Evaluative Framework for Engagement

[Dr Huw Evans]

A few years ago I developed an evaluative framework for approaches to and processes for public engagement attempting to link legislation and policy to theoretical domains.  An overarching influence and driver being the Human Rights Act developing the argument that citizens have a right to be listened to by those making decisions that affect them.  Thus some stereotypical approaches to consultation or involving citizens and service users may not be good enough as they might not be proactively inclusive.  They are often about ticking a box in the immediacy of an initiative to satisfy legislation/policy at a superficial level with little regard to developing citizen and service user attitudes to engagement and impacting upon issues such as community cohesion and involvement in democratic processes - longer term strategic issues for a democracy.  My work pushed me towards participative approaches where instead of picking off marginalised people/groups in silos, approaches to engagement are designed to bring people together, create dialogues, break down silos, develop common understanding and build acceptance of responsibility for action.  As such it challenges current representative democratic models and thus the power and status of elites masked by current democratic arrangements, e.g. councillors, members of parliament, assembly members, so-called 'community leaders, public sector officers, managers of outsourced services et al.

Current approaches to engagement seem to accept the status quo in terms of citizen participation in democratic arrangements rather than developing new and innovative approaches.  The problem is exacerbated by the long term view needed to allow new models to emerge and develop - political timescales tend not to support the long term view and are prone to change underpinned by the dogma of minority viewpoints.

It seems to me that the current economic, political, societal models aren't delivering the best for people, especially in more deprived areas.  I recall conversations with my Dad who was urged by his father to travel out of South Wales in the 1940s to find a better future ....  Has much changed for people today, especially young people, in many parts of Wales and other areas in the UK?  How do you create a cohesive and sustainable society with citizens confident in their engagement and involvement in decision-making about the future for themselves and their children, grandchildren and beyond?  I'd suggest that in some areas unless the people living there are supported in designing for themselves a sustainable future - there will be no future ...

I'd suggest investing in changing how citizens are involved in decisions that affect them ...  Co-production, participative democracy, participatory action research etc are concepts and practices that seem to demand that those involved derive intrinsic benefit from the experience in order to want to engage and re-engage.

For what it's worth - I'd offer my evaluative framework as a tool to guide thinking, to inform people and to support learning from how citizens are engaged.

NB: The framework was initially developed from a police perspective - it was the route for support for the work and my employment context at the time.  However, it has a wider valid application.

Evaluative%20Framework%20Short%20Version.pdf