Nine-Step Guide on How to Include Participatory and Deliberative Formats in Policymaking
Rooted in the belief that citizens should be empowered to observe, understand, contribute to, monitor, and assess public decisions and actions, participatory and deliberative policymaking processes have become increasingly central to designing government strategies and policies.
By informing and involving citizens, including those from underrepresented communities, open government enhances the legitimacy of public decision-making, improves outcomes and addresses people’s real needs. In the long term, open government reforms can help foster trust in government and bolster democracy.
However, participatory and deliberative processes can prove futile or even counterproductive if conducted in an unstructured manner or merely as ‘box checking.’ Without proper organization or feedback mechanisms, these processes may lead to ‘stakeholder fatigue,’ where participants feel their contributions do not effect change, their voices are ignored and/or their opinions serve other vested interests.
These guidelines aim to support public authorities in incorporating citizen participation in policymaking. We propose a road map with recommendations drawn from varies studies on how to successfully set up participatory and deliberative processes, outlining nine steps for effectively including citizens.
- Identify the Problem and Determine the Role of Citizens’ Input
- Define Objectives and Expected Results
- Identify the Relevant Group of People to Involve
- Choose the Appropriate Participation or Deliberative Format
- Implement Participatory or Deliberative Process
- Timeline
- Identification of Resource Needs
- Inclusiveness and Accessibility
- Partnering with Social Partners and Non-Governmental Stakeholders
- Communicate about the Process
- Provide Feedback
- Evaluate the Participation Process
- Continue to Foster a Culture of Participation
Read the full Nine-step Guide below.
