community engagement & participation lesotho parnters
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PARTICIPATION
Lesotho Parnters
Overview
Definition of Community Engagement
Theoretical Frameworks Practical implications
Definition
Community engagement refers to the process by which community organisations and individuals build ongoing, permanent relationships for the purpose of applying a collective vision for the benefit of a community. While community organising involves the process of building a grassroots movement involving communities, community engagement primarily deals with the practice of moving said communities towards change.
Like any community development process this relates to engagement of people affiliated by geographical location, special interest, or
similar situations
Importance of Engagement Stakeholders are better informed reduces
misinformation Encourages stakeholders to put ideas
forward Diversity of voices can be heard Enables community worker/organisation to
get a better understanding of local needs Ensures commitment and greater
ownership of outcomes by stakeholders and community
Builds resilient relationships with community
Helps reduce conflict in certain situations
Importance of Engagement Assists different groups within the community
to better understand the viewpoints and needs of others.
There may be more ownership of solutions to current problems so that the community shares in decision-making and has a higher level of responsibility for creating that future.
Fosters a sense of belonging to community Individuals may become empowered and
proactive with regard to issues that affect them.
Principles of EngagementIn a review of existing literature and theory, Petts andLeach developed a list of engagement principles whichincludes: a need for clarity of objectives consensus on agenda, procedures and effectiveness representativeness and inclusiveness deliberation capability and social learning decision responsiveness transparency and enhancement of trust
Why do people participate? • “A personal interest” or common
interests • An aspiration to change things • Faith • Exposure and access to community
and voluntary sectors • An opportunity to voice opinions
Why do people participate? Recent literature suggests that having a voice in the
community and feeling a sense of empowerment gives citizens a stronger commitment to their local area. As a consequence they will be more likely to be a part of local activities. In addition, according to Understanding Participation, “when an active interest is shown in their opinion...and feel their engagement was influential and acted upon” a citizen will be more motivated to be involved and stay involved politically.
Social networks are also an important factor in triggering the involvement of citizens. Some triggers include ‘being asked’, ‘word of mouth’ and the influence of community ‘motivators’.
Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation 1969
Wheel of Participation (1998)
Petty and Hine: Typology of Participation 1999
International Association for Public Participation’s 5 step framework for participation (2004)
Theoretical Frameworks
Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation
Sherry Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation
See
http://lithgow-schmidt.dk/sherry-arnstein/ladder-of-citizen-participation.html
Petty and Hine
Manipulative participation Passive participation Participation by consultation Participation for material incentives Functional participation Interactive participation Self-mobilisation
The “Wheel of Participation”
This framework has been used by different agencies wishing to present options for involvement and participation. The original thinking outlining this approach was published in 1998.
http://111.118.165.194/~kiss/kts/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/Davidson-Spinning-wheel-article1998.pdf
Five Step Framework for participation
International Association for Public Participation’s 5 step framework for participation
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) has developed a framework for looking at the depth and scope of engagement. This is based on five levels of engagement, each one increasing levels of participation and involvement. At one end of the spectrum engagement is simply an information sharing exercise, for example through the provision of websites or newsletters. At the other end, engagement can lead to genuine community empowerment and local control.
http://www.iap2.org/ http://www.iap2.org.au/documents/item/84
Five Step Framework
The International Association for Public Participation’s 5 step framework for participation is a useful framework for thinking about different objectives and approaches for community engagement.
Participation
Definition of community participation isStoker (1997)members of the public ‘taking part in any of theprocesses of formulation, passage and
implementationof public policies’. This is a wide-ranging definition, which extends theemphasis of public participation beyond thedevelopment of policy, to decision-makingand implementation.”
Participation: Theoretical Frameworks
Arnstein’s ladder of participation Burns et al 1994
Since Arnstein
Since Arnstein, increasingly complex theories of participation have been advanced and new terminology added. In particular, there has been a shift towards understanding participation in terms of the empowerment of individuals and communities.
