Stakeholder and citizen participation SUMP Technical Training Workshop Sofia, 4 May 2012

Why? Participation leads to more democracy provokes ownership increases efficiency and effectivity of policy choices offers insight in target groups narrows the gap between citizen and politician increases transparency

Step – by – step Define subject and scope Define context conditions Decide policy phase Define goal and level Identification and analysis of stakeholders Choose event(s) Make goals concrete and define result indicators Setup action plan Impact and process assessment

What is the subject / scope of your process? Plan Step – by – step: Step 1 What is the subject / scope of your process? Plan Project Measure

What is the participation – context? Step – by – step: Step 2 +3 What is the participation – context? Relation to other plans (local, regional, national)? Is there a tradition of participation in your city? In-house expertise or external consultant? Where does participation fit in consultation structure? In which policy phase we want citizens to participate? Planning, execution, evaluation

Which level of participation do you aim for? Step – by – step: Step 4 Which level of participation do you aim for? Information Consultation Advise Co-production Co-decision “good information beats bad co-production”

Identify individual and groups of stakeholders Analyse Step – by – step: Step 5 Identify individual and groups of stakeholders Analyse Expectations Skills Level of knowledge Level of interest

Choose appropriate participation-event Step – by – step: Step 6 Choose appropriate participation-event Structural or incidental Direct or indirect Interaction or no interaction Examples Citizen panel, jury City or neighbourhood debates Survey, focus groups Action research Advisory board

Make goals concrete and find result indicators Step – by – step: Step 7 + 8 + 9 Make goals concrete and find result indicators Action and evaluation plan per event Analysis of the output Process Impact

Citizen involvement: Hasselt “Geknipt Mobiel” (approach tested in 15 municipalities) Problem finding phase Site visit Photo’s / presentation Discussion (joint fact finding) Action plan Shared responsibility (co-ownership) Prioritise actions and make them concrete Names and dates the more concrete, the better Try to make them SMART

Citizen involvement: Hasselt Problem finding phase Site visit Starting with photo presentation Makes things ‘real’ Facilitates discussion Discussion Accessibility Livability (quality of life) Safety Citizen participation

Shared responsibility: Hasselt citizens city / police traffic generators Upper level (regional government, bus company, ..) Traffic organisation Parking management School travel plans Information Use and Promote alternatives Information about decisions School travel map Road works information Awareness raising Action on parking Accesibility brochure Promote alternatives Measures in school travel plans Funding? Education Promote offer to other citizens Course on traffic rules and regulations (police) Prevention / enforcement Speaking out-project Parking policy infrastructure Lowered sidewalks (for disabled )

Involving children in Jette Engaging children in designing a town square 1st meeting Learning to locate the school on a map of the city (game) Talking about the direct environment of the school building 2nd meeting Walking in the neighbourhood finding out what they like and dislike in public spaces Encourage and facilitate vision building on the public space (square in this case) 3rd meeting What is important in public spaces? Showing the results to designers, press and policymakers

Involving children in Jette

Engaging the elderly Action research Problem finding Action Execution of the action

Engaging the elderly

Conclusions Clear scope Clear trajectory & objectives Process management Shared responsibility Budget Timeline Communicate !

Exercise Think of a concrete (group of) measure(s) you would like to involve the public for. Design an ideal involvement plan. Can this work in your city? Why (not)?

Presentation prepared by Jan Christiaens, Mobiel21 icre@polisnetwork.eu