BEP Decision Tree 3d – Build community capacity: citizen involvement opportunities

I need to develop an education program or outreach strategy:

Tree 3 – To build community capacity to manage water use and environmental impacts

Tree 3d: Solving this problem requires the community to provide opportunities for citizen involvement and participation in planning and decision-making.

 

Building community capacity requires opportunities for residents to participate in planning and decision-making.

[Select any that are applicable to your situation.]

Do government-managed planning activities incorporate citizen involvement and participation opportunities? 

NO

YES

Do community groups, stakeholder groups, or nongovernmental organizations regularly study and discuss community water management needs and solutions? 

NO

YES

When participating in planning and decision-making, are citizens and resident groups able to participate effectively? Does participation lead to results? 

NO

YES

Does the work of government planners, community groups, stakeholder groups, or nongovernmental organizations need improved strategic planning or conflict resolution skills

NO

YES

 


Government-managed planning activities incorporate citizen involvement and participation opportunities.

 

NO

Has the educator determined if government officials or planners work with stakeholders, coalitions or groups to:

  • Assure participation opportunities?
  • Involve citizens in gathering and analyzing data?
  • Build on locally existing skills and resources and scale actions appropriately to community resources and skills?
  • Provide authentic opportunities where participation leads to results and where participants can identify how their efforts made a difference?
  • Respect, encourage and reward local initiative?
  • Evaluate and report accomplishments?

The educator has not determined if government officials or planners work with stakeholders, coalitions or groups.  

Use audience assessment (social science techniques) to identify values, barriers to change, or missing skills or resources among officials, planning professionals, and community groups.

Use communication, teaching strategies, and leadership development to build partnerships and resources that lead to community participation opportunities.

 

The educator has determined if government officials or planners work with stakeholders, coalitions or groups.  

Work in collaboration with local officials and government professionals to develop information, communication, teaching strategies, and leadership development opportunities that enhance the quality of citizen involvement opportunities.

Training should focus on needs or barriers identified in the assessment of government officials’ or planners’ activities.

 

YES

Work in collaboration with local officials and government professionals to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of citizen involvement opportunities.

These should include:

  • Assure participation opportunities.
  • Involve citizens in gathering and analyzing data.
  • Build on locally existing skills and resources and scale actions appropriately to community resources and skills.
  • Provide authentic opportunities where participation leads to results and where participants can identify how their efforts made a difference.
  • Respect, encourage and reward local initiative.
  • Evaluate and report accomplishments.

 


Community groups, stakeholder groups, or nongovernmental organizations regularly study and discuss community water management needs and solutions.

 

NO 

Work with local agencies or organizations to establish and support a leadership development program.

See Decision Tree 2 for more ideas for how to build local understanding.

 

YES 

Use communication or teaching strategies to enhance outreach skills among leadership groups.

See Decision Tree 2 for more ideas for how to build local understanding.

 


When participating in planning and decision-making, citizens and resident groups are able to participate effectively and/or participation leads to results.

 

NO 

Use teaching techniques and leadership development principles to train policy makers and policy implementers in how to provide effective participation opportunities.

Help policy makers learn how to facilitate community engagement and to offer avenues for public participation that are competent, fair, and enhance involvement for all levels involved in the process.

Provide community involvement, participation, civic empowerment and leadership training for the target audience.

 

YES 

Evaluate quality of stakeholder knowledge and skills, and effectiveness of community participation and involvement.

Use teaching techniques to build skills for how to offer public participation activities that lead to results for all people responsible for stakeholder involvement.

Revise and adapt communication or training activities in response to findings.

 


The work of government planners, community groups, stakeholder groups, or nongovernmental organizations needs improved strategic planning or conflict resolution skills.

 

NO 

Evaluate quality of stakeholder knowledge and skills, and effectiveness of community participation and involvement.

Revise and adapt communication or training activities in response to findings.

Use teaching techniques to further planning or conflict resolution skills among all people responsible for stakeholder involvement, in cooperation with stakeholders,

 

YES 

Work with local agencies and organizations using non-economic social sciences and citizen participation techniques to learn about audience interests and concerns.

Create training opportunities that build strategic planning and community conflict management knowledge and skills.

Training should focus on needs or barriers identified in the assessment.