Unit 10.1, Participative Methods

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MODULE 10: Storytelling and Participative Methods

Participative Methods

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What is a Participatory Method?

Unit 10.1: The Participatory Method

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Participatory methods (PMs) include a range of activities with a common thread: enabling ordinary people to play an active and influential part in decisions which affect their lives. This means that people are not just listened to, but also heard; and that their voices shape outcomes.

What is a Participatory Method?

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Participatory decision-making is not only desired and demanded by citizens who wish to play a more active role in the governance of their society. Regional, national and local governments, development agencies and NGOs, scientists and companies are also increasingly eager to reap the benefits of actively engaging in decision-making processes with diverse perspectives and those who will be affected by policies. Creating storytelling with a participatory method means giving a voice to ordinary people to express their thought, and desires for better community life.

Who wants a participatory approach used in storytelling?

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Involvement in participatory processes also builds capacity among the public. It does so by educating the public as well as creating networks of relevant persons who can continue to address policy issues as they develop. However, not only the public needs to learn. All decision-makers can best learn how to improve their services and products by receiving direct feedback from the ‘users’. Rather than first making and then fixing, it is most efficient to involve the end-users in the initial design and planning.

Why use a participatory approach?

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In sum, effective and meaningful public involvement is seen as essential to:

• enable high quality and democratic governance;
• strengthen civil capacity;
• develop and deliver programmes effectively and efficiently;
• build public confidence and trust in decisions;
• generate a greater understanding of public issues, concerns, priorities and solutions;
• build broader support for programmes and initiatives;
• increase mutual learning through the sharing of information, data and experiences;
• ensure that decisions and policies incorporate knowledge and expertise that otherwise might be overlooked;

• reflect a wider range of public concerns and values in decision-making;
• rapidly identify possible controversial aspects of an issue and help bring together different points of view to achieve consensus in a collaborative manner.

Why use a participatory approach?

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A participatory approach is particularly appropriate for addressing:

• themes that require ethical, social or cultural study and may call for a choice between fundamental values and principles;
• policy issues that call for a combination of public awareness, learning, a search for solutions and emotional or moral acceptance of the eventual decision;
• public policy choices that will rely on the precautionary principle or the weight of evidence;
• underlying values and principles that must be clarified before detailed proposals or risk management options are brought forward;
• a clearly defined set of options or proposals that support the search for consensus or innovative solutions.

When is a participatory approach appropriate?

Budget

Time

Participants

Topic

Objectives

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In deciding which method(s) to employ, one must take into account the following five elements:

Which method should we use?

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1. Recruit a project team for your book.
2. Define the purpose and goals of the book of stories.
3. Determine the scope and focus of a public involvement process.
4. Understand the legislative, legal, jurisdictional and social context for the issue and any decision(s) to be made.
5. Determine who should be involved and why.
6. Understand the time frame and process for working on stories.
7. Design the plan (choosing one or multiple methods).
8. Set adequate timelines and other resources required to make the process work.
9. Recruit participants for the stories.
10. Realize the stories using one or more participatory methods.
11. Evaluate the process and results.
12. Produce and disseminate your storytelling book.

The general steps in realizing a book of stories through participatory methods:

You have successfully completed Unit 10.1!

MODULE 10: Storytelling and Participative Methods