Tools to improve inclusion in multistakeholder forums (MSFs)

Key messages Organizers and designers of multistakeholder forums (MSFs) are increasingly seeing the inclusion of women and Indigenous Peoples as both a responsibility and duty. However, in a global survey, practitioners also informed us that they needed tools to help them apply a rights-based framework to their work and improve inclusion in practice. Responding to this need, we used our findings to develop a theory of change and two tools to help practitioners focus their inclusion efforts, providing step-by-step instructions on how to apply these tools in an MSF setting, as well as examples. Getting it right is the result – a practical guide that draws on lessons learned from the literature and practitioners around the world, to help organizers and designers of MSFs unpack and operationalize the inclusion of women and Indigenous Peoples. This infobrief provides an overview of the process behind creating the guide, its key features, and recommendations for next steps. Possible areas of future research include lessons learned and best practices from the application and testing of the guide, as well as understanding the success factors and constraints specific to other under-represented groups.