Speakers: Enock Adomah (Administrator for the Department of Public Engagement, Parliament of Ghana); Sally Coyne (Head of Public Engagement Services Office, Scottish Parliament); Rodolfo Vaz (Coordinator of Digital Solutions for Citizens, Chamber of Deputies, Brazil)
Chair: Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN)
Details: This IPEN in-conversation seminar will explore how parliaments organise public engagement services. The seminar is a direct response to a request by one of our new members, who is currently involved in a re-development of their public engagement services.
Public engagement is understood in many different ways across parliaments, with some putting more emphasis on education, others on participation and others still on communications; or a combination of these. This results in very different types of services supporting public engagement activity. This can matter in the way public engagement relates to other activities, such as parliamentary business.
Public engagement services also vary very considerably in size across parliaments. Some parliaments may have one small team that needs to attend to every public engagement need, perhaps keeping everything well integrated and connected – to the detriment of capacity to undertake a high number of activities.
Other parliaments have separate services that address different aspects of public engagement, being able to provide a high number (and often more complex) set of activities – but perhaps resulting more in a culture of silos, where each service does their own thing.
In conversation with Cristina Leston-Bandeira, we will hear from representatives from the parliaments of Brazil, Ghana and Scotland – three different types of parliaments that have organised their public engagement services in different ways.
The in-conversation format will enable us to examine how each parliament has organised their public engagement services, the reasons for this and how effective these structures are in facilitating meaningful parliamentary public engagement services.
The seminar will end with a Q&A and discussion.
More information
This online seminar will take place in MS Teams and is open to members of the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN).
1. Parliament House (State House) – Parliament of Ghana. Photo by Wgsohne. CC BY-SA. 2. Palácio do Congresso Nacional, Brasília, Brazil. Photo by Cristina Leston-Bandeira. 3. Exterior view of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Photo courtesy of the Scottish Parliament.
If you are an IPEN member who uses deliberative democracy methods as part of your role in parliament or academic research, you are invited to join us for our next ‘deliberative democracy check-in’.
The aim of this IPEN group is to provide a safe space for those currently planning or involved in deliberative democracy projects to get together to seek advice, share good ideas and generally provide moral and practical support.
The ‘check-in’ is chaired by Chris Shaw (Clerk of the Home Affairs Committee, UK House of Commons, and IPEN Executive Team member) and will take place in MS Teams.
It is open to IPEN members who might be able to offer the benefit of their experience, or who just want to hear more. Full details of the topic for the January ‘check-in’ and how to register can be found in our MS Teams space.
Is your work or research connected to deliberative democracy methods?
If your work or research is connected to the theme of deliberative democracy, you are very welcome to apply to join the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN).
The network brings together academics, parliamentary officials and third sector representatives from across the world, to promote collaboration and encourage knowledge sharing around parliaments and public engagement.
This blog post by Jessica Benton Cooney (Senior Communications Consultant for Inter Pares) was originally published in Medium on 30 October 2025, and has been recreated here with permission.
Trust in democracy is declining worldwide, and parliaments — the essential link between citizens and state decision-making — are no exception. While citizen engagement is more critical than ever, practical, actionable guidance for how parliaments can effectively involve the public has been hard to find.
These guides are more than a resource; they are toolkits built on extensive global research, with the aim of shifting the focus from “citizens as spectators” to “citizens as active participants.” Recognizing that citizen engagement is core to democratic resilience, these guides offer a wide range of actionable, evidence-based frameworks for meaningful interaction, deliberation, and co-creation.
For members of parliament, parliamentary staff, civil-society and international development partners, and scholars, this suite provides a holistic roadmap for innovation, helping parliaments worldwide redefine their role in this challenging era. Read on to learn more about the guide series.
A Complete Toolkit for Citizen Engagement
Each of the eight guides tackles a vital dimension of engagement. Together, they form a comprehensive playbook for parliaments ready to reconnect with the people they serve.
This foundational guide establishes the core framework for all engagement. It identifies and explains eight key principles — including purpose, inclusion, and impact — that ensure programs move beyond box-ticking to become ethical, strategic, and genuinely integrated into the DNA of legislative work.
“At the heart of the lack of engagement with parliaments is a growing lack of understanding how they are important in a functioning democracy. I’m excited how these guides tackle rebuilding this trust and how they show us to think smart about the use of our resources.” — Caroline Wallis, Research lead/Kaiarahi Tira Rangahau, Parliament of New Zealand
Essential for democracy’s future, this guide focuses on creating two-way, meaningful partnerships. It reviews models from youth reference groups and specialized committees to youth parliaments, aiming to empower young citizens as “agents of change” who contribute to political life and debate now, not just as future voters.
