Transcript Slide 1

Citizen Engagement & Collaboration

Building Trust in
Public Governance
Presented by:
Serena Cassidy
Cover Image: http://www.gov.ns.ca/nsmap.htm
Presentation Outline

Introduction
Project Overview
 Method
 Defining Citizen Engagement
 Citizen Engagement Principles
 Overview of Citizen Engagement
 Citizen Engagement & Governance

Presentation Outline Cont…
Citizen Engagement Framework
 Case Study: VP CD Project

 Inclusion
& Citizen Engagement
Analysis of Citizen Engagement Methods
 Policy Benefits of Citizen Engagement
 Challenges to Implementation
 Conclusion

Project Overview

Voluntary Planning/ OED –
Establishing a Common Vision for the
Future of Nova Scotia

Researching & developing a database
of citizen engagement methods used
by citizens/practitioners/organizations
worldwide
Project Overview

Developing a ‘tool’ by which
communities/government can choose
the method of citizen engagement
best suited for their local needs

Goal: Building trust in public
governance by providing information
in a transparent and straightforward
manner
Project Overview

We heard during consultations with
community leaders that there is no need to
reinvent the wheel – a large body of
information about citizen engagement is
readily available on the Internet. What is
needed is a tool for determining the best
way to engage in the visioning process in
local communities, along with information
on various types of citizen engagement
methods.
Method


World-wide research was conducted in order to
gather information on the best practices and
practical uses of current citizen engagement
methods.
The information was organized into the
following categories:
 description of method and/or process
 definition of method
 practical application
 projected outcomes
 rationale for method
Defining Citizen Engagement
According to OECD, citizen engagement
involves:


“… [Recognizing] the capacity of citizens to
discuss and generate policy options
independently. It requires governments to
share in agenda setting and to ensure that
policy proposals generated jointly will be
taken into account in reaching a final
decision.”
Source: Canadian Policy Research Networks, Engaging Citizen’s in Policy, M.P. McKinnon, March 10,
2006 <http://www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=1399>
Defining Citizen Engagement

The BC Healthy Communities Network
defines community engagement as:
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“…encouraging inclusion and
participation of diverse individuals,
organizations and sectors, [and]
honoring the many ways that people
make a contribution to community
building.”

BC Healthy Communities, 2005 – 2007 Strategic Plan:
<http://www.bchealthycommunities.ca/Content/About%20BCHC/Index.asp>
Source:
Defining Citizen Engagement


“…democracy is strengthened when
citizens are engaged in an inclusive and
transparent policy process … Voluntary
Planning strives to include all Nova
Scotians geographically, sectorally and
socially; and to operate in the service of
government’s policy needs but at arms’
length from government. … the process is
transparent so that it is fair, and is
perceived to be fair, in representing the
views of citizens.”
Voluntary Planning, A Citizens’ Policy Forum: <http://www.gov.ns.ca/vp/index.htm>
Citizen Engagement Principles
Sustainability
 Collaborative leadership
 Creativity


Diversity
 Inclusion
 Geographic
Community
 Communities of Affinity
 Demographic Communities
Citizen Engagement Principles

According to the Nova Scotia
Community Development Policy, “all
community members, regardless of
gender, age, disability, race, culture,
language or social and economic
status should have the opportunity to
become engaged in the community
development process and be able to
access its social and economic
benefits.”
Overview of Citizen Engagement

A process of both dialogue and
deliberation

Dialogue: As a tool for community
planning, “dialogue [is a] powerful group
process that helps people bridge gaps,
make better decisions, take collective
action, resolve conflict and become more
active citizens.”
Overview of Citizen Engagement

Deliberation: “people coming together
to talk about a community problem
that is important to them…face to
face…considering the costs and
consequences of public policy
decisions.”
Citizen Engagement & Governance

Local citizens, governments and
community organizations are meeting
together to ask the following
questions:
What is the vision for our community?
 How can we engage citizens in
discussions about important issues?
 What is the best way to plan for
sustainable community development?

Citizen Engagement & Governance
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Citizen engagement is the driving
force behind vibrant and sustainable
community development
.

