# Stakeholders and rights holders > A library of rights holders and stakeholders. How closely to involve each group, which work formats fit and which language style works. Source: https://narrate.works/stakeholders-and-rights-holders Language: English (Nederlands: https://narrate.works/belanghebbenden-en-rechthebbenden) Publisher: Narrate (Narrate B.V.), https://narrate.works Engagement Who do you involve in your impact work, and how? This library lists the groups that often play a part. For each group you see how closely to involve them, which work formats fit and which language style works. ## Rights holders and stakeholders are not the same The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) make a clear distinction. Rights holders are the people whose human rights your work affects. Their rights are what is at stake, so they come first. Stakeholders are parties with an interest or a role. They decide, fund, regulate, carry out, bring knowledge or keep a critical eye. They matter too, but their rights are not the subject here. Some rights holders cannot speak for themselves, such as future generations or nature. Then a guardian or advocate speaks on their behalf. [Open the explorer](https://narrate.works/collaboration-explorer) ## Rights holders People whose human rights are affected, and nature, for whom a guardian speaks. ### Directly affected (13 groups) People whose situation is directly at stake. #### Employees People who work for the organisation and feel its choices first. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Survey, Focus group, Workshop Language style Professional, Plain language #### Supply-chain workers People who make or move products further up or down the chain. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Interview, Survey, Field visit Language style Multilingual, Plain language #### Customers and consumers People who buy the products or services and live with their effects. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Survey, Interview Language style Plain language, Storytelling #### Users of a product or service People who use what the organisation offers, paid or free. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Survey, Interview, Focus group Language style Plain language #### Beneficiaries and participants People a programme is meant for and who take part in it. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Story collection, Interview, Focus group Language style Plain language, Storytelling #### Local communities and residents People who live near the work and share its effects on their area. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Community meeting, Story collection, Survey Language style Plain language, Multilingual 7 more groups #### Tenants People who rent their home or workspace and depend on its condition. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Survey, Community meeting Language style Plain language #### Patients and clients of care People who receive care or support and rely on its quality. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection, Advisory panel Language style Plain language, Easy read #### Pupils and students People in education whose learning and future are shaped by it. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Survey, Focus group, Workshop Language style Plain language, Storytelling #### Members People or organisations who belong to and help steer an association. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Survey, Newsletter, Community meeting Language style Professional #### Volunteers People who give their time and whose motivation keeps the work going. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Focus group, Survey, Learning circle Language style Plain language #### Small producers and farmers Producers whose income and land depend on how the chain is run. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Field visit, Interview, Focus group Language style Multilingual, Plain language #### Entrepreneurs in a portfolio or programme Founders and businesses supported by an investor, fund or programme. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Survey, Learning circle, Interview Language style Professional ### Extra duty of care (8 groups) Groups that deserve extra protection and care in how you involve them. #### Children and young people Young people who need a safe, age-appropriate way to be heard. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Story collection, Workshop Language style Easy read, Storytelling #### People with disabilities People who often meet barriers and need accessible ways to take part. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection Language style Easy read, Plain language #### Refugees and migrants People who have moved country, often with an insecure status. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection Language style Multilingual, Plain language #### Indigenous peoples Peoples with collective rights to land, culture and free, prior and informed consent. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Story collection, Community meeting, Interview Language style Multilingual, Storytelling #### People on low incomes People for whom costs and access weigh heavily on daily life. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection Language style Plain language #### Older people Older people who may face isolation, health needs or digital barriers. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection Language style Plain language, Easy read 2 more groups #### People facing discrimination People treated unfairly because of who they are, who need a safe space to speak. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Story collection Language style Plain language, Storytelling #### People with a migration background People whose own or family history includes migration, often underrepresented. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Focus group Language style Multilingual, Plain language ### Without a voice (5 groups) People with no structural representation, so someone has to speak on their behalf. #### Future generations People not yet born who will live with today's choices. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Sense-making dialogue Language style On behalf of #### People experiencing homelessness People without a stable home who are rarely asked for their view. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Story collection Language style On behalf of, Plain language #### Undocumented people People without legal residence status who cannot safely speak up. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Interview Language style On behalf of, Multilingual #### People in institutions People in prisons, closed care or detention with limited say. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Interview Language style On behalf of, Plain language #### Residents without a vote People who live somewhere but have no vote in its elections. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Community meeting Language style On behalf of, Multilingual ### Nature (7 groups) Nature as a rights subject, for which a guardian speaks. #### Climate A stable climate, affected by emissions across the chain. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of #### Biodiversity and species The variety of life, from habitats to individual species. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of #### Water and oceans Rivers, groundwater, seas and oceans, and the life they hold. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of #### Soil and land Healthy soil and land use that can sustain life over time. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of #### Air quality Clean air, affected by emissions, traffic and production. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of #### Forests Forests and the ecosystems and climate functions they provide. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of 1 more groups #### Animal welfare The wellbeing of animals in farming, research and the wild. How to involve them Usual involvement Represent Work formats Proxy representation, Report or dashboard Language style On behalf of ## Stakeholders Parties with an interest or a role in the system, who are not the subject of the rights at stake. ### Role holders (25 groups) Parties with a formal role: they decide, fund, regulate or carry out. #### Board and supervisory board The people who set direction and hold management to account. