About IAP2

The Certificate - Modules 1 to 3

An overview of Modules 1-3 is set out below. 

Module 1 - Planning for Effective Public Participation

This two-day module of the IAP2 Certificate Programme provides an introduction to the foundations of effective public participation programmes.  IAP2 has worked with practitioners from around the world to develop foundational tools that transcend national and cultural boundaries.  Even advanced practitioners will find useful tools and techniques to assist in working with the public and clients to establish effective public participation.  These tools are presented in an interactive learning environment ghat provides students with the opportunity to explore their own public participation challenges with their instructor and peers. 

Students use IAP2's Public Participation Spectrum to demonstrate the importance of setting clear objectives and a promise to the public and how to determine the appropriate level of public participation.  Other important topics include the practical application of the IAP2 Core Values for Public Participation and using the IAP2 Code of Ethics as a guide to both practitioners and clients.

Each student receives a detailed student workbook a well as a copy of the IAP2 Public Participation Bibliography containing nearly 400 annotated references to the best literature in the field of public participation.  Students will apply the IAP2 Foundations of Public Participation to employ a step-wise programme to planning and designing public participation programmes. Course content includes detailed examples and practical hands-on exercises so participants leave with the tools needed to build realistic public participation programmes.  Course materials include exercises in using IAP2's five steps for planning effective public participation.

The Planning module focuses on defining the issues for which public participation is required, identifying stakeholders and ensuring their involvement throughout the process.  Using IAP2's Spectrum for Public Participation, course participants establish clear and achievable objectives for public participation and a promise to the public.  Participants learn how to prepare an organisation for conducting public participation and a promise to plan for the timing, techniques, and resources needed to make public participation a success.  Emphasis is placed on creating and using continuous feedback and evaluation. 

At the conclusion of the Planning for Effective Public Participation module, students will have learned:

• The full scope of planning needed for effective participation, including information, timing, resources, techniques, and roles and responsibilities
• A variety of ways to identify "the public" and understand potential impacts of actions
• How to select the appropriate level of public participation
• How to set clear, shared objectives for public participation
• How to develop a public participation plan
• How to identify appropriate evaluation tools to measure the effectiveness of public participation programmes.

Note - Module 1-Planning for Effective Public Participation is a prerequisite for all other IAP2 Public Participation Certificate training.

Module 2 - Effective Communication for Public Participation

This one-day module in IAP2's Certificate Programme in Public Participation offers an overview of the communication skills used by public participation practitioners.  The course provides an introduction to communication skills and models.  It introduces the Principles of Authentic Communications and focuses on tools used to prepare and present information materials in a variety of forms, small and large group interaction models and facilitation essentials. 

The 8-hour course is designed is suitable for beginning to intermediate level practitioners, and those who want a review of basic communication techniques. Interactive exercises and practical tips are used to enliven the basic theory and reference materials presented throughout the day and reinforce skills that participants can put to immediate use.  Participants learn the elements needed to prepare communication plans and to practice active listening.  They gain an understanding of the essentials of risk communication, making effective written and verbal presentations and working with mass media.  

Students get practical experience in applying the skills they've learned in Planning for Effective Public Participation (Module 1) and take home a comprehensive manual and IAP2's Programme Planning Tool.  This capstone tool can be used to capture a public participation project's planning, implementing and evaluation information in one easy reference document.   

At the conclusion of Module 2, students will have learned about:

• The communication skills needed to support effective public participation
• Two-way communication models, how to share information and elicit feedback
• Learning styles and how to incorporate these into public participation
• A variety of public participation communication skills and techniques including active listening and empathy, communicating technical information to non-technical people, managing hostile audiences, risk communication, cross-cultural communications and media relations.

Note - Module 1-Planning for Effective Public Participation is a prerequisite for all other IAP2 Public Participation Certificate training.

Module 3 - Techniques for Effective Public Participation

This two-day module in IAP2's Certificate Programme in Public Participation provides an introduction to a range of practical tools and techniques used at all five levels of IAP2's Public Participation Spectrum.  It gives course participants an opportunity to try out or observe a number of specific techniques including World Cafe, Interviews, Revolving Conversations, Citizens Jury and Advisory Groups.

It includes overviews of more than 20 tools and techniques tested and used by public participation practitioners around the globe.  The course is suitable for beginning to intermediate level practitioners and those who want a review of basic group process techniques.  Interactive exercises and practical tips are used to enliven the basic theory and reference materials presented throughout the two-day session and reinforce skills that participants can put to immediate use.

Students learn how to create effective forums for dialogue and how to avoid the many problems encountered in traditional public meetings.  Students leave this module armed with a detailed student manual covering the course materials and a packet of IAP2 Tipsheets offering practical advice for selecting, using and evaluating a broad range of public participation activities.

At the conclusion of the Techniques module, students will have learned:

• Tools and techniques that can be used at all levels of IAP2's Public Participation Spectrum
• How to use IAP2's Tools and Techniques Framework to assist in selecting tools appropriate for particular situations.
• How to use various techniques to:
• Promote awareness by sharing information
• Gather broad-based feedback
• Foster meaningful discussion
• Facilitate agreement
• Provide effective forums for public discussion.