However, our communities are
changing:
Demographics
 Urban sprawl
 Increased Traffic

Source: Roseland, M., Toward Sustainable Communities, 2005
.
Citizen Engagement & Governance
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Facilitates development of a shared
vision and establishment of common
goals between citizens and
government

The establishment of clear objectives
and outcomes helps to increase trust
between community stakeholders and
government
Citizen Engagement Framework

Citizen engagement reflects a higher level
of dialogue and communication than
government consultation with stakeholders

Increasing level of Public Impact
 Empower
 Collaborate
 Involve
 Consult
 Inform
Citizen Engagement Framework
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Common Theme:

The gap between citizens and
government is bridged by equitable
decision making processes, inclusive
participatory methods and clearly
identifiable outcomes.
Case Study:
Voluntary Planning CD Project

Establishing a common vision for the future
of Nova Scotia
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Promotes a balanced approach to CD
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Involves community meetings with diverse
‘stakeholders’

Includes the social, economic,
environmental and cultural dimensions of
community based on principles of the NS
CD Policy
NS CD Policy

The aim of the CD Policy is to encourage
communities to take the lead in their own
development – while government provides
support and resources.

The government’s CD Policy emphasizes a
collaborative approach between
government and communities which,
“…builds on the combined skills, resources
and commitment needed to address
challenges and opportunities.”
Inclusion & Citizen Engagement
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Inclusion Lens
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“a tool for analyzing legislation, policies,
programs, and practices to determine
whether they promote the social and
economic inclusion of individuals,
families, and communities.”

a way to begin a dialogue with socially
excluded groups
Inclusion & Citizen Engagement
Important questions to ask include:
Who is being excluded?
 Who benefits from exclusion?
 Who are the people to be included?
 How will the policy or program increase
or decrease discrimination on the basis
of gender, race, age, culture, or
ethnicity?
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Analysis of Citizen Engagement
Methods
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The resulting document provides
relevant information that a
community group or organization can
use to determine the usefulness of a
method of engagement. It provides
information about the practical
application of each method, amount
of resources needed, and actual
outcomes.
Methods of Citizen Engagement
Appreciative Inquiry
 Community Forum
 Conversation Café/ World Café
 Focus Groups
 Open Space Technology
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Appreciative Inquiry
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“a concept of sustainable development that
integrates economic growth, social wellbeing, and environmental integrity.”

Focus on a ‘positive present’ and
recognizing community assets

Framework for Heartwood’s Community
Youth Development Framework and
IMAGINE Chicago Model
Community Forum

“a group of people living in the same
locality and under the same
government who assemble at a public
meeting place in order to engage in
an open discussion on a selected
issue.”
Community Forum
Takes place within the community
 Easy to organize
 Low cost involved
 Similar to a Town Hall Meeting
 Use of local media

Various forms of communication used
 Various forms of technology used
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Conversation Café/World Café
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Involves the use of a facilitator who leads a
discussion in an informal public setting
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Based on Appreciative Inquiry method
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Emphasizes creativity
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Allows citizens to express their ideas in
alternate formats (visual, audio, spatial)
Conversation Café
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“Open, hosted, drop-in conversations
among people with diverse views and
a shared passion for engaging with
others. [It is] held in public spaces
[such as] cafés, restaurants and
bookstores, and provides a safe
setting for talking with neighbours
about things that matter over a cup
of coffee or tea.”
Conversation Café

Builds critical thinking, social
engagement and conviviality

Simple Agreements:
Acceptance
 Open-mindedness
 Curiosity
 Discovery
 Sincerity
 Brevity
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World Café

“an intentional way to create a living
network of conversation around
questions that matter… [As well
as]…a creative process for leading
collaborative dialogue, sharing
knowledge and creating possibilities
for action in groups of all sizes.”
World Café
Involves the use of a facilitator
 Facilitator guides the conversation by
asking questions such as:

“What is the best outcome we can
envision?
 What line (s) of inquiry do we want to
pursue?”

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Participants are invited, rather than
just ‘dropping in’
Focus Groups
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“a [semi-structured] interview
conducted with a small group of
people rather than on an individual
basis. A moderator guides the
discussion by following a set of
…questions, while a recorder takes
notes. Common themes which
emerge from the conversation are
analyzed and summarized…”
Open Space Technology

“a powerful group process that
supports positive transformation, …
inspires creative solutions, improves
communication and enhances
collaboration”

Citizens respond to a clearly
articulated theme
Open Space Technology

“the participants who show up are the right
people, whatever happens is the only thing
that can happen, the right time to start is
whenever it starts…”

Citizens have the opportunity to assemble
and prioritize the planning process in a fun
and creative way, which allows for the
spontaneous emergence of critical issues
that may not have been realized at the
outset of the community visioning process.
Policy Benefits of CE

Knowledge of grass roots issues
reaches ‘those in power’

Diversity of voices can be heard

Alternate methods of community
contribution are recognized

Allows action at the ‘community level’.
Challenges to Policy Implementation

Outcome delivery
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Differing political agendas

Changing Mandates

Agenda setting by groups of
individuals/ organizations
Conclusion

Citizen Task Force was assembled in
Fall 2006

Project has been ‘temporarily
suspended’ by the Office of Economic
Development