Public Participation in
Regional Economic Development
Module 6

Public Participation in
Regional Economic Development
Objectives:
 to specify the role of public participation in regional economic development
 to explore degrees of public involvement and expectations for decision-making
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 to identify obstacles to and benefits of public involvement
 to identify some public participation methods and show how they can be used
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Public Participation in
Regional Economic Development
“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.”
Thomas Jefferson, 1820
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 lack of government resources
 uncoordinated community development activities
 failure of centralized approaches
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Public Participation as a
Contribution to Development

Buy-in and support are tied to economic benefits or rewards.

Decisions affect and implementation depends on the public.

Outsiders design programs.

Local people are perceived to lack technical and process skills.
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Public Participation as a Contribution to Development (contd)
 Control, direction, and decisionmaking remain with “professionals.”
 Technical aspects become prominent.
 Organizations are usually externally conceived.
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Public Participation as a Contribution to Development (contd)
 Organizations reflect only part of the community.
 There is little empathy with those who should be served.
 Local accountability is lacking.
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Basic Principles:
 People are the primary ingredients of development.

We must recognize people’s knowledge and expertise.
 The total community is included.
 People must feel empowered to control their own destinies.
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
People’s skills and abilities must be developed through participation.
 The role of education and training is recognized.
 Expertise is a resource to the people rather than to the product.
 People have the ability to determine their own futures.
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 personal control and growth
 self-reliance
 conformity to local values, ideals, and expectations
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 works in local development
 coordinates and facilitates based on people’s wishes
 concentrates on the people’s participation in the process
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 provides focus, forecasting problems through environmental scanning
 earns trust and credibility through empathy
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Participants’ Input 6.1
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Power:
 Governments traditionally designed and controlled programs.
 Limited input resulted in a lack of buyin and support.
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Obstacles to Participation (contd)
 Community beliefs about organizational autonomy:
 The community should control design and priorities for development.
 The community knows best.
 Responsibility is shared without authority and resources.
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Obstacles to Participation (contd)
Administration:
 Accountability interferes with delegation.
 Administrators reserve the right to determine priorities.
 Planners and administrators are reluctant to concede their practice.
 Local involvement adds time.
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Benefits of Public Participation
 recognition of local needs and priorities
 recognition of local knowledge and skills
 direct input VS prescriptive solutions
 more reliable feedback on impacts of initiatives
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Benefits of Public
Participation (contd)
 new insights from the community for adapting programs
 lower costs in dealing with local organizations
 better design of programs
 improved utilization of facilities
 cooperation in new program innovation
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 improved organizational structures
 added accountability through
Performance Contracts
 need for better public education
 more equitable sharing of roles and responsibilities
 less conflict and misunderstanding
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Participants’ Input 6.2
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Public Meetings:
 good for discussing general ideas and approaches
 widespread input and perspectives obtained
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Newsletters:
 one-way communication
 best for dispensing information
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Focus Groups:
 effective for obtaining input on specific topics
 allow involvement of those most affected
 useful for updating sector strategies
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Questionnaires:
 recommended for collecting information
 limited opportunity for exploring issues
 low return rates
 lack validity
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Media:
 most powerful public participation tool
 can become a forum for public discussion
 a method of community education
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Participants’ Input 6.3
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