How can you ensure that underrepresented groups are heard during community consultations?

1 Identify the underrepresented groups

Before you start your consultation, you need to know who are the underrepresented groups in your community and why they are underrepresented. Some factors that may affect their participation and representation include language barriers, cultural norms, accessibility issues, discrimination, power dynamics, and lack of awareness or interest. You can use existing data, surveys, interviews, focus groups, or community mapping to identify the underrepresented groups and their characteristics, needs, and concerns.

3 Involve and empower the underrepresented groups

Another way to ensure that underrepresented groups are heard during community consultations is to involve and empower them in the design and implementation of the consultation. You can do this by inviting them to join advisory committees, steering groups, or co-design teams, or by hiring or partnering with community-based organizations, leaders, or advocates who can represent their interests and perspectives. You can also provide training, mentoring, or support to the underrepresented groups to help them participate effectively and confidently in the consultation.

4 Create a safe and respectful space

During the consultation, you need to create a safe and respectful space where underrepresented groups can share their views and experiences without fear of judgment, ridicule, or retaliation. You can do this by setting clear ground rules, norms, and expectations for the consultation, such as confidentiality, anonymity, consent, honesty, and civility. You can also use facilitation techniques, such as active listening, paraphrasing, probing, or validating, to encourage dialogue, feedback, and understanding among the participants. You can also acknowledge and address any conflicts, tensions, or biases that may arise during the consultation.

5 Follow up and report back

After the consultation, you need to follow up and report back to the underrepresented groups and show them how their input was used and what impact it had on the decision or action. You can do this by sending thank-you notes, newsletters, emails, or social media posts, or by organizing feedback sessions, debriefs, or presentations. You can also share the results, outcomes, or recommendations of the consultation with the wider community and stakeholders, and highlight the contributions and perspectives of the underrepresented groups.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?