How can you develop skills in public participation and engagement?

1 Understand the context

Before you engage with the public, you need to understand the context of your planning project, the goals and objectives, the legal and ethical requirements, and the potential impacts and benefits for different groups and interests. You also need to identify who are the relevant stakeholders, how they are affected by the project, what are their needs and expectations, and how they prefer to be involved. You can use tools such as stakeholder analysis, SWOT analysis, and issue mapping to help you with this.

2 Choose the methods

There are many methods and tools for public participation and engagement, ranging from information provision and consultation to collaboration and empowerment. You need to choose the methods that are appropriate for your project, the level of involvement you want to achieve, the resources and time available, and the characteristics and preferences of your stakeholders. You can use frameworks such as the IAP2 Spectrum of Public Participation, the Arnstein Ladder of Citizen Participation, or the Sherry Arnstein Dialogue Model to guide you in selecting the methods.

4 Implement the process

The implementation of the process requires effective communication, facilitation, and management skills. You need to communicate clearly and respectfully with your stakeholders, using appropriate language, media, and formats. You need to facilitate the participation and engagement activities, creating a safe and constructive space for dialogue, listening actively, managing conflicts, and encouraging diversity and creativity. You need to manage the process, ensuring that it is transparent, accountable, and adaptive.

6 Learn from others

One of the best ways to develop your skills in public participation and engagement is to learn from others who have experience and expertise in this field. You can find many examples, case studies, best practices, and lessons learned from various sources, such as books, journals, websites, podcasts, videos, or online courses. You can also network with other urban planners and professionals who are involved in public participation and engagement, and exchange ideas, insights, and feedback.