From Trees to Forests—How Stakeholder Engagement Can Drive Systemic Change

“Only by creating local ownership, can we win the long game” – says Luca Sander, Project Coordinator, as he reflects on five years at the CSCP and shares why meaningful stakeholder engagement is key to driving lasting system change.

Can you briefly walk us through your journey at the CSCP — from starting as an intern back in 2020 to your current role as project coordinator?

One of the things I appreciate most about being part of the CSCP is how it allowed me to grow over the years and develop my strengths with the support of a dedicated and inspiring team. I joined during the Coronavirus pandemic, looking for a purposeful internship that would allow me to gain new experiences, while my university was still adapting to the extraordinary situation. As part of the Sustainable Lifestyles team I got the chance to work on exciting topics right from the start. I was introduced to the theory and practice of behaviour change, while being able to apply skills from my political science and economics background. Growing with the team felt natural and it helped me to sharpen my focus on advancing sustainability transitions towards a good life for all. Upon receiving my masters degree on transition studies, it felt only natural to stay at the CSCP and continue working with inspiring and passionate people toward increasing positive impact.

Throughout this journey, what inspired and drove you the most?

One of the most inspiring things to witness is when we manage to turn stakeholder engagement into a seed for lasting impact. That may sounds somewhat abstract, but in one of the projects I was involved in—the Dialogue Forum the Reduction of Food Waste—I could see first-hand what good stakeholder engagement can look like and how once you get the key actors engaged and committed, real change begins to unfold. This is exactly what happened in this project when one year later, a monitoring report revealed a 23% decrease of food waste in the wholesale and retail sector in Germany. Such cases are the best illustration of what good stakeholder engagement can achieve by facilitating trust, driving local ownership, and creating lasting change.

And yet, stakeholder engagement can sometimes still be seen as a checkbox. How do we make sure that it is set up in ways that are inclusive and designed to add value?

Often I have the feeling that people forget to ask why we do stakeholder engagement. I believe that there are at least three essential reasons. First, sustainability challenges are wicked and complex, accompanied by uncertainties, conflicts of interest, contradicting systems. To tackle them, we need to bring essential stakeholders on board and address their needs and concerns. Second, stakeholder engagement is an important reality check, especially in research projects. You can develop the most sophisticated models and solutions, but without input by the target audience, the new shiny model might just remain a trophy on the shelve of good ideas. Lastly, only by creating local ownership, can we win the long game.

What do you mean by the long game? 

There are many projects underway that transform ideas into tangible results. However, achieving true systemic change requires more than isolated efforts—it demands a connected network of solutions and committed implementers. Change becomes unstoppable only when action is widespread and embraced at all levels. By actively engaging stakeholders, we empower numerous local initiatives to take root and grow. Over time, these individual projects—like trees—collectively form a thriving forest: a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive system that can drive lasting impact.

Outside office life, what causes are especially meaningful to you?

For me, driving change doesn’t stop when I leave the office. One of my passion projects is supporting my village’s energy transition. I’m actively involved in the processes led by the village administration, contributing wherever I can to help move the project forward. Every step we take toward our goal brings me immense satisfaction, and I celebrate each milestone—no matter how big or small.

For further questions, please contact Luca Sander directly!