Building government capability
Government agencies must take action both at the planning level and in their day-to-day activities to involve communities in policy-making and service delivery.
Ready Reference Engagement Guide
Supporting government agencies to engage effectively with citizens and communities.
This guide is for public servants at all levels who interact with communities. If you are new to working with communities, this guide will help you learn about organising consultation processes, working in partnership, and building trusting relationships.
Whole-of-government initiatives to build relationships
Many countries have sought to build engagement capability and relationships with communities. Different approaches to establishing whole-of-government consistency have been used around the world.
Planning for participation in your community
The interests of communities need to be represented in policy, planning, and service delivery and in activities in common areas of interest.
Developing a strategy for your organisation
Good progress can be made if community-government relationships are addressed at two levels:
- at the governance and planning level. This ensures that the agency's strategic direction is ‘tested’ against the principles of the Kia Tutahi Relationship Accord
- in practice, by identifying and involving ‘champions’ for the community and voluntary sector within the agency.
Human resource strategies for your agency
Government agencies need to understand the importance of public participation in government decision-making and have good relationship-management skills.
Communicating about your relationships
A government agency needs to signal its intentions to establish good relationships with the community sector throughout the agency and to the wider community.
Case studies of organisations developing a participatory culture
The following case studies illustrate different approaches agencies use to shape their relationships with communities and NGOs. They include memoranda of understanding, relationship frameworks, and induction and development programmes.
Some of the case studies are on our companion website: Good Practice Funding.
