Engagement with stakeholders transforms scientific and policy processes. The journey of participation in the marine domain has been long and challenging, evolving from a contested issue to a mainstream approach. Today, participation is regarded as critical for enhancing the scientific foundation of decision-making and ensuring the legitimacy of policy-relevant science. However, organizations worldwide face similar challenges in leveraging participation while managing associated risks. Ocean multilevel governance encompasses the institutions and processes through which multiple policy actors operate. Major international organizations like the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), have developed various approaches to stakeholder interaction. Additionally, research and policy frameworks as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demand partenership and cooperation. This session aims to stimulate debate within the international community on three areas:
– Conceptual Challenges: Do we need to rethink the stakeholder language? “stakeholder,” “rightsholder”, “the one to be holders”.

– Analytical Challenges: Do we have frameworks to understand and assess the performance of stakeholder engagement?

– Evidence from the field : What features of the international context influence engagement performance and outcomes? How researchers experience engagement?, etc.