[rts] Stakeholders, priorities, methodologies

[Paul Starkey]

Paul Starkey, Consultant and author of 'Local transport solutions'
(background paper to this discussion) and co-author of the forthcoming paper
on Rural Transport Services.

We have had three new suggestions for organisations that need to be included
as stakeholders in rural transport services (Health, Education, Justice).
These are clearly associated with rural transport and are important to
poverty alleviation, national development and the preservation of rights.
Should we also add the many other government ministries, rural services and
related private concerns that might also be considered stakeholders (eg,
post and communications, employment/labour, power, housing, women's affairs,
youth, environment, commerce, water, mines, forestry, etc). Rural transport
is so important and fundamental that large numbers of organisations and
individuals can rightly be considered stakeholders. They deserve to be
included in participatory processes (at national and/or local level).
However, we have to devise manageable systems to prioritise the targets of
our own work and actions. Is it realistic to list all possible stakeholders?
Should we (or local planning groups) try to rank the various stakeholders in
terms of their direct relevance? What methodologies can be realistically
employed to involve and link all these organisations in the processes of
developing rural transport systems?