See http://www.cagconsultants.co.uk/resources/communities/Participation_Theoretical_Frameworks.pdf
Burns et al ladder of citizen power.. Burns et al (1994) modified Arnstein’s
ladder of participation and proposed a ladder of citizen power
This is more elaborate than Arnstein’s ladder, with a further, more qualitative breakdown of some of the different levels. For example, a distinction is drawn between ‘cynical’ and ‘genuine’ consultation, and between ‘entrusted’ and ‘independent’ citizen control.
Burns...
CITIZEN CONTROL
Independent control
Entrusted control
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
Delegated control
Partnership
Limited decentralised decision-making
Effective advisory boards
Genuine consultation
High quality information
Burns...
CITIZEN NON-PARTICIPATIONCustomer carePoor informationCynical consultationCivic hypeA continuum of involvement
Wilcox, 1999: A Continuum of Involvement
Identifies five interconnected levels of community participation.
Information Consultation Deciding together Acting together Supporting individual community
initiatives
Wilcox...
Different ‘levels’ of participation are acceptable indiffering context and settings, this progressionrecognises that power is not always transferred inapparently participative processes, but that theprocesses still have value. As opposed to the commoninterpretation of Arnstien, that bring the thoughtthat it is only acceptable to be striving towards citizencontrol.
Participation: Petty and Hine Manipulative participation Passive participation Participation by consultation Participation for material incentives Functional participation Interactive participation Self-mobilisation
ParticipationEngagementConsultationAdapted from definitions by The Murray Darling BasinCommission, Australia
Difference between:
Paticipation
Participation “…simply means the act of
participating, in whatever form. Writingletters, ringing-up, attending events,
sendingemails or using a host of other forms ofcommunication are forms where peoplecan participate.
Consultation
Consultation “…conveys the idea that anagency, community or youth group, or individual is
activelyseeking advice from someone else. Advice is soughtin relation to a problem the agency has andis directed towards a number of options. Theevent is purpose driven. Whilst you listen tothe feedback there are no assurances thatthe advice received will be utilised or actedupon.”
Engagement
The word ‘engagement’ highlights the broaderresponsibilities of interactions withcommunity, and encompasses the full range ofprocesses used by communities or other
agencies, frominforming to empowering.Engagement, in this context, is inclusive of theprocesses described in the Wheel of
Engagement.
Using the Wheel of Participation
Putting the Theory Into Practice
Planning
Good planning is critical to successful community engagement
The participation organisation, Involve recommends a formula for public participation. Below is a summary of the key factors it believes should be considered when planning activity:
Involve
purpose - be clear about what the engagement activity seeks to achieve;
context - pay attention to the needs and character of the local community;
people - consider who should be involved, what their needs are, and what support or incentives may help them take part;
method - design the process and choose a method that is appropriate to the purpose, context and people; and
outcome – set the goals and overall objectives.
http://www.involve.org.uk/understanding-participation-a-literature-review-turkce/
Informing...
GoalProvide balanced and objective information to
helpCommunity understand the opportunities,
problems,alternatives and/or solutions Keeping the
publicinformed through information dissemination.
One way communication.
Implications
Increasing understanding of issues and options
Increasing community ability to address issues
Increasing community compliance with regulation and other requirements associated with change.
Techniques: Examples
Newsletters Websites Exhibitions eg local library or
community centre Social media
Class Activity
You are working as a youth worker in a youth
organisation in Tralee. You want to do some work in
the local community with young people on the issue of
Increased consumption of alcohol in local football pitch especially after dark Your organisation fears for wellbeing of
teenagers / health/peer pressure/bullying etc
Fears for safety of younger children being influenced
Who would you need to inform? Why? How?
Some considerations
Know who you are trying to reach and how they are most
likely to access and understand the information
• Ensure information provided is:• high quality• consistent• timely• appropriately targeted• clear and understandable to your audience.
