Design tips

Inform, consult, co-create: pick the right move

A short note to deepen Lesson 1.2: Stakeholder Mapping.

Abayomi Ogundipe

Abayomi Ogundipe

2 min read
Inform, consult, co-create: pick the right move

Engagement is not one size fits all. If you try to co-create with everyone, you will slow the project down. If you only inform, you will lose trust. The key is to match the engagement move to the role.

I use this approach in my own project design work, and it helps teams stay aligned as the project evolves.

Here is a simple way to decide.

Inform

  • Use when the stakeholder needs awareness but does not shape decisions
  • Example: a national network that wants updates but will not implement the program

Consult

  • Use when the stakeholder has insight but limited control
  • Example: community members who can validate assumptions and flag risks

Co-create

  • Use when the stakeholder is essential to success
  • Example: an implementation partner or a funder who requires active input

Partner

  • Use when responsibilities and risk are shared
  • Example: a ministry or coalition that owns part of delivery

Decision rule: if a stakeholder can block progress, move them up the ladder. If they only need visibility, keep the engagement light but consistent.

Try this quick exercise: pick three stakeholders and assign an engagement move. Then write one action for each. The action could be a meeting, a feedback session, or a short briefing. If you cannot name a first action, your plan is too vague.

In Lesson 1.2, I walk through this inside the Setup toolkit. Watch the lesson video 🎥 to learn more.

One warning sign is engagement drift. You start with consult, but decisions are made without feedback. Set a rhythm for updates so people know when their input matters and trust stays intact.

Diagram

Inform, Consult, Co-Create - Pick the Right Move

graph TB Stakeholder["👤 STAKEHOLDER

Who needs engagement?"] Q1{"Can they
block progress?"} Q2{"Do they have
essential insight
or control?"} Q3{"Will they
share delivery
responsibility?"} subgraph Levels["📊 ENGAGEMENT LEVELS"] Inform["📢 INFORM

Needs awareness,
does not shape decisions

Example: National network
wanting updates"] Consult["💬 CONSULT

Has insight but
limited control

Example: Community members
who validate assumptions"] CoCreate["🤝 CO-CREATE

Essential to success

Example: Implementation
partner or funder
requiring active input"] Partner["🎯 PARTNER

Shares responsibilities
and risk

Example: Ministry or coalition
that owns part of delivery"] end Action["📝 NAME ONE ACTION

Meeting? Feedback session?
Short briefing?

If you cannot name a
first action, your plan
is too vague"] Warning["⚠️ WATCH FOR
ENGAGEMENT DRIFT

You start with consult,
but decisions are made
without feedback

Set a rhythm for updates
so people know when
their input matters"] Stakeholder --> Q1 Q1 -->|Yes| CoCreate Q1 -->|No| Q2 Q2 -->|Yes| Consult Q2 -->|No| Inform CoCreate --> Q3 Q3 -->|Yes| Partner Q3 -->|No| CoCreate Inform --> Action Consult --> Action CoCreate --> Action Partner --> Action Action --> Warning style Stakeholder fill:#F6F6F6,stroke:#737373,color:#2A2A2A style Q1 fill:#F8CC1B,stroke:#CA8A04,color:#2A2A2A style Q2 fill:#F8CC1B,stroke:#CA8A04,color:#2A2A2A style Q3 fill:#F8CC1B,stroke:#CA8A04,color:#2A2A2A style Levels fill:#F6F6F6,stroke:#737373,color:#2A2A2A style Inform fill:#E5E5E5,stroke:#737373,color:#2A2A2A style Consult fill:#FEF3C7,stroke:#F8CC1B,color:#2A2A2A style CoCreate fill:#BBF7D0,stroke:#72B043,color:#2A2A2A style Partner fill:#007F4E,stroke:#00b369,color:#fff,stroke-width:3px style Action fill:#72B043,stroke:#007F4E,color:#fff style Warning fill:#FCA5A5,stroke:#E12729,color:#2A2A2A