Calling for an International Year of Engagement – From the CEO April 2018
This is our opportunity to create a movement – a global movement. Are you ready to catch the wave?
Last month I closed my article by asking you ‘shall we catch the wave together?’ This is because I think that community and stakeholder engagement could be the next big thing. This is my belief – and I will come back to the importance of beliefs a little later – for now I want to share some exciting news with you.
As you know IAP2 is delighted to be partnering with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to build an Assessment and Planning Tool for Engagement. This is building on the partnership between UNESCAP and IAP2, that was formalised in 2016, to advance the practice of engagement and help us all work to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular build inclusive and engaging societies as part of these goals.
The relationship with UNESCAP has strengthened over the last 12 months, largely due to the great work of: the IAP2 nominated representatives – Leanne Hartill, IAP2 Australasia and Aldi Muhammad Alizar, IAP2 Indonesia; the P2 for 2030 Agenda consultant team; and the incredibly dedicated team at UNESCAP.
The opportunity to call for an International Year of Engagement is the result of a number of factors coming together to create an opportunity. One of these is the strong connection between engagement and the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is well recognised by UNESCAP and after a period of courtship (and building understanding of the protocols and policies around these things), we now have the opportunity to call for support for an International Year of Engagement.
The call for support for an International Year of Engagement has been launched on social media at the IAP2 booth, at the fifth Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies, 28 to 30 March at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. You can check it out further here.
Both Leanne and Aldi were in attendance, together with some of the members from the P2 for 2030 Agenda consultant team, raising the profile of IAP2, engagement and calling for support for an International Year of Engagement from the almost 500 attendees, from all around the world.
Now, we are asking you to lend your support to a call for an International Year of Engagement.
What would be the objectives of a year of engagement?
The proposal to dedicate a whole year as a focus on engagement will highlight the importance of hearing from all voices ensuring no-one is left behind.
IAP2 Australasia is committed to advancing the practice of community and stakeholder engagement through education, advocacy and building partnerships. Through our partnership with UNESCAP, we have the opportunity to collaborate with partners to submit a proposal for an International Year of Engagement.
A year focusing on engagement could promote action on three fronts:
- Build awareness and focus attention on an enabling environment for engagement and public participation – for e.g. legislation, institutional mandates, education;
- Build capacity for engagement, benefitting from proven methods; and
- Mobilise engagement and public participation to support the 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs.
Who are some of the groups who could support a call for an International Year of Engagement?
Potential groups and partners include those who work towards strengthening governance and the right to participate in public affairs:
- United Nations organisations
- Civil society organisations with a particular focus on SDG 16 and SDG 17
- Other organisations that promote inclusion, empowerment, civic discourse and public participation
This is a collective opportunity for us to create a movement – a global movement.
This got me thinking – how do you create a movement? I’m sure you have all seen this wonderful and very brief TED talk by Derek Sivers ‘How to start a movement’. If you haven’t – please do watch it. There are some great themes here, courage, leadership and simplicity.
I also thought about Behaviour Change and Motivation. There are a range of theories and key elements of Behaviour Change. You could refer to the Social Cognitive Model or the Model of Theory of Planned Behaviour; and of course there are extrinsic and intrinsic levels of motivation. Having dipped my toe into these two areas of study whilst doing my MBA, I value them – but they don’t feel right for this conversation.
So what do I think are the elements to create a movement?
I agree with Derek Sivers about the themes of courage, leadership and simplicity. But I also think it relates to your beliefs, motivations and your networks or connections. Then all you need is an opportunity – and you have to have the ability seize this, with a clear ‘call for action’ – which needs to be simple and easily communicated – so that we can reach a ‘tipping point’
The engagement community has the beliefs, motivation and networks. This is our opportunity. Let’s seize it together with a call for an International Year of Engagement.
We are developing some easy to use tools and resources so that we can spread the message. We will be posting these on our social media sites and are encouraging all of you to join us. My hope is that this will go global and together we will reach a ‘tipping point’.
For now – please support a call for an International Year of Engagement, by emailing SDG_ENGAGE@iap2.org.au.
All organisations and individuals will be acknowledged and presented in a proposal document to the United Nations as supporting a focus on engagement.
I want to close with this quote from Margaret Mead, outspoken American cultural anthropologist and author:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Let’s give it a go – let’s change the world!