Page 185 - Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

11Information and trust building - dialogue with key decision makers At the outset, participants should have an opportunity to ask questions of key decision makers who are giving their authority to the process. This is an important step because it builds trust within the group that their recommendations will be taken seriously. They will ask questions like: Why are you undertaking this process? What will you do with our recommendations? How can we trust that you will not go back on your word? You should close this loop at the 12 conclusion of the process to reinforce the commitment made. Information - sense making The first half of any deliberation is making sense of the information. Participants should be given a lot of time to interrogate information, ask questions, receive answers and ask follow-up questions. The shared learning exercise takes time and cannot be rushed. Participants will push back on any attempt to restrict information from them, it can look like you’re not letting them see the complete picture or pushing them in a certain direction. The primary emphasis at this phase is to refer back to critical thinking and biases training that they have gone through and ensure they are hearing from a diversity of sources. Participants do this after every piece of information given to them. This means that the beginning of the process is a constant back and forth of gathering information and then making sense of the information. In each instance, any tasks related to note taking and reporting back are done by the citizens. Apply a light touch. 183