Broad-based Stakeholder Advisory Panels
Advisory councils that draw together representatives from various stakeholder groups have been criticized for being nothing more than simple consultation processes, and often elite-based ones that are less concerned with the broader public good than their own special interests. It is possible, however, for a well designed process to be firmed grounded in the grassroots and involve genuinely dialogical dimensions. These latter dimensions would be specifically ongoing response loops, creating the back and forth of genuine dialogue (rather than a mere series of monologues), and a demonstrable impact on actual decision-making.
This kind of approach can be effectively employed in a variety of contexts, even those that involve delicate inter-jurisdictional negotiations – as the example below demonstrates.
Example:
Ontario’s Annex Advisory Panel (to the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement)
Readings:
See IPAC Innovation Awards Database
IPAC Events
