🎭 Stakeholder Identification Template

Systematically brainstorm and categorize all relevant stakeholders across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. This template builds directly from your Problem Tree Analysis to identify who can validate, challenge, and enrich your understanding.

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🔗 Building from Your Problem Tree

Connect to Lesson 1.1

Remember those assumptions you marked with (A) in your Problem Tree Analysis? Each assumption points to specific stakeholders who can provide validation:

From Root Causes (A) → Who understands why this problem exists?
From Core Problem (A) → Who experiences this problem directly?
From Effects (A) → Who sees the consequences of this problem?

Use your Problem Tree as a stakeholder discovery map - every branch suggests people you need to engage.

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🎯 The Three Stakeholder Categories

Primary Stakeholders (Directly Affected)

Definition: People who experience the problem directly or will be directly affected by your project outcomes.

What they provide:

• Lived experience and practical insights
• Understanding of daily realities and coping strategies
• Perspective on what solutions would actually work
• Cultural context and community dynamics

Identification Prompts:

• Who faces this problem every day?
• Who would benefit most if this problem were solved?
• Whose lives would change with your intervention?
• Who has been trying to cope with this problem?

Secondary Stakeholders (Influence or Expertise)

Definition: People with significant power to influence outcomes, relevant expertise, or resources your project needs.

What they provide:

• Technical expertise and professional insights
• Institutional knowledge and historical context
• Access to resources, permissions, or partnerships
• Validation of your approach from credible sources

Identification Prompts:

• Who makes decisions about this issue?
• Who has tried to solve this before?
• Who controls relevant resources or budgets?
• Who has specialized knowledge about this problem?

Tertiary Stakeholders (Indirect Interest)

Definition: People with some interest or influence but not central to your immediate project focus.

What they provide:

• Broader context and connections
• Potential future partnerships or support
• Understanding of wider system dynamics
• Awareness of potential unintended consequences

Identification Prompts:

• Who might be indirectly affected by changes?
• Who works on related but different issues?
• Who might become important later in the project?
• Who influences public opinion on this topic?

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📋 Stakeholder Identification Worksheet

Step 1: Brainstorm Comprehensively

Use these sector-agnostic prompting questions to ensure you don’t miss anyone:

WHO EXPERIENCES THE PROBLEM?
□ Direct victims/affected populations
□ Family members and caregivers
□ Community members in affected areas
□ Future generations who will inherit consequences

WHO HAS TRIED TO ADDRESS IT?
□ Other nonprofits and NGOs
□ Government programs and agencies
□ Community-based organizations
□ International development partners

WHO HAS POWER TO CHANGE IT?
□ Policy makers and legislators
□ Department heads and directors
□ Community leaders and elders
□ Funding organizations

WHO HAS EXPERTISE ABOUT IT?
□ Academic researchers
□ Technical specialists
□ Field practitioners
□ Traditional knowledge holders

WHO MIGHT OPPOSE SOLUTIONS?
□ Those who benefit from status quo
□ Competing interest groups
□ Those who fear change
□ Resource competitors

WHO COULD BE ALLIES?
□ Organizations with aligned missions
□ Champions within institutions
□ Community advocates
□ Media and influencers

Step 2: Categorize Your Stakeholders

Category	Stakeholder Name/Group	Specific Role	How to Reach	Validation They Can Provide
PRIMARY
Example	Rural women farmers	Experience low yields	Village meetings	Validate causes of productivity gaps
SECONDARY
Example	Agricultural Extension Officer	Provides technical support	District office	Validate technical assumptions
TERTIARY
Example	Local media outlets	Cover agricultural issues	Email/phone	Context on public perception

Step 3: Map to Your Problem Tree Assumptions

For each assumption (A) in your Problem Tree, identify which stakeholders can validate it:

Problem Tree Element	Assumption to Validate	Relevant Stakeholders	Validation Method
Root Cause	Limited access to credit	Microfinance institutions, farmers	Interviews, loan data
Core Problem	40% yield reduction	Farmers, extension officers	Field measurements, records
Effect	Reduced household income	Families, local markets	Household surveys

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🌍 Sector-Specific Examples

Health Sector Example

Core Problem: High maternal mortality in rural areas

Primary Stakeholders:

• Pregnant women and new mothers
• Traditional birth attendants
• Family members making health decisions
• Community health volunteers

Secondary Stakeholders:

• Health facility staff (nurses, midwives, doctors)
• District health officers
• Ministry of Health officials
• Health-focused NGOs and partners

Tertiary Stakeholders:

• Religious leaders influencing health choices
• Transport unions (emergency transport)
• Local government (infrastructure)
• Women’s groups and associations

Education Sector Example

Core Problem: High dropout rates among adolescent girls

Primary Stakeholders:

• Adolescent girls (in and out of school)
• Parents and guardians
• Male students (peer dynamics)
• Out-of-school youth

Secondary Stakeholders:

• Teachers and school administrators
• Parent-Teacher Associations
• Education ministry officials
• Youth-serving organizations

Tertiary Stakeholders:

• Employers (future workforce)
• Religious and cultural leaders
• Health services (adolescent health)
• Child protection services

Environmental Sector Example

Core Problem: Deforestation in protected watershed

Primary Stakeholders:

• Communities dependent on forest resources
• Farmers needing agricultural land
• Indigenous peoples with traditional rights
• Downstream water users

Secondary Stakeholders:

• Forest department officials
• Environmental protection agencies
• Conservation organizations
• Local government authorities

Tertiary Stakeholders:

• Tourism operators
• Climate change organizations
• Academic researchers
• International environmental funders

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✅ Quality Check for Stakeholder Identification

Diversity Assessment

• Have you included different genders, ages, and abilities?
• Are marginalized voices represented?
• Do you have both supporters and potential critics?
• Have you considered different geographic areas?

Completeness Check

• Did you identify stakeholders for each Problem Tree assumption?
• Have you included decision-makers at different levels?
• Are there stakeholders who could block your project if not engaged?
• Did you consider indirect beneficiaries and those negatively affected?

Relationship Mapping

• Do you understand existing relationships between stakeholders?
• Have you identified potential conflicts of interest?
• Are there natural allies you could bring together?
• Do you know who influences whom?

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💡 Pro Tips for Stakeholder Identification

Avoid Common Blind Spots

1. The Invisible Stakeholders: Those who are affected but have no voice (future generations, non-human life, the extremely marginalized)
2. The Unexpected Opposition: Those who might lose power, resources, or status if your project succeeds
3. The Hidden Influencers: Behind-the-scenes decision makers, traditional authorities, informal leaders
4. The Service Providers: Those who currently provide (inadequate) solutions and might see you as competition

Use Snowball Identification

At the end of every stakeholder conversation, ask:

• “Who else should we be talking to about this?”
• “Who really understands this issue?”
• “Who has the power to make changes?”
• “Who might have a different perspective?”

Consider Stakeholder Evolution

Stakeholders can shift categories over time:

• Low interest can become high interest when they see benefits
• Tertiary stakeholders might become primary if project scope expands
• Opponents can become allies with proper engagement
• Plan for these shifts in your engagement strategy

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📥 Next Steps

After completing your stakeholder identification:

1. Move to the Power-Interest Analysis Grid to prioritize your engagement
2. Revisit your Problem Tree to ensure all assumptions have corresponding stakeholders
3. Begin planning your engagement approach using the Engagement Planning Worksheet
4. Prepare your questions using the Interview Question Bank

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Remember: Stakeholder identification is iterative. As you engage with initial stakeholders, they’ll help you identify others you may have missed. Keep your stakeholder map as a living document throughout your project.