Stakeholder mapping and analysis helps to identify the key actors in a given social arena 5. INTRODUCTION Strengthening civil-state interactions Identifying the civic organisations to work with Working with communities Supporting information exchange Other skills Checking our progress Interactive exercise The term stakeholder has been rather loosely used to include a wide range of individuals, groups and interests. Generally, stakeholders are taken to include all persons, groups or institutions with interests in a project or programme. Where a process involves formal representation and negotiation, claims to be a stakeholder must be backed by a substantial (and not academic) interest and by the delivery of a constituency, even if only a minority interest.