a. An open and clear purpose and process are agreed upon by all participants

b. The three parties listen, are honest, do not personalize attacks: hard on problems, easy on the people

c. The three parties recognize and acknowledge that participants hold different perspectives

d. The three parties recognize that direct community involvement gives an initiative more public credibility and makes for more effective policy

e. The three parties are committed to working inclusively with members of the public, of government and community-based groups to develop, implement and reform public policy

f. Communities are to be involved/included early on in government initiated policy development or reform, or in proposed cuts to programs

g. Public policy processes are to be grounded in women’s grass roots experience

h. Broader/global issues and forces are taken into account when identifying policy issues and strategies

All parties endeavour to integrate a gender-based analysis (GBA),
anti-racism and the rejection of all forms of discrimination
into their public policy initiatives

i. Participants are educated on and are sensitive to issues of discrimination

j. Diverse groups are to be represented and heard

k. Diverse communities have members on government boards and committees

l. The three parties recognize and acknowledge that some participants/groups fear consequences or reprisals for taking part in discussions with government members

m. It is established that all parties have input into the agenda for working together on a public policy

n. Realistic timelines are established from the outset and throughout policy discussions

o. All parties agree to meet at regular intervals

p. Jurisdiction is respected

q. All parties work across departments and sectors (horizontally)

r. Different organizational cultures are recognized and acknowledged

s. In-person contact is recognized as helping all parties realize that they are working with real people

t. Process is recognized as ongoing and/or cyclical

u. Informal meetings are recognized as very beneficial

v. The need for compromise is recognized

w. Flexibility is required by all parties

a. Community-based knowledge and research, community needs, and the work of community groups are respected and recognized as having equal value to academic research and government contributions

b. University departments involved value community efforts and community-academic research partnerships

c. It is recognized that research clarifies issues and reduces fragmentation between and among groups

a. Accessible and non-discriminatory language, formats (bilingual resources/communications, plain language, agreement on definitions and terminology) and communication forms are used

b. Meetings/workshops are held in accessible locations (including rural vs. urban, physically accessible, non-intimidating)

c. The timing, schedule and process of meetings are accessible to all participants (community, researchers, government)

d. A clear, inclusive and accessible process is adopted by the three parties that respects cultures, acknowledges differing abilities, difference and diversity

a. Participating groups/parties clarify why they are involved in the policy issue

b. Outline what each participating group brings (skills, needs, wants, values) to the process

c. Clarify what resources people bring, for example: time, funds, commitment, knowledge, experience

d. All are clear about each party's bottom line: be honest about what is up for discussion and what is not

e. Outline the assumptions held by each participating group (see Naming the Moment in the Resources list for a naming assumptions process)

f. Government department members have examined their accessibility to community groups and to the public

g. Community groups have examined their own accessibility to the public and to government

Skill Building Recommendations Policy makers take training to ensure they
are aware of issues impacting diverse women's communities Workshops on
how government policy-making happens in practice and how to influence public
policy are provided at a community level Access is provided to training and
support in negotiation, conflict resolution and problem solving Workshops to assist
groups from all parties to use these Steps are made available Workshops to assist
community groups on how to access the media are organized.

h. Government is upfront about what it wants from the public

i. Community groups are clear about who they are and what is their agenda

j. Parties jointly agree upon realistic expectations

k. Parties jointly agree to work on clear, focused and manageable issues/points

l. Parties jointly clarify and agree to a common purpose and priorities

m. Parties jointly determine who should be at the table and at what points in the policy process

n. It needs to be established as to which institutions are supportive of their representatives at the policy table

o. Roles and responsibilities of government, community and researchers in the public policy process are discussed, clarified and agreed to

p. Terms of reference outlining roles and responsiblities are developed

q. Parties share information and educate each other on their issues

r. Parties jointly design an evaluation process and identify what will indicate a successful collaborative process

a. A process must is in place to demonstrate the accountability of public policy makers to the community

b. A process is in place for negotiating the power asymmetries (for example: money, technology, power differences within community groups and government/academic departments and between community, government and researchers)

c. All parties identify and recognize who has power and on what bases

a. Accessible and non-discriminatory language, formats (bilingual resources/communications, plain language, agreement on definitions and terminology) and communication forms are used

b. Meetings/workshops are held in accessible locations (including rural vs. urban, physically accessible, non-intimidating)

c. The timing, schedule and process of meetings are accessible to all participants (community, researchers, government)

d. A clear, inclusive and accessible process is adopted by the three parties that respects cultures, acknowledges differing abilities, difference and diversity

a. Appropriate resources to do the policy work are equally available to the three parties (for example at the community level: funding, support and time required for community development, community involvement/participation, alliance building, networking and skill development)

