Handbook on multi-level consultations in MSP

Abstract:

Provides an insightful checklist of tasks that MSP organizers should perform at different stages of the process together with stakeholders at multiple levels.

Sea Basin(s):

Country:

Year:

September 2014

Application in MSP:

Applied in an MSP process

Sectors:

Fishery

Offshore renewable energy production

Tourism

Type of Issue:

Stakeholders

Type of practice:

Handbook

Stage of MSP cycle:

Develop and implement plan

Cross-border / trans-national aspect:

Yes

Coherence with other processes:

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Key words:

Multi-level consulations

Source / Links:

http://www.partiseapate.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/PartiSEApate_handb...

Questions this practice may help answer

What are multi/level consultations?
How can stakeholders be identified?
What is the appropriate level of consultation?

Implementation Context

The Handbook was developed within the context of “PartiSEApate – Multi-level Governance in Maritime Spatial Planning throughout the Baltic Sea Region”.

Aspects / Objectives

This practice seeks to provide a checklist of tasks that MSP organizers should perform at different stages of the process together with stakeholders at multiple levels. It aims at those who initiate consultations, rather than those being consulted.

Method

The Handbook is based on first hand source research findings provided by the PartiSEApate project. Following their participation in focused Baltic Sea wide MSP workshops, more than 160 stakeholders were asked to complete a standard questionnaire regarding the most suitable modalities of consulting them in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) MSP. The survey was followed by semi-structured telephone interviews with 60 MSP decision-makers throughout the BSR. The results of the surveys were integrated into the Handbook, along with other information and data extracted by activities and processes pursued within the framework of PartiSEApate and the earlier BaltSeaPlan project regarding multi-level consultations. Based on this, a set of guiding questions for each stage within the MSP process was developed in order to support MSP responsible bodies in the identification of the appropriate level of stakeholders and means of consultations.

24_Matrix.png

The matrix shows in which way each level should be consulted in each of the steps of the MSP process.

Main Outputs / Results

PartiSEApate publication titled “Handbook on multi-level consultations on MSP” available online.

Transferability

The Handbook on multi-level consultations in MSP has a universal character. Although it was developed based on the experience of the Baltic Sea Region countries, it can be applied in other EU sea basins and other parts of the world.