A social performance team member with an established relationship with local stakeholders (rather than the most subject expertise) may be best placed to engage on cultural heritage topics.
The individual with the most technical knowledge of cultural heritage is best suited to liaise with other external stakeholders, including relevant authorities and cultural and academic institutions.
In some cases, it may be necessary to involve a third-party organisation – representative of or affiliated to the community in question – particularly in cases where there is sensitivity around discussing rituals or ceremonies with outsiders.
Newly identified cultural heritage sites, particularly sites used for rituals, should be corroborated by different stakeholders to triangulate findings and prevent speculation (i.e. the identification of false sites in the hope of compensation). Triangulation must be done in collaboration with the appropriate authorities. These sites should be assessed by a suitably qualified cultural heritage specialist to determine their significance.