b. Supports and back-up are in place to enable people to participate in the public policy process (for example: child care, transportation, access to technology, accessible communications and meeting locations)

c. Core funding is available for women’s equality work

d. Statistics are recorded and made available that recognize the specific conditions of minority groups

e. Educational resources are made available on how to increase participation of community and researchers in the public policy process

a. Funding is available for community-based research (volunteers cannot do it all and community-based research needs to be respected)

b. Communities are informed of the knowledge and resources produced by researchers

c. Both qualitative and quantitative, community-based and academic research are recognized as valid

a. Accessible and non-discriminatory language, formats (bilingual resources/communications, plain language, agreement on definitions and terminology) and communication forms are used

b. Meetings/workshops are held in accessible locations (including rural vs. urban, physically accessible, non-intimidating)

c. The timing, schedule and process of meetings are accessible to all participants (community, researchers, government)

d. A clear, inclusive and accessible process is adopted by the three parties that respects cultures, acknowledges differing abilities, difference and diversity

a. The same people are consistently at the table when working on a specific issue

b. Each party considers how specific initiatives fit with their long-term goals

c. Community representatives are a majority of those at the table to ensure that community members are heard and to moderate power imbalances

d. A committee or some other mechanism could be formed to coordinate when, how and which sectors within the three parties need to come together

a. Women’s community groups may choose to develop provincial (or national) organizations that can gain recognition from specific government departments and be the community contact on policy issues (such as Nova Scotia’s Feminists for Just and Equitable Public Policy)

b. Community groups may choose to meet independently of government to establish their issues and approach (to be strategic about issues they focus on) and to determine when they are prepared to meet with government

c. Community groups consider the possibilities and constraints that community input will likely face and establish problem solving processes for when strategies meet resistance and are not successful

d. Community groups consider several approaches and use them simultaneously to influence policy (lobbying, research, protests, petitions, policy briefs, etc.)

e. Community groups are prepared to fight each others’ fights/support each others’ issues, understand differences

f. Community groups develop a clear overall strategy when entering the public policy process

g. Community groups identify allies; build a broad base of support within own community and with other groups: professional, government, political parties, band council, academics

h. Community groups are well informed on the issue they are bringing forward

i. Community groups consider what past strategies and actions worked well

j. Community groups identify what types of information and formats can be easily used by policy makers

k. Community groups have considered inviting senior bureaucrats, politicians (all parties) and/or band councilors to meet with them when the community group is ready

a. Several arguments to back up a position on a policy are developed and documents (research and records) are made available to each party

b. An independent facilitator mediates and documents the process

c. All parties negotiate a working relationship and re-negotiate at different points

d. Alliances are built between and within sectors/parties that have shared concerns and perspectives (this increases capacity)

e. A system of shared decision making is agreed upon

f. Trust is built among all players

g. All parties frame and develop the questions that need to be answered

h. All parties agree that community input into the policy process is as valid as that of government and researchers’ and needs to be acted upon

i. Sub-committees work on specific aspects of a policy issue

j. Possible solutions are offered and introduced

k. All parties acknowledge small success stories/achievements, even small changes

a. Community groups inform and empower their community on policy issues

b. Community groups identify where and when the openings are for community interventions to be the most effective and act on chosen approaches (see 4.2d)

c. Community groups identify the best point of contact (employee or politician) within government policy-making

d. Community groups lobby and monitor actions agreed to by all parties to ensure that decisions are acted upon

a. Ongoing communications occur between community, researchers and government (bureaucrats and politicians)

b. Information and resources are shared (listservs, policy directory, news bulletins, etc.)

c. External communication strategies are identified for speaking out publicly on issues

d. Media is kept informed

e. Records of decisions are kept, distributed by an unaffiliated report writer, and follow-up to decisions is ensured (this demonstrates that input was integrated into decision making)

a. Evaluation is to be undertaken of what has been working and what needs to change in the public policy development, implementation and reform process

b. Process and policy agreements made by all parties and resulting actions are monitored and evaluated

c. Those effected by a public policy are part of the evaluation process

d. Community groups’ objectives and action strategies to influence public policy are monitored and evaluated for their impact and the degree of effort required to achieve change

e. A mechanism for follow-up and monitoring is established such as a women’s national policy advisory network

f. Evaluation results are shared with the WIPP National Advisory Committee (via email addresses on page 2) or similar women’s national policy advisory network to enter into a feedback bank

Long-Term Goals Half of band council members should be women More women form part of the legislature A newsletter or listserv is established that identifies and disseminates actual policy related initiatives, results and problems that affect women

Tasks

Responsibility
(Who)

Resources
(With what)

Timeline
(When)