I want to design my participation strategy

I am interested in starting a participation process in my community yet am wondering on how to set up an adequate strategy. How do I define goals and how to I plan for the overall process? I need some guidance.

PartiCipate can assist: If you start your own participation process, there are a few things you need to know and consider. The 14 steps below guide you through all important considerations and preparations you should be aware of.

1Create

2Review & generate PDF

1. Objective: What is the main goal of your participation process?

2. Target Group: Who do you want to reach?

3. Motivation: Why do you want to conduct a participation process? What is your objective?

4. Stakeholders: Which stakeholders will play and important role in your process? Which role will they play?

Please think about the following stakeholders: Public decision makers at local/national/international level; CSOs/NGOs; private sector; experts; representatives of specific interests (minority groups, disabled, etc…).

5. Communication: How will you communicate and stay in contact with your target group?

Please think about steps before specific participation formats (e.g. mobilisation for event), during a specific event (rules of communication) and after your engagement (e.g. continuous communication channels)?

6. Methods and Formats: Which participation methods will you use?

7. Digital Participation: If you want to incorporate digital participation during your process, please identify the tools you might want to use.

8. Documentation: How will you document the participation process? Who is responsible for documentation?

9. Results: How will you assess the results of your participation process? Who will be responsible for it?

10. Resources: Which resources will you need and use for your process?

Please think about the following resources: Budget, Human Resources (e.g. moderators, event organisation), venues (size, accessibility), other resources (e.g. equipment, infrastructure, existing cooperation structures, online tools).

11. Timeline: When does the process start, how much time do people have to participate and when do you need the results of your participation process?

12. Usage of Results: What will the results of the participation process be used for?

13. Communication of Results: How will you share the results of the participation process with your target group(s), local or national decision-makers, and potentially also media?

14. Leave No One Behind: If digital tools are part of the process: How do you want to ensure, that every participant is able to connect to the online process and participate?

15. Do-No-Harm: Despite best intentions to promote participation in your context: What could go wrong? Could the process suffer from or create risks? For further reflection, please see the guiding questions on https://participation.digital/participation-in-fragility-and-do-no-harm/ and note down your key findings.