ICMM Guidance > Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights > Tool 1 – Identifying and Characterising Stakeholders

Tool 1 – Identifying and Characterising Stakeholders

Stakeholders play a vital role in company efforts to implement the VPs. Tool 1 helps companies identify specific stakeholders that could potentially inform or play a role in their efforts to implement the VPs.

Stakeholder engagement is helpful as it allows companies to:

  • Conduct useful risk assessments by obtaining credible information on a country, region and project location
  • Respond effectively to allegations of human rights abuses
  • Provide early warning of potential challenges in the relationships between companies, communities and other stakeholders
  • Work successfully with public and private security providers
  • Understand which stakeholders may be vulnerable to the risks arising from security provisions
  • Learn lessons on effective VPs implementation
  • Obtain valuable support for company efforts to implement the VPs

Step Guide

STEP
1

Download the self-assessment worksheet 1.1 (p12)

STEP
2

Examine the list of stakeholder groups

STEP
3

Consider potential roles stakeholders have in implementing the VPs

STEP
4

List the specific stakeholders applicable to your company’s operations, in the right hand column of your self-assessment worksheet

Top Tips:

  • Stakeholders play a vital role in company efforts to implement the VPs. The step guide helps:

    • Identify specific stakeholders that could potentially inform or play a role in implementing the VPs
    • Prompt the identification of stakeholders for a specific project. The list of roles, therefore, are not exhaustive
    • Demonstrate that governments, NGOs and communities are particularly relevant to the VPS
    • Map stakeholder level of influence and interest. Using a stakeholder mapping framework (p78) will help a company understand where to begin working with stakeholders on VPs implementation