“The guide is timely for the National Assembly of Zambia, reinforcing its commitment to deepen public participation and ensure that the voices of the youths are not only heard but truly shape the future of the nation.” — Bridget Kalaba, Deputy Director, Parliamentary Reforms Department, National Assembly of Zambia.
Learn how to transform formal citizen demands into constructive action. This guide provides practical steps for designing petitions and citizens’ initiatives systems that are accessible, transparent, and outcome-oriented, ensuring public concern can directly shape the legislative agenda and hold the institution accountable.
“The Citizen Engagement Guides offer fresh and practical insights that I can’t wait to share with my team at the Brazilian Senate. They’re a powerful tool to help us strengthen civic participation and rethink how we connect people to the legislative process.” — Alisson Bruno Dias de Queiroz, Coordinator of the e-Cidadania Program, Federal Senate of Brazil
Moving beyond basic civics, this guide details how parliaments can develop high-quality, targeted programs to deepen public understanding of their work and relevance. Investing in these initiatives strengthens legitimacy and fosters a more informed citizenry equipped for participation.
“Supporting young people’s democratic participation is not just a right — it’s a smart investment in a sustainable democracy. The Education Programme Guide streamlines the organization of our 28-year long internship program for university students, helping us better engage youth and build a more resilient democratic society.” — Natália Švecová, Director of the Parliamentary Institute, Chancellery of The National Council of The Slovak Republic
This resource is vital for ensuring decisions are informed by the needs of society. It presents four main consultation approaches — from online forums to discussion-based methods — and offers guidance for implementation, making consultations a strategic tool for improving the quality and legitimacy of legislation.
“Public consultations play an increasing role in contemporary parliaments. The Public Consultations Guide offers an invaluable toolkit for building positive and interactive relationships between citizens and parliamentary institutions. A lot of interesting and inspiring practices are showcased from several parliaments around the world. The Guide is an indispensable support for everybody committed to help parliaments to better represent and engage with citizens.” — Giovanni Rizzoni, the Head of Unit for Parliamentary Cooperation and Capacity Building at the Italian Chamber of Deputies.
This guide examines how the physical buildings and virtual platforms of parliament can be leveraged to foster connection. By making the institution more welcoming, accessible, and understandable through its spaces, within parliamentary estates and in communities, parliaments can build emotional attachment and a crucial sense of belonging among citizens.
“At the base of the German Bundestag (Parliament) Dome, the plenary chamber can be seen from above, so every visitor can watch into an ongoing plenary session… This symbolizes the awareness of and responsibility towards the population and the voters.” — Anna-Maria Pawliczek, Senior Officer, Division Int 4, International Exchange Programs, International Parliamentary Cooperation, German Bundestag
A special podcast featuring the Citizen Engagement Guide on Parliament as a Space and Place explores how design — from iconic buildings to mobile parliaments — can transform institutions into welcoming spaces of belonging and connection. Listen to it here.
Focused on quality over quantity, this guide explores methods like citizen assemblies and juries. It provides a framework for designing processes that bring diverse groups together for intensive, informed discussion, incorporating nuanced, evidence-based public input into complex policy areas.
“I’m really excited about the citizen engagement guides, especially the Guide on Deliberative Engagement, which is packed with practical insights on embedding public deliberation into parliamentary work — this is exactly what I aim to do in my work here at the Scottish Parliament.” — Alistair Stoddart, Senior Participation Specialist, Scottish Parliament
This guide provides frameworks for proactive inclusion, focusing on strategies to identify and overcome barriers faced by marginalized and seldom-heard communities. This commitment to deep inclusion is critical for fulfilling parliament’s role as a representative body that reflects the entire society.
“Inclusion is the cornerstone of sustainable development. In the true spirit of leaving no one behind, it is critical to facilitate the engagement of the underrepresented. Their voices matter. The guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups is a practical and vital resource that will facilitate this important process.” — Kagiso Molatlhwa, Programme Specialist, Youth and Gender, UNFPA Botswana. Former Executive Director, Botswana Council of NGOs (BOCONGO)
Turning Engagement into Effective Governance
These guides represent a timely, well-grounded, and pragmatic toolkit for legislative institutions globally. They address critical worldwide democratic challenges and offer a new playbook for all parliaments, regardless of their size or resources. They are founded on the principle that the health of democratic society depends on the strength of the relationship between its institutions and its people. Citizen engagement is, therefore, not an optional reform, but the essential work of democracy itself.
Through embracing this framework, legislative bodies can move beyond simply restoring trust to become stronger, more legitimate, and better equipped to govern in an increasingly complex world.
For both practitioners and scholars, the series offers a rich resource to reflect on how engagement can be effectively shaped, measured, and embedded in parliamentary culture.
