IAP2 Foundations as Guide to Improved Public Participation

[mylesalexander]

Topline Description

The IAP2 Core Values guide organizations and decision makers to develop participation cultures.

Key Objective(s)

• People affected by a decision participate in the decision-making process.
• The public’s contribution will influence the decision.
• Recognize and communicate the needs and interests of all participants, including decision makers.
• Seek input from participants in designing how they participate.
• Provide participants with the information they need to participate in a meaningful way.
• Communicate to participants how their input affected the decision.

Paragraph Description

Public participation is two-way communication. Good public participation often requires decision makers, their organizations and the public to increase their skills and capacity. The IAP2 Core Values, Code of Ethics and Public Participation Spectrum provide guidance for wise public participation.

Measurable Metrics

• number of government unit that adopt the IAP2 Core Values and Code of Ethics
• number of government employees that complete the IAP2 Foundations Training
• change in participation rates by project type and government unit after employees are trained and implement the IAP2 Core Values and Code of Ethics
• reduction in law suits by dissatisfied public representatives
• amount (decrease) and intensity of conflict in public engagement efforts Foundations.pdf

[OpenGovMetrics]

The U.S. government, as a member of the Open Government Partnership, is now required to follow the OGP Participation and Co-creation Standards, which as its "Principles" (Section 1.1) has adopted the IAP2's "Core Values".

Both those points, the OGP's required Standards, and the Principles on which they are based, should be described (with links) in the NAP 4.0, as well as in every federal agency's Open Government Plan.

Stephen Buckley @OpenGovMetrics