This set of tools helps to effectively organise and engage with multiple groups and actors. Rather than exercises, this section provides a series of ideas around citizen participation, building alliances and coalitions and engaging with the 'powerful'.
Example of questions that this category of tools can help you investigate:
- How do I organise citizen groups so that the voices of those most marginalised are being heard?
- How do I make the most out of a consultation process?
- How do I build effective alliances while recognising differences?
- What are my entry points for my change strategy?
Key tools – Organising citizen participation | |
| Analysing participation | White’s typology of participation helps assess where citizen participation offers real opportunities to change the rules of the game and influence the decision-making process. |
| Linking communication and power | This series of ideas aims to strengthen people’s voices by explicitly recognising how the inability to communicate is both a cause and effect of unequal power relationships. |
| Participatory Appraisal methodologies | This set includes visualisation methods that are particularly useful to people who find conventional ways of participating intimidating or complicated. |
Key tools – Organising alliances and coalitions | |
| Resource mapping | This exercise helps identify the various resources each individual bring to the table and articulate power differentials. |
| Tools for multi-stakeholder dialogue | These tools help facilitate conversations while recognising power dynamics in a constructive way. |
| Feelings and power in partnerships | This set of exercises explores why participants in a partnership do not always behave rationally. |
Key tools – Engaging with the ‘powerful’ | |
| Finding policy hooks | This tool can guide how to gather information to find the right political angle as an entry point. |
| Working with the media | These resources can help you engage more effectively with various types of media. |
| Pedagogy for the ‘powerful’ | These approaches are concerned with supporting and building the capabilities of the ‘powerful’ to give away their power. |