Hi Pat,
You are right! It’s important to try and build partnerships with various stakeholder groups (community, regional, national, and even global)–you can begin reaching out very early on, inviting key stakeholders to attend workshops, ‘information meetings’, launch events, etc.
You will most likely need to provide different opportunities for participation and establish multiple informal and formal advisory mechanisms for different groups over the course of the trial.
Remember that national stakeholders are often just as important on the priority grid as community stakeholders, because gaining the support and ‘buy-in’ from government or key leaders can help your site establish credibility with other stakeholders.
You will also want to discuss roles and expectations of stakeholders with the individuals themselves, using educational events or meetings to build literacy and at the same time incorporate their feedback about the overall engagement plan.
What do others think?
