Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
O
A process through which stakeholders
influence
and share control over
development initiatives and the decisions and resources which affect them
(World Bank 1996, cited in Sidaway 2005: 119);
O
A process by which public concerns, needs and values
are incorporated
into
government decision-making (Creighton 1992, cited in Sidaway 2005:
119).
Two themes are common among these definitions:
O
engagement involves the
community
(we discuss who later); and
O
engagement
influences
making better decisions or improves the decision.
Community engagement should be used to assist when making difficult
decisions, not just routine decisions. Making a better decision does not
necessarily mean agreement, although that would be ideal. Twyford
et al.
(2006) states that community engagement should result in people feeling
they have been heard, are comfortable with the process and can live with the
decision. They suggest that for a decision to be better, it must be: informed;
understood; implementable; and sustainable.
The International Association for Public Participation has identified core
values for the practice of public participation as:
O
being based on the belief that those who are affected by a decision have a
right to be involved in the decision-making process;
O
including the promise that the public's contribution will influence the
decision;
O
promoting sustainable decisions by recognising and communicating the
needs and interests of all participants, including decision makers;
O
seeking out and facilitating the involvement of those potentially affected
by or interested in a decision;
O
seeking input from participants in designing how they participate
O
providing participants with the information they need to participate in a
meaningful way;
O
communicating to participants how their input affected the decision.
(IAP2 2007).
Engaging the community in water resource planning processes can be time-
consuming, requiring an extensive commitment in time and money by the
government and the community. Yet it often saves time and effort in the long
run. Key stakeholders in most democratic countries have an expectation that
their views and input will be sought, respected and considered in the process.
While it is usually made clear that a final decision rests with government
(that is, government Ministers acting on advice from agency staff), stake-
holders have an expectation that, in putting in the effort, they will in some
way influence the outcomes. Government, too, expects that in committing to