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Boardroom #### Management team The people who run the organisation day to day and make choices. How to involve them Usual involvement Collaborate Work formats Workshop, Sense-making dialogue Language style Boardroom, Professional #### Owners and shareholders Those who own the organisation, from founders and families to shareholders. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Boardroom #### Investors and lenders Parties who put in capital and want to know the impact and the risks. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Boardroom, Technical #### Family offices Organisations that manage a family's wealth, often with long-term impact goals. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Boardroom #### Funders and grantmakers Foundations and bodies that fund work and ask what it achieves. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional, Storytelling 19 more groups #### Philanthropists Private donors who give to causes they care about. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Storytelling, Boardroom #### National government Ministries and agencies that set policy and fund programmes. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional #### Regional government Provinces and regions that shape policy and funding in their area. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional #### Municipalities Local councils that commission, fund and set local rules. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Workshop, Report or dashboard Language style Professional #### EU institutions European bodies that set rules such as CSRD and fund programmes. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard Language style Technical #### Regulators and supervisors Bodies that check whether rules are followed. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard Language style Technical #### Standard setters Bodies that write reporting and impact standards. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Technical #### Auditors and assurance providers Professionals who check and sign off on reported information. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Technical #### Certification bodies Organisations that grant labels and certificates after a check. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard Language style Technical #### Suppliers and partners Businesses that supply or deliver with you and share responsibility in the chain. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Survey, Workshop, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional #### Procurement clients and buyers Organisations that buy from you and set impact demands in tenders. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional #### Business customers Companies that use your products and ask for data for their own reporting. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Survey, Report or dashboard Language style Professional #### Works council and unions Bodies that represent employees and have a formal say. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Advisory panel Language style Professional #### Industry associations Associations that set norms and speak for a sector. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Professional #### Networks and ecosystem partners Networks and partners who work on the same goals in the same field. How to involve them Usual involvement Collaborate Work formats Learning circle, Workshop Language style Professional #### Incubators and accelerators Programmes that support early-stage ventures and track their progress. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Learning circle, Survey Language style Professional #### Peers and competitors Organisations doing similar work, to learn from and benchmark against. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Learning circle, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional #### Politicians and council members Elected representatives who set priorities and budgets. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Boardroom, Storytelling #### Lobby and advocacy organisations Organisations that push for policy change on behalf of a cause or sector. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Professional ### Knowledge holders (10 groups) People who bring practical or lived knowledge, without formal power. #### Frontline staff and professionals People who do the work every day and see what really happens. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Focus group, Workshop, Learning circle Language style Professional, Plain language #### Experts by experience People who turn their own lived experience into knowledge for others. How to involve them Usual involvement Collaborate Work formats Advisory panel, Workshop, Story collection Language style Plain language, Storytelling #### Researchers and universities Academics and institutes who bring methods, evidence and rigour. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Advisory panel Language style Technical #### Think tanks Organisations that research and frame policy questions. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Technical, Professional #### Consultants and advisors Outside experts who advise on strategy, method or reporting. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Workshop Language style Professional #### Law firms and legal advisors Lawyers who advise on due diligence, liability and compliance. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Technical 4 more groups #### Agencies Communication, design and research agencies that help tell and test the story. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Workshop, Sense-making dialogue Language style Professional, Storytelling #### Data and software providers Providers of the tools and data that measurement depends on. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Workshop, Report or dashboard Language style Technical #### Educators and trainers People who teach and build skills, and see how learning lands. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Focus group, Learning circle Language style Professional #### Community workers People who know a neighbourhood well and have the trust of residents. How to involve them Usual involvement Involve Work formats Interview, Community meeting, Focus group Language style Plain language ### Counter power (6 groups) Independent critical voices: media, science, civil society and courts. #### Journalists and media Reporters who scrutinise claims and tell the public what happens. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard Language style Storytelling #### NGOs and civil society Organisations that stand up for people, nature or causes. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Report or dashboard Language style Professional #### Activists and social movements Groups that push for change from outside formal structures. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Community meeting Language style Storytelling, Plain language #### Watchdogs and ombudspersons Independent bodies that handle complaints and flag abuses. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard, Sense-making dialogue Language style Technical, Professional #### Courts Judges who rule on rights and duties when disputes arise. How to involve them Usual involvement Inform Work formats Report or dashboard Language style Technical #### Critical scientists Scientists who independently test claims and methods. How to involve them Usual involvement Consult Work formats Sense-making dialogue, Advisory panel Language style Technical ## Levels of involvement Based on the IAP2 spectrum, plus representation for those who cannot speak for themselves. Inform Keep the group up to date in a clear, timely way. Consult Ask for views and feedback, and report back what you did with them. Involve Work with the group throughout, so their concerns shape the choices. Collaborate Develop options and decide together as partners. Empower Put the final decision in the hands of the group. Represent A guardian or advocate speaks on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. ## Which groups matter for you? Use the collaboration explorer to choose your groups and see which form of collaboration fits. [Open the explorer](https://narrate.works/collaboration-explorer)