Public Participation 2020 – Disaster or Opportunity?

Challenges for online participation formats at various levels 

Many of our clients are facing these challenges: How can public participation be kept alive during the coronavirus pandemic? What opportunities do online alternatives offer? What needs to be taken into account when planning coronavirus-compliant events and alternative online formats? 

Three tips for public participation during the COVID-19 pandemic

1. As much digital as possible, as much in-person as necessary – in some cases, in-person events cannot be replaced
   by online formats. The current trend is to organise every event as an online format. However, this is not always the best solution: in some situations, an in-person event – naturally with strict hygiene protocols in place – remains the better choice. This is particularly the case when the event in question involves making initial contact with the citizens concerned. In such cases, no online tool in the world can provide an equivalent substitute for face-to-face contact.
   An online format has different accessibility requirements to an in-person meeting. Some older people are not familiar enough with using the internet to be able to take part in an online event without difficulty. If there are many older people in the target group, it is worth considering whether online participation might mean that many voices are left out.
   Each case must be assessed individually: can an online format offer the same as an in-person meeting? Or would participants prefer to be able to look each other in the eye? 
2. 
   There is no single online tool that can do everything – tailored solutions are needed
   depending on the format, target group and requirements. There is no such thing as a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ online tool that can be used for any online format without further planning or adaptation. That is why it is important to consider carefully in advance exactly what the tool needs to be able to do:
   Is a presentation planned, or an open discussion session? Should direct interaction with members of the public take place in one-to-one meetings, during which personal and confidential documents are discussed? Or is it a workshop where participants are to meet in various small groups at different times? The rule is therefore: first clarify the format, target audience and requirements; then select the most suitable tool from the wide range available and test it before use. 
3. Here to stay – online tools as a useful complement or alternative in the post-coronavirus era
   Even when in-person events are possible again soon, this need not spell the end of online tools for public participation – quite the contrary. The experience gained with these tools now will complement and enrich traditional public participation in the long term. Online formats are currently being put to the test; organisers, public authorities, project leaders and many others are discovering new territory in recent weeks that can bring numerous benefits. We hope they will come to love them too. Because if online formats prove their worth now, they can continue to be offered on a permanent basis in the future. 

Citizens want to – and should – continue to be involved in the planning of projects affecting their local environment, even whilst social distancing measures are in place. Rather than declaring 2020 a lost year for public participation just yet, we see opportunities and possibilities for new perspectives and tools that point the way to the future.