Advancing knowledge about stakeholder engagement in multisectoral nutrition research

Abstract

Strategies to engage stakeholders increase the relevance of multisectoral nutrition research but are challenging to embed within research programs. Drawing from fifteen food choice studies, the aim of this study was to understand the diversity of strategies that researchers used in engaging with stakeholders to synthesize lessons learned from their experiences. Researchers developed and implemented a wide range of strategies that varied in terms of extent of collaboration sought. Informational strategies were used to increase stakeholder buy-in and generate demand for results. Collaborative strategies were more integral to the production of knowledge and were used in framing research significance, interpreting results, and finalizing recommendations. Researchers developed strategies of varying intensity depending on goals for uptake. This research sheds light on the role of stakeholder engagement in advancing multisectoral nutrition. Findings may aid researchers in constructing engagement strategies that are responsive to complex multisectoral nutrition landscapes in low- and middle-income countries.