a town-level multistakeholder forum : a step-by-step guide

Guide developed within the Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Building in the Lake Victoria Region Water and Sanitation Initiative, based on UN-HABITAT’s own learning and experiences gained in the first phase of the Initiative. Current thinking on multi-stakeholder partnerships and the experiences and practices of other development partners are also used to illustrate some points. The Guide is intended to help new towns in the second phase of the Lake Victoria Initiative to get started in developing and managing effective multi-stakeholder partnerships. The town-level multi-stakeholder forum is also designed to involve town residents in citywide issues, including the improvement of municipal governance. The users of the Guide are encouraged to be flexible in developing multi-stakeholder partnerships in line with their local needs and resources. The Guide includes five steps: 1: Mobilize and sensitize stakeholders; 2: Establish a multi-stakeholder forum; 3: Establish thematic working groups; 4: Develop a project monitoring plan; and 5: Implement the monitoring plan. For the multi-stakeholder forum to be effective in improving governance at the municipal level, it should be formally recognized by the local government. The recognition provides both democratic accountability and a close link with the official activities of the local government