Application of Tools

Stakeholder and Public Participation

Dana Thalmeinerova,

based upon GWP ToolBox

IWRM Principle: PARTICIPATORY APPROACH

• Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach, involving users, planners and policymakers at all levels.

Gradations in involvement

Ignored

Controlled or manipulated

Informed

Self-management

Consulted

Dialogue

Reason to participate Participation strategy

Can the public contribute to decision – making?

Participation to improve the quality of plans and projects

Is the public needed for implementation?

Participation to improve implementation of plans

Can the public block decision – making or implementation?

Participation to prevent litigation and delays

Is participation legally required? Participation to meet legal requirements

Four steps in participation

• Identify key stakeholders• Assess stakeholders interests

and potential impact of the IWRM plan on these interests

• Assess the influence and importance of the identified stakeholders

• Outline a stakeholder participation strategy (part of Work plan)

Stakeholder analysis

Typology of possible stakeholders• Professionals – public and private sector organisations, professional voluntary

groups and professional NGOs (social, economic and environmental). This also includes statutory agencies, conservation groups, business, industry, insurance groups and academia.

• Authorities, elected people - government departments, statutory agencies, municipalities, local authorities

• Local Groups- non-professional organised entities operating at a local level. It usefully

• breaks down into:– Communities centred on place – attachment centred on place, which

includes groups like residents associations and local councils.– Communities centred on interest – e.g. farmers’ groups, fishermen,

birdwatchers.• Individual citizens, farmers and companies representing themselves. Key

individual landowners for example or local individual residents

Always remember: What do you want to achieve with public participation?

• ownership of problem by third parties;• commitment of other parties;• innovative solutions;• acceptance of measures to be taken;• raising awareness.

Consensus building

Benefits of participation

• Key issues at all levels are identified and agreed• Knowledge, experience, concerns of local communities are built into

plans and measures• Measures are likely to be acceptable• Conflicts are minimized once agreed on steps• Future implementers are aware of costs• Regulations are enforceable

Active involvementConsultations

Basic forms of participation

Information supply

Shall be ensured Shall be encouraged

Dialogue for better decisions

• Workshops, brainstorming, roundtables,….

• Representation in management team, steering committee, councils,…

• Consultations, written statements, …

• Surveys, questionnaires, public opinion pools…

Methods of participation

Level of participation Methods

Information (the pubic has an access to information)

Brochures, flyers, press conference, info-centers, exhibitions, „open-house“ events, internet distribution, cultural events, special (education) events for target groups, infotainment in mass media, talk shows in mass media

Consultation (the public has an opportunity to express views, statements)

Call for written comments, interviews, public debates, hearing, organization of surveys, public pool, internet discussion (e-forum), questionnaires

Discussions (direct interaction between the public and government bodies)

Workshops, seminars, round tables, specialized conferences

Shared decision (the public contributes to decision making process)

Negotiations resulting in voluntary agreements, stakeholders are members of advisory boards, organization of public vote (referendum)

Prepare participantsCAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

• Capacity building at individual level:

– Are participants inform on objectives (of a plan)?

– Are participants aware of importance of reform (changes)?

– Do participants understand principles of IWRM?

– Do participants have enough information?

– Do participants care?

– Are participants ready to bear responsibilities?

– Are participants ready to speak to each other?

Participatory capacity

When to involve stakeholders TIMING!• One may say that the stakeholders should be involved as early as

possible, before decisions are taken. Only then the authorities are able to benefit optimally from their insight, experience and knowledge and allow maximum involvement, influence and ultimate acceptance of eventual decisions.

• It is never too early. When involving stakeholders at a very early stage in the process it should be made perfectly clear to the stakeholder what his role is and how his contribution will be handled. Otherwise do not involve them.

What you want to communicateSCALE!!

• Determine which issues should be addressed at which level.• Determine what types of publics can make what types of

contribution• Communicate the (first) results as soon as possible across different

scales and between relevant units at the same scale.• Report on follow-up not only in the river basin management plan,

but also at the level where public participation was organized.

Badly organized participation• Limited and un-representative response• Misleading of public opinion by specific interest groups• Mistrust in future decisions• Unwillingness to implement measures adopted• Unaccomplished promises and expectations• Passive position for new plans

Case from EU Water Framework Directive Risks of participations

• the WFD does not specify who decide on the scope and extend of public participation

• the WFD does not specify who will ensure public participation at local, regional, national and European level

• the WFD is very complex to be understood by general public

• there is a risk, that involvement of the public will be “formal”

• public participation requires financial capacities

• the public does not have an interest to be involved or does not have sufficient information on water management issues

• the public is not well informed on rights to participate.