Citizen engagement in evidence-informed decision-making

Why does citizen engagement matter?

Citizen engagement provides a deliberative platform for the public to participate in policy discussions, ensuring more informed and effective decision-making. By incorporating diverse perspectives and local knowledge, CE democratizes the policy-making process, particularly in areas like health, where societal values and lived experiences are critical. This inclusive approach builds societal trust by empowering citizens with the ability to influence outcomes and drive meaningful change.

What are mechanisms to engage citizens?

Various approaches to citizen engagement have been adopted by national governments to integrate citizens’ voices at different stages of the evidence-informed policy-making process. Among the most widely adopted are citizen juries, citizen panels and citizen councils. Another process that has become widespread in recent years is mini-publics. Mini-publics are forums that include a cross-section of the population selected through civic lottery to participate in evidence-informed deliberation in order to inform policy and action. More information on CE mechanisms, including mini-publics can be found in the WHO Overview document of purpose and methods and the WHO mini-public guide.

Community of Practice

WHO, in partnership with the the Africa Evidence Network (AEN) and Cochrane, has set up a Community of Practice (CoP) on citizen engagement in evidence-informed decision-making in the health sector (CE-EIDM). This CoP holds regular meetings to facilitate discussions among participants and provide capacity-strengthening opportunities. Through these meetings, members can enhance their ability to promote citizen engagement in their own contexts, ultimately contributing to more robust social participation in policy processes. The CE-EIDM has the following objectives:

The CoP is open to country-level stakeholders, EVIPNet teams and other key partner organizations interested in deepening their experiences and commitment to CE in EIDM in the health sector and beyond.

To get involved in the CoP please contact EIDM@who.int.