About the Guides
The guides were developed by Cristina Leston-Bandeira, Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN, and Juliet Ollard, Senior Research and Engagement Officer, IPEN, in partnership with Inter Pares. The project team drew from extensive academic research and parliamentary practices from across the world — including many interviews with parliamentary officials and academics, and the expert advice of the International Advisory Group and the IPEN Executive Team.
About the blog post author
Jessica Benton Cooney is the Senior Communications Consultant for Inter Pares, which is funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA. Previously, she was the Team Lead and Senior Strategic Communications Specialist for USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance.
INTER PARES, an EU-funded project by International IDEA, strengthens parliaments’ legislative, oversight, budgetary, administrative and representative functions.
Public consultation is essential to ensuring that parliaments’ decisions meet the needs of the societies they represent.
In democracies, citizens have the right to a say on decisions that affect them. On a more instrumental level, citizens are also a vital source of information that can help to guide legislation and policymaking to better outcomes.
Public consultations can be carried out in many different ways and can be used to gather contributions from specific groups and communities as well as the ‘general public’.
Drawing from a wide range of examples from parliaments across the world, this Guide presents four main consultation approaches for Members of Parliament and staff to consider when thinking about how to consult members of the public in the course of their work.
Giovanni Rizzoni (Head of Unit for Parliamentary Cooperation and Capacity Building at the Italian Chamber of Deputies) said:
“Public consultations play an increasing role in contemporary parliaments. The Public Consultations Guide offers an invaluable toolkit for building positive and interactive relationships between citizens and parliamentary institutions.
“A lot of interesting and inspiring practices are showcased from several parliaments around the world. The Guide is an indispensable support for everybody committed to help parliaments to better represent and engage with citizens.”
About the series
Published in August and launched on 11 November 2025, the Guide on Deliberative Engagement is the last in a new eight part series focusing on a range of public engagement topics to help build parliaments’ capacity to engage members of the public in their work.
The series as been created through a project collaboration between the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN) and INTER PARES. The Guides are produced with the financial support of the European Union as part of the INTER PARES I Parliaments in Partnership project, implemented by International IDEA.
The Guides have been developed by Cristina Leston-Bandeira (Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN) and Juliet Ollard, (Senior Research and Engagement Officer, IPEN) in partnership with INTER PARES.
The project team have drawn from extensive academic research and parliamentary practice from across the world – including many interviews with parliamentary officials and academics, and the expert advice of our International Advisory Group and the IPEN Executive Team.
In this article, IPEN member Enock Adomah explores how the Parliament of Ghana continues to expand its reach and impact through its Department of Public Engagement.
Background to public engagement in Ghana
In 2021, the Parliament of Ghana’s vision to strengthen its relationship with citizens led to the creation of the Department of Public Engagement.
Established following a strategic decision by the Parliamentary Service Board, the Department represents a forward-looking reform aimed at enhancing efficiency and promoting inclusive service delivery within the Parliamentary Service.
The strategic direction behind its establishment was to optimise productivity and ensure focused public engagement.
Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East, in a group picture with staff of the Department of Public Engagement, Parliament of Ghana. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
The Department of Public Engagement became fully operational in March 2023 and continues to expand its reach and impact. Its mandate is to promote public understanding of Parliament’s work, strengthen citizen participation, and build strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.
Through its initiatives, the Department facilitates impartial analysis of parliamentary discussions, promotes dialogue, and bridges the gap between Parliament and the public.
Outreach with the Traders Advocacy Group. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Expanding reach through the Outreach Unit
A major milestone in this journey was the establishment of the Outreach Unit on 3 March 2025.
This new Unit reflects Parliament’s renewed commitment to bringing governance closer to the people. As one of four dynamic units under the Department—alongside Visits & Tours, Education & Communication, and the Citizens’ Bureau—the Outreach Unit plays a vital role in deepening Parliament’s community presence.
Its core focus is to forge meaningful connections with diverse groups, ensuring that every segment of society feels represented and heard in the democratic process.
Since its establishment, the Unit has initiated targeted engagements with key interest groups and community institutions to better understand their concerns and perspectives on parliamentary and national issues.
Hon. Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East, with the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association after the outreach program, alongside some participants. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Engagements with key groups
During August and September 2025, the Outreach Unit conducted engagement activities with various groups, including the Traders Advocacy Group in Accra, the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers—one of the largest spare parts dealers in Accra—and the Mempong School of the Deaf.
The initiative is based on the concept of “Parliament on Wheels” and is referred to in the local Ga language as “Ayalolo”, which means “We are moving”.
The programme brings Parliament directly to the people, providing stakeholders with opportunities to learn about the parliamentary process, the role of Members of Parliament in lawmaking and oversight, and ways in which citizens can actively engage with governance.
