Presentation by Kahara Kubai26th September, 2014

Principles:Co-Existential Approach: The project is operating in a shared ecosystem characterized by multiple stakeholders, interests and motivations.Circle of Concern: The stakeholders are not a problem to be dealt with. Rather they constitute a circle of concern and their concerns are legitimate.Conflict over competing interests and values is inevitable and should be constructively resolved.Public Dialogue and Conversation: Stakeholders should be talked with, not talked to or at.

Profile baseline conditions. Profiling should provide information on:Social-political environment (political context, institutional structure arrangements and capacity, demographic trends, socio-economics, land ownership and uses, current conditions and trends); local economics; descriptions and analyses of existing social and cultural values;Attitudes and perceptions towards the project;This should partially inform the development of framework for engagement and needs assessment.

Develop a strategic map of actors, interests and motivations: The map should be based on a hierarchy of actors. Level one: Top leadership (National government agencies, County government, Member(s) of parliament).Level two: Middle-range leadership (respected religious leaders, Non-governmental organizations, influential professional organizations and business associations)Level Three: Grassroots leadership (Project Affected Persons (PAPs), local community leaders and organized groups).

Develop a clear and fair framework for compensation and Resettlement: The framework should be based on consultation and negotiations with stakeholders.It should provide for: Independent valuation of land and other resources, A clear criteria on who qualifies to be resettled and compensated;Transparent structures for disbursing compensation;Support and capacity building of Projected Affected Persons (PAPs). It should include financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, psycho-social support and restoration of livelihood strategies). Procedures for dispute resolution.

A Framework for benefit sharing: The PAPs should have a stake in the project either directly through a trust aimed at investing in provision of public goods or indirectly through guarantee that they will be provided with affordable access to electricity.A Framework for conflict management and engaging stakeholders formal and informal structures. It should be founded:Inclusion and engagement.Negotiation and mediation.Respect and transparency.Resolution orientation.Sustainable relationships.

A Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility :The CSR should be well defined and proactive based on consultations, inclusion and needs assessment. It should aim at:Creating new value for the community ( e.g. entrepreneurial capacity building and economic empowerment)Control of negative consequences of the project (e.g. environmental degradation, HIV/AIDs)Investment in shared public goods (e.g. in education, health, access to clean water)The CSR should have be credible and subjected to continuous monitoring to ensure goals are met and problems identified early. Also it should not incentivize the public to make unreasonable demands.

Strong Grievance Handling Mechanism: A well structured grievance handling mechanism. It should include stakeholders during its designing stage and should have the following attributes:Understandable and culturally appropriateResolution oriented and restorativeAimed at creating sustainable relationships-this is a long term project and must maintain credibility and legitimacy throughout its lifecycle.

Expeditious and responsiveFair and respectfulAfford appropriate protection to complainantsContinuous monitoring of the process and follow up mechanismsOnce in place, the mechanism should be publicized to make the community aware of its existence.

A Transparent multimedia Communication System: It should deliver information which is Reliable and credibleComprehensibleTimely Adequate and; Captures both the positive and negative impacts of the project

Among the challenges, critical ones include:Spoilers and Rent seekers.Resettlement and compensation.Negative politicization and misinformation.Highly litigious environment which can hold the project back for a long term.Extreme demands from the PAPs.