EIPP endorses the NCDD core principles for public participation

The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation has recently published, in a collaborative effort with other organisations, seven Core Principles for Public Participation.

As you can see on the website of the PEP project they are very useful, not only for organisers of public participation, but also for evaluators, as they provide yardsticks against which participation processes can be evaluated.

The Seven Core Principles

1. Planning and Preparation – Plan, design, and convene the engagement specifically to serve both the purpose of the effort and the needs of participants.
2. Inclusion and Diversity – Incorporate diverse voices, ideas, and information to lay the groundwork for quality outcomes and democratic legitimacy.
3. Collaboration and Shared Purpose – Support organizers, participants, and those engaged in follow-up to work well together for the common good.
4. Listening and Learning – Help participants listen, explore and learn without predetermined outcomes — and evaluate public engagement efforts for lessons.
5. Transparency and Trust – Promote openness and provide a public record of the people, resources, forums, and outcomes involved.
6. Impact and Action – Ensure each participatory effort has real potential to make a difference.
7. Sustained Participation and Democratic Culture – Promote a culture of participation with programs and institutions that support ongoing quality public engagement.

EIPP is convinced that these seven principles are very useful for focused deliberation and we are therefore happy to endorse them.

In addition, we will adhere to the following two (draft) principles ourselves:

0. Clear Statement of Purpose, Power and Authority – The main purpose and any collateral purposes of the engagement activity are clearly stated and adhered to and the power and authority of the public in decision-making is made transparent at the outset and is respected throughout the process.

And, given that we focus on the evaluation of participation processes:

8. Rigorously Evaluate – Evaluate the inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes of engagement activity against the intended (main and collateral) purposes as well as taking account of any unforeseen benefits or disbenefits arising.

We are considering also adding another one:

N. Flexibility and Innovation – Be prepared to adapt, change course and invent new approaches during the course of engagement processes in response to feedback, problems and opportunities.