Consult
Goal
Obtain public feedback on analysis, alternatives
and/or decisions .
Two way communication
Examples of techniques
Focus groups Surveys Public meetings
Guidelines for Consultation
Ensure the purpose of consultation is clear, including what you are consulting about
Know who you are trying to consult, the most effective way to reach people and get a response
Allow enough time for a response to consultation requests
Provide feedback on the results of consultation Ensure the views of those consulted are taken into
account in the outcome Present all information simply and clearly Ensure adequate resources are allocated to the
process.
Class Activity
Continuing on with the above youth worker example how would you consult with the local community?
Who would you consult with? Why? How? How would you let people know about
your findings? What would you do with your findings?
Involve
Participatory process Work directly with the community throughout
the process to ensure that concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered
Joint consideration of public responses with the community before decisions are taken, with feedback on how community has influenced decisions
Fluid, ongoing process and face to face dialogue:
Examples of Techniques
Workshops Establish working group/s
Putting plans in place Deciding who is to do what Setting realistic goals Bringing in other interested parties Making decisions on best approach to take
Guidelines for Involvement Know who needs to be involved in decision
making, activities or programs Ensure all relevant people are given the
opportunity to be involved Consider carefully what structures and processes
are appropriate for the purpose and who is to be engaged
Avoid misunderstanding and ambiguity by clearly establishing the basis for membership of bodies such as boards or committees (eg. skills vs representation), decision making processes (eg. voting vs consensus) and roles
Class Activity continued... Who would you involve in trying to
address the issues of alcohol use locally? Why? What are some of the ways in which you
could involve them?
Empower
Working together to develop understanding of all issues and interests to work out
Final decision-making in hands of community
Empowered communities share decision making
But..not taking law into own hands/vigilantism
Consider...
There must be clarity about the scope of the shared power
There must be clarity about roles and responsibilities
Communities need sufficient resources to enable empowerment
Class Activity Continued
In the above example what would an empowered community look like?
Be careful of the following...
there is often a perceived ‘usual suspect’ group that dominates local participation;
the typical participant is older (24 per cent of 50-74 year olds compared to 12 per cent of 16-24 year olds have participated in consultation exercises);
make sure that groups which are harder to access are not under-represented;
Consultation fatigue Vigilantism
NB: Effective Community Engagement
http://www.cbt.infoxchange.net.au/cbrs/CommEngageWorkbook.pdf
Workbook and ToolsCommunity Engagement UnitResources and Regional Services
Division/Catchmentand Agriculture Services
Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria Australia
References
1. Petts, J & Leach, B (2000) ‘Evaluating methods forpublic participation: a literature review’, R & technical report, E135, Environment Agency, Bristol
2. Brown, J & Isaacs, D (1994) ‘Merging the best of twoworlds the core processes of organisations ascommunities’ in P Senge, A Kleiner, C Roberts, R Ross &
3. B Smith (eds.) The fifth discipline fieldbook: strategiesand tools for building a learning organization,Doubleday/Currency Publications
Engagement Toolkit
http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/sites/default/files/book/community-engagement/what_is_community_engagement_-_guide_v1_-_no_cover.pdf
This toolkit is published by the Homes and Community Agency UK
For a practical application of the Wheel ofParticipation and the Ladder of
Participation see
South Lanarkshire Council’s Wheel of Participation
http://www.mercury.org.au/PDFs/Wheel%20of%20Participation.pdf
References
Five Step Framework
http://www.iap2.org.au/documents/item/84
Australian website on engagementhttp://www.dse.vic.gov.au/effective-
engagement/introduction-to-engagement
References
Understanding participation: A literature Review
Ellie Brodie Eddie Cowling Nina NissenWith Angela Ellis Paine Véronique JochumDiane WarburtonDecember 2009/PathwaysCan be found athttp://pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2009/09/Pathways-literature-review-final-version.pdf