Part 1 : Conceptual briefing note: An introduction to public involvement
[ Introduction | What
is Public Involvement? | Why is Public Involvement important? | Who
should be involved? | What is the
Public Involvement process? | What
is a Public Involvement plan? | References ]
Introduction
Purpose of this document
This Briefing note is designed to introduce government project officers responsible for
large-scale projects in the natural resource management sector (including agricultural
development, mining, hydropower, rural infrastructure and biodiversity conservation) to a
new approach to involving the public in decision-making.
This approach has evolved via a process of “learning by experience” from
development projects world-wide and is commonly known as Public Involvement (PI) -
sometimes also referred to as Public Participation or even Public Consultation. PI is now
widely accepted as a “mode of operation” by most international donors (development
partners), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and increasingly by the private sector.
This Document provides: a definition of PI and its component parts; introduces the main
principles underlying the consultation and participation process; and provides
clarification of PI terminology that is commonly used by donor agencies and NGOs. It is
organized in Question & Answer format, as follows:
Project officers can use this document as a point of reference when planning, managing
and monitoring the PI process, or when training new members of http://www.unescap.org/enrd/energy/. It can also
distributed to relevant line ministries, regional and local government, developers,
funding organizations, NGOs and members of the public, in order to orientate these
organizations and individuals prior to the development of a PI plan.
This part should be read as an introduction to, and in conjunction with, the more
detailed Public Involvement Guidelines of this document given as part two.
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