WARSP // Key findings and issues

“It requires investment to develop and engage local stakeholders.”

Four key findings and issues have been identified through the co-design process. 

1. Inclusivity, as a fundamental pillar, requires a focus on community-based women and civil society that have not had much of a voice in Mekong governance, having been excluded previously because of education, language, technology access.

Thus, an inclusive engagement will require more than just the development of a platform. Any technology solution needs to be supported by trusted community partners who can facilitate meetings, provide trainings, support translation, and coordinate campaigns to solicit and share women’s stories and women’s knowledge. 

2. Legitimacy is a street that runs in all directions. Legitimacy pertains to all stakeholders involved in the platform’s development and operation – as well as the platform itself. 

Legitimacy must be built through partnerships at the community level, with women, to bring their stories, experiences, observations, and knowledge into the public (or quasi-public) sphere.

3. Three distinct user groups were identified, with three sets of needs and features being identified. The most important, and complex, of these user groups is women at the community level. With inclusivity as a guiding principle, this user group represents the target primary beneficiaries.

The other two user groups were NGO women (who already have a strong existing network), and local and international researchers (who have some existing networks but would be interested in making these links stronger and being able to volunteer their time and effort to better align research and activities with community priorities). 

4. COVID-19 presents both a challenge and an opportunity. It is a challenge because face-to-face and travel is limited during certain times. It is an opportunity because issues of access are becoming a priority for international development, and because stakeholders are now accustomed to working virtually. 

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