Civic engagement in public policies: a toolkit
2007
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
This toolkit, by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), provides guidance and step-by-step approaches on successful methodologies and techniques for effective social mobilization programmes in the public sector. It draws lessons from various cases around the world, describing strategies of participation relevant to policy-making and participatory budgeting.
Preface
Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and the private sector, in today’s world, have a crucial role to play in the policy-making processes of the state. Around the world greater engagement of citizens, clients, consumers and communities is becoming a feature of many governments and both public and private organizations. NGOs and CSOs are no longer restricted to the role of service delivery. Policy-makers across the world are coming to share the understanding that the active engagement and participation of communities and citizens in the policy-making process, as well as establishing suitable institutional arrangements for securing dialogue with communities, are key to effective policy-making and consequently, to achieve the internationally agreed-upon development goals, including the MDGs. To this end, the Socio-economic Governance and Management Branch (SGMB), Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) is taking the lead in strengthening capacities in participatory governance and partnerships, and developing governance tools and strategies conducive to the implementation of the United Nations Development Agenda including the MDGs.
While many governments and CSOs have committed themselves to participation in public governance, practical tools relevant to such practices are still emerging. In that sense, this Toolkit is a very timely publication. It provides guidance and step by step approaches on successful methods, techniques, mechanisms and processes for effective social mobilization, dialoguing, brainstorming, formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes in public sector. By drawing lessons from several successful cases around the world, the Toolkit describes various methodologies and
strategies of participation relevant to policy-making, participatory budgeting, etc.
I wish to thank all those who contributed to the preparation of this Toolkit. Most prominently, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Ms. Najet Karaborni, the Senior Interregional Adviser of UNDESA, who initiated, designed, developed and almost single -handedly prepared this Toolkit. I would also like to thank Mr. Leyth Khantouche, Management Information Systems and Training Specialist for his intellectual advice and comments. I also acknowledge important contributions made by the two Interns of SGMB, Mr. Hosam Mekdad and Mr. Nabil Ait-Accache. I thank
Mr. Yoshinobu Yonekawa, Programme Coordinator, SGMB/UNDESA for editorial work of the Toolkit. Special thanks are also due to the participants of the Arab Regional Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges of Civic Engagement in Socioeconomic Policies, held in March 2007 in Amman, Jordan, where the draft of the Toolkit was presented and feedback obtained.
I hope that the intending users find the Toolkit useful. We also look forward to receiving additional inputs from users so that the document can be improved further in future.
Adil Khan, Chief, Socio -Economic and Management Branch
Division for Public Administration and Development Management
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
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