In carrying out a stakeholder analysis, it is important to consider a diverse range of SDG16+ stakeholders including the following:¹

• National government – including the executive (cabinet, ministers/ministries and interministerial committees), the legislature, and law and justice institutions;
• Sub-national governments – including state authorities, district bodies and local councils;
• Non-governmental actors – including accountability institutions (Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs), National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), ombudspersons, etc.); academic institutions and think tanks, civil society (CSOs, NGOs, CBOs, trade unions, vulnerable groups, etc.), the private sector and the media; and
• International actors – including UN agencies, funds, programs and country teams, as well as financial actors (the World Bank, IMF and regional development banks).

After identifying relevant stakeholders, you should reflect upon the importance of each one, the power they have to influence SDG16+ implementation and follow-up and review, their capacities, their needs and their current openness to engagement. The ‘Stakeholder Analysis Grid’ on the following page provides a template to help you undertake some of this analysis.

Following your analysis, you should categorize stakeholders into the following groups: 

1. Targets – Those stakeholders who are key decision-makers and have the power to impact SDG16+ implementation or follow-up and review, recognizing that targets will include both allies and opponents who will require different approaches for engagement; ²

2. Champions – Those stakeholders who are willing to help you move the SDG16+ agenda forward, recognizing that some ‘champions’ may also be ‘targets.’ Identifying and investing in individuals who will champion SDG16+ are essential to influencing and motivating others to see the value of the agenda; ³

3. Opponents – Those stakeholders who oppose the SDG16+ agenda or pose significant challenges or obstacles to achieving SDG16+ objectives. Strategies for dealing with opponents can include trying to persuade them to support your position or encouraging them to adopt a neutral position in relation to the changes you wish to see; and
4. Partners – Those stakeholders with whom you can partner in formal or informal networks, coalitions or alliances in order to advance SDG16+. While working in partnership has many advantages, it can also be challenging at times given that partners may have different priorities, constituents and resources. ⁴ Ensure that collaboration to achieve SDG16+ enables sustained action on the SDG16+ agenda and doesn’t become an end in itself. ³