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? Position the assessment within the formal decision making processes of these conventions and Module
obtain formal expression from the UN on the need to conduct the assessment;

? Identify a broader range of users, collaborators and institutions in sub-global and regional centers 3
to consult, produce assessments, review, monitor and evaluate reports.

Step 3: WHAT knowledge is to be gathered

In addition to consultations with their key actors, the MA conducted an assessment of the information
needs of a broader range of users. This user needs assessment became the basis on which the outline Abu Dhabi, UAE
of the MA reports were designed by the scientific panel and remained a check point of reference
throughout the process.

Step 4: HOW to reach key actors and broader audiences

The strategy was built around two areas of action:

Engagement
? Provide to the target users adequate access to the process of generation of data and information.

? Provide adequate access for a broad range of users to the benefits of the assessment (products,
networks and capacities).

This in turn would result in input from users into the processes of the assessment, enhancing its
legitimacy and capacity.

Several channels to enable the engagement strategy were used. For example:

? The user needs assessment was used to obtain information from users and strengthen the relevance
of the assessment;

? The MA constantly made ad hoc briefings to various audiences, to address large numbers of users
and present them with information about the assessment;
? Open calls were issued to the public but especially to governments and institutions to nominate
scientists to participate in the assessment as authors or reviewers and to submit proposals to
undertake sub-global assessments affiliated with the MA;

? A website and newsletter were established and a data sharing system developed.

? The internal, formal procedures of some of the target users were utilized to feed the MA and
subject it to discussion. This was particularly the case with those international conventions targeted,
bringing the MA to the attention of their technical and political decision-making bodies.
? Multi-stakeholder meetings were organized in various countries to present the MA and invite
discussion on its relevance in each national context.

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 27