Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement
Centre for Sport & Human Rights
Summary
This guidance tool from the Centre for Sport and Human Rights lays out practical steps for engaging stakeholders meaningfully in sport-related initiatives. It helps organizations move beyond one-way communication and toward participatory dialogue that builds trust, surfaces risks, and advances shared outcomes. The tool includes principles, case examples, and reflection questions to strengthen engagement strategy and practice.
HOW & WHEN IT CAN HELP
- When designing programs or events that affect athletes, communities, or fans.
- To strengthen trust and communication with partners, advocates, and impacted groups.
- When seeking input from stakeholders on a new policy or safeguarding effort.
- To support staff or board training on transparency, inclusion, and accountability.
- For use as a team discussion tool before stakeholder meetings or consultations.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS RESOURCE
It brings structure and intention to a process that is often overlooked or rushed. This tool helps sport organizations make stakeholder engagement more respectful, reciprocal, and rights-respecting—core values that align deeply with the mission of Soccer Forward.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING THIS RESOURCE
- Who do you typically engage—and who might be missing from the table?
- Are there structural barriers that prevent meaningful participation for some groups?
- How do you document, respond to, and act on stakeholder feedback?
- Could your stakeholder processes be more transparent or participatory?
- Are all staff clear on the difference between informing, consulting, and co-creating?
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
The Centre for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR) is a global organization dedicated to embedding human rights across the world of sport. They provide training, tools, and support to help sports organizations design and deliver practices that respect and protect human dignity. Learn more at sporthumanrights.org.
CREDITING CONTRIBUTORS
The Resource Hub is made possible by the generosity of contributors. It demonstrates the rich expertise and collective team spirit that exists across our soccer community.
All resources that have been contributed to the Resource Hub are free for users of the Hub to learn from, adapt and implement in their own organization and community.
Where relevant, we encourage users of the resources to formally or informally credit the resource creator, to acknowledge their expertise and generosity.