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Step 1: Engage stakeholders

Identify stakeholders

Identify the stakeholders who should be involved in the indicator selection process. The relevant stakeholders are likely to change depending on the stage of development of the innovation. At the very early stages, a small group of researchers may be the key stakeholders as research questions and interventions are discussed. At the other extreme, when an innovation has already been widely promoted, a broad set of stakeholders should participate, such as the end‐users (e.g., farmers), those who have promoted it (e.g., Extension workers), and other affected groups (e.g., private sector representatives, policy makers, chiefs, farmer cooperatives, etc.).

The following steps focus on an innovation at an intermediary stage where stakeholders may include an interdisciplinary group of researchers, Extension workers, and development professionals working together on research for development.

Engage stakeholders to understand priorities

Organize a meeting to engage the stakeholders in the process. Steps 1 through 4 can be accomplished at this meeting if time allows.

Introduce the sustainable intensification assessment framework, focusing on the “principles” or the five domains of sustainable intensification that underlie its theoretical framework.

Discuss what the domains entail and which indicators are considered in each domain. Ensure that individuals have a copy of the list of indicators per domain.

Ask stakeholders which components of SI are of primary concern to them and to those around them. Of all the goals embedded within sustainable intensification, which ones are of highest priority for them?

Develop objectives and hypotheses regarding the effects of an innovation

At the meeting, discuss the goals, main objectives, and sub‐objectives of the innovation or project to the stakeholders.

Develop hypotheses about how the innovation would relate to the objectives and sub‐objectives across the five domains.

Step 2