ONet initiative: Mapping and expanding our membership

Growing from our members' needs and aspirations
Leadership
MichaelRugTir
A group of butterflies sitting on top of a yellow flower
Tags
ONetmembership

"Gathering views from diverse stakeholders, ultimately enriching IPBES-related discussions
with perspectives that may have been underrepresented."

 

Connecting diverse perspectives with IPBES

ONet is an inclusive network that aims to connect and empower IPBES stakeholders. Consequently, as one of the main stakeholder engagement mechanisms, ONet plays a crucial role in connecting diverse perspectives to IPBES processes. Fulfilling this function requires not only an understanding of members’ needs and aspirations but also the identification of strategic approaches to incentivise and facilitate diversity within its membership.

 

The initiative's aims

  • A revised membership database that can also serve different purposes, for example targeted communication.
  • A map and a gap analysis for ONet membership. How are stakeholders represented?
  • A strategy to engage 'underrepresented' groups that have expressed or shown an interest in
    IPBES activities in the past.
  • A follow-up review to find out whether the outreach has been effective.

 

The leads' vision

"The membership is extended to comprise diverse groups of stakeholders with an interest in IPBES work or that IPBES is oriented towards. Different stakeholders see in ONet a potential way to engage with IPBES and are aware of engagement processes."

 

How it aligns with ONet's values and IPBES

Outcomes contribute to “IPBES Objective 2: Building capacity”, through enhanced engagement and facilitated access to expertise among ONet members, and “IPBES Objective 5: Communicating and engaging”, through strengthened engagement of stakeholders. The initiative will ultimately help ensure IPBES work is and remains relevant to and concurrently informed by its diverse stakeholders.

 

>> Download the concept note to find out more about ONet's membership initiative

 

Photo by Erika Löwe on Unsplash: in an annual cycle that takes them four generations to complete, Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in North America migrate to overwintering sites. Although an individual butterfly is tiny, with a lifespan of merely weeks, as a whole the species is known for one of the world's largest and longest animal movements.