Taking Action

To effectively implement the LP’s Action Plan requires proactive leadership by the LP. Financial and human resources may need to be mobilized, as well as the knowledge and skills of LP stakeholders. Shared leadership involves delegating leadership roles to different stakeholder groups based on their expertise. This encourages stakeholder involvement, contributes to creating a stronger sense of ownership of the process, as well as helping to rebalance potential inequitable power dynamics.

Successful implementation also requires efforts to sustain stakeholder attention and maintain momentum, since some actions may not bear fruit for many years. Robust internal and external communication strategies are critical to maintain stakeholder interest and attract new partners. Organising regular LP meetings is also important to provide opportunities to assess progress made, and discuss coordination needs and ways to maximize synergies, mitigate tradeoffs and mediate conflict. 

Examples of LPs taking action include the Green Pearl programme in Haiti demonstrating how tracking and mapping action across the landscape enhances coordination while Fiji’s Great Sea Reef provides an example of a seascape actively taking a new approach to landscape investing.

Shared leadership involves delegating leadership roles to different stakeholder groups based on their expertise.

Taking Action Outputs

Action plan tracker

Tracking action over time allows for iterative refinement of implementation strategies to build upon synergies and avoid challenges as they arise in real time. Tracking also allows implementers to communicate to the LP and to other stakeholders and external actors the status of projects as they are happening, and explicitly where they are happening, to better promote collaboration. An Action Plan Tracker may take many forms: LP meeting notes, large visual displays in community meeting spaces, such as wall maps or papier mache models that can be regularly updated, or an electronic tracking system for LP partners with internet connection. Read More

Suggested tools that can help achieve this output
  1. ​​Basecamp
  2. Miradi
  3. ProjectFirma
  4. Trello
  5. Wekan

Communications strategy

To implement an LP’s collaborative plan, both internal and external communications are invaluable. LP leaders need to regularly engage with stakeholders, to maintain their interest in the shared vision and commitment towards reaching the LP’s objectives. Smooth running of the partnership may involve activities such as organizing regular well-facilitated meetings; frequently sharing updates on progress, through newsletters or other media providing access to digital apps for computers and phones to enhance communications amongst LP stakeholders; mediating conflicts among partners, or delivering training. Read More

Suggested tools that can help achieve this output
  1. Communicating Beyond the Partnership
  2. Communicating Within the Partnership
  3. Getting Organised

Landscape narratives

Storytelling is an effective way of communicating information and motivating action for change. Through the development of narratives, LP stakeholders may find a way to express or highlight certain aspects of their journey that they deem inspiring or important. This may help motivate others to continue working together over the long term. These narratives can highlight initial successes (quick wins), and articulate aspirations for the landscape. Read More

Suggested tools that can help achieve this output
  1. Video storytelling with a smartphone
  2. Appreciative Storytelling
  3. Explorer.land’s storytelling guide
  4. Sharing Good Experiences
  5. The Barefoot Guide Approach to Writing Stories of Practice
  6. Whole Landscapes, Whole Communities: Working with Nature to Heal, Transform and Generate Landscapes

Landscape investment portfolio

A centerpiece of ILM implementation is translating the Action Plan into a concrete and integrated ‘landscape investment portfolio’ that can be used to attract finance and investment supporting landscape goals. This portfolio includes both ‘asset’ and ‘enabling’ investments. Read More

Suggested tools that can help achieve this output
  1. Landscape Investment Finance Toolkit
  2. Attracting Private Investments for Sustainable Landscapes: A Guide
  3. Bankable Nature Solutions
  4. Convergence Matchmaking Platform
  5. Landscape Assessment of Financial Flows
  6. TerraMatch