Mainstreaming Participation
Mainstreaming refers to the normalization of fit-for-purpose, high quality, and inclusive citizen participation. This can be achieved by adopting institutional reforms and democratic innovations that enable participatory methods to be systematically incorporated in governance systems.
Plan your mainstreaming participation strategy
Why Mainstream Participation?
One-off participation initiatives often fail to create lasting momentum or meaningful impact due to a lack of institutional frameworks or support, even when they are led by government. Regular, thoughtfully designed opportunities for the public to engage and build consensus on contentious issues and inform decision-making can lead to more effective governance, improved service design and delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Additionally, mainstreaming participation can lend greater transparency and legitimacy to government processes, which can build public trust and social cohesion.
How does mainstreaming work?
Mainstreaming requires specific structural reforms across government sectors, processes and institutions. This could include actions such as:
The creation of “best practice centers” or participation teams within government that are responsible for regulating and improving participation practices.
- France established an Interministerial Centre for Citizen Participation in 2019 offering support to state ministries and services to integrate co-production with citizens into the development of public policy. The French government also launched an app in 2023 called Agora, allowing citizens to ask questions to the government directly and participate in public consultations on a variety of policy areas such as agriculture and artificial intelligence.
Passing and implementing laws and policies that establish and support institutional mechanisms for public participation.
- The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (better known as the Escazú Agreement) was adopted in Costa Rica in 2018 to strengthen environmental democracy in the region. The agreement came into force in Argentina in 2021, placing obligations on the state to embed and operationalize early public participation in environmental decision-making and improve the dissemination and right of access to information.
Publishing minimum standards/frameworks and guidance for the design and implementation of public participation programs.
- The Australian government established a new government framework for public participation and engagement in 2016, including principles, methods of engagement, and standards for public servants. The framework was developed and tested through an open design process, with contributions from nearly 1,000 people from the public service and the general public.
- In 2023, the Scottish government published a framework for good practice in participation work across the government. This handbook aims to support government staff to understand what high quality, inclusive participation looks like and carry this approach forward in their own work. The framework is part of a larger public service reform in Scotland that aims to embed greater collaboration and co-production with the public.
Institutionalizing specific methods or mechanisms for public participation.
- The Estonian government is in the process of testing a centralized online platform for legislative processes as of 2021. Draft legislation will now be created in a dedicated co-creation workspace, with information and amendments all in one place. This reform allows the public and interested parties to access information, and be involved in legislative drafting in a more transparent and direct way.
About the Mainstreaming Participation module
The Mainstreaming Participation module will help you reflect on the opportunities for participation in your community and identify your mainstreaming objectives and barriers to develop a tailored reform strategy. Please note that this module is not designed to assist with planning the institutionalization of a specific process. Instead, it will guide you in identifying the types of reforms you want to advocate for or implement. Additionally, it will provide you with the tools and resources needed to begin building your coalition and engaging with decision-makers.
Please keep in mind that this is an advanced module. We recommend that users of this module be familiar with participatory democracy and its implementation in their communities, and have an interest in making participation more commonplace, more impactful, more consistent, and of higher quality.
This module was developed in collaboration with Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Institute of Public Finance (IPF), drawing on the Open Government Guide to Mainstreaming Participation.