Handbook on Citizen Engagement: Beyond Consultation - SASANet

<strong>Handbook</strong> on Citizen Engagement: Beyond ConsultationChapter I. Introductiona) Purpose of the handbookWelcome to the <strong>Handbook</strong> to Citizen Engagement: Beyond Consultation!This handbook builds on years of work at the Canadian Policy Research Networks bringingtogether cutting edge thinkers and practitioners in the field of citizen engagement. While it is notpossible to capture all of CPRN’s and others’ work in one handbook, the hope is that this toolwill provide a good overview of the breadth of the field – both the concepts and the methods –and supply ample resources (particularly online resources) with which to deepen knowledge onspecific subjects.The handbook is intended to whet the appetite for citizen engagement for those new to citizenengagement, and for those with experience to deepen the analysis behind citizen engagementprojects and provide a synthesis of the field and a concise reference tool. The long term vision isto contribute to the closing of the gap between governments and citizens, to allow public servantsand politicians to reconnect with citizens’ needs, priorities and values.This handbook is not a prescriptive how-to manual on citizen engagement. There is no one-sizefits-allin citizen engagement. Each context, policy or program development process requires aunique approach and adapted tools to address its specific needs. Engaging citizens in a meaningfulway first requires an understanding of the philosophy and vision of citizen engagement. It callsfor planning and preparation and sometimes institutional capacity building. It can demand a shiftin organizational or departmental cultural conceptions of what citizens can bring to a policyprocess. This handbook is a starting point to think about these issues and a reference guide forthose who wish to deepen their understanding and practice of citizen engagement.Citizen engagement is premised on the belief that people should have and want to have a say inthe decisions that affect their lives. While some may claim that voting and consultation processesachieve this, it is clear that citizens are increasingly frustrated with these democraticmechanisms. They feel that their voices are not being heard and that decisions made by elites donot necessarily reflect their values. Citizen engagement provides a vision for a way forward – away of reinvigorating current democratic practices and institutions, bringing meaning to people’sparticipation and fostering a two way dialogue between citizens and governments. The hope isthat this will not be seen as a mechanism for placating peoples’ desires, but actually bring abouta more just society where governments’ choices more closely reflect the needs of its population.b) Intended audienceA number of audiences may find this handbook useful, including those working in communitydevelopment, the public sector, the non-profit sector, the private sector and academia. However,it should be noted that this handbook has been written with the particular interests andperspectives of the government in mind – both public servants and politicians. While certainlynot the only players to have a role in social change, public servants and politicians have a uniqueposition in that they act from within government, granting them a unique opportunity andperspective on the policy process.CANADIAN POLICY RESEARCH NETWORKS 1