Outreach with the Traders Advocacy Group. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Traders Advocacy Group
The Outreach Unit’s engagement with the Traders Advocacy Group at the Makola market offered a platform for market leaders and small business owners to share their views on economic policies, taxation and business regulations discussed in Parliament.
The interaction underscored the importance of Parliament’s role in shaping legislation that affects local trade and entrepreneurship.
Participants commended Parliament for opening its doors to traders and called for continuous dialogue to ensure that the voices of the informal sector are reflected in national policy decisions.
Outreach with the Traders Advocacy Group. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers
At Abossey Okai, one of Ghana’s largest automobile parts markets in Accra, the Outreach Unit met with members of the Spare Parts Dealers Association to discuss issues affecting the automotive trade, import duties and the sustainability of small businesses.
The dealers shared their expectations for more consultative policymaking and expressed appreciation for Parliament’s efforts to engage them directly.
The meeting highlighted how structured outreach can demystify parliamentary work and promote compliance with national laws through mutual understanding.
Staff of the Department of Public Engagement and the participants of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Secondary Technical School for the Deaf – Mampong, Akuapem North
In a gesture that emphasised inclusion and accessibility, the Unit also engaged students and staff of the Secondary Technical School for the Deaf in Mampong, Akuapem North.
During the interaction, the team educated the students on how persons with disabilities can actively participate in the work of Parliament, including opportunities to engage in legislative processes, oversight functions and public consultations.
MP for Akuapem North Constituency, Hon. Samuel Awuku, and students of Mampong Senior High Technical School for the Deaf. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Sign language interpreters were employed throughout the session to ensure effective communication and meaningful participation by all attendees.
The engagement provided a platform for students to ask questions, interact with parliamentary staff, and gain insights into the structure, functions and relevance of Parliament in national development.
The visit inspired the students by demonstrating that their voices and contributions matter in governance. It reinforced Parliament’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully included in national decision-making processes.
Group picture with the teachers and students of Mampong Senior High Technical School for the Deaf at the forecourt of the Ghana Chamber Building. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
Bridging parliament and the people
Through these outreach activities, the Department of Public Engagement continues to affirm its belief that democracy thrives when citizens are informed, involved and inspired. The engagements have not only broadened Parliament’s understanding of citizens’ concerns but have also deepened public trust and collaboration.
As the Department continues to develop, the creation of the Outreach Unit represents a major step forward—connecting Parliament and the people, one conversation at a time.
Leader of the Traders Advocacy Group presenting a policy document to the Director of the Department of Public Engagement, to be forwarded to the Committee on Trade for consideration in Parliament. Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
More information
Enock Adomah is Administrator for the Department of Public Engagement at the Parliament of Ghana.
Supt./Mrs. Effia Tenge (Retd), Director of the Department of Public Engagement, Ghana Parliament, engaging with the Traders Advocacy Group of Ghana (TAGG). Photo: Ghana Parliamentary Broadcasting Photography Team.
An article on democracy and public trust in Africa by Dr Temitayo Odeyemi (Research fellow, University of Birmingham and member of the IPEN Executive Team) has been published in The Conversation.
Temitayo Odeyemi is a political scientist whose work in comparative politics focuses on political institutions and democratic engagement in Africa. His broader research builds on his PhD on institutional development and legislative public engagement in Nigeria.
In this article, Odeyemi cites pan-African research network Afrobarometer‘s Citizen Engagement, Citizen Power (released in July 2025) which reports that over 60% of Africans are dissatisfied with how democracy works in their countries. Temitayo says:
“Support for democracy remains high, but belief in its effectiveness is fading, especially when citizens feel excluded from meaningful participation in decisions that affect them.
“Put simply: the crisis of participation results from people being absent from the room when decisions that affect them are made. This article sets out practical ways parliaments can bring citizens in.”
“If parliaments legislate without the people, citizens will seek a voice elsewhere.”
Temitayo discusses how the Afrobarometer report shows that citizens are not turning away from democracy itself but are turning away from democratic institutions that don’t include them.
He illustrates the cost of disengagement with two recent examples in Kenya (where mass protests erupted after parliament passed controversial tax measures without adequate public consultation) and Nigeria (where lawmakers reinstated a colonial-era national anthem in a single day, bypassing public input).
Temitayo concludes that:
“Participation can reconnect citizens to democracy and restore trust in governance. But only if it is meaningful, sustained and inclusive.
“The events in Kenya and Nigeria demonstrate the risks of exclusion. If parliaments legislate without the people, citizens will seek a voice elsewhere – through protests, populist movements, or authoritarian alternatives.”
Speaker: Stew Sexton (Senior Accessibility Advisor, New Zealand Parliament)
Chair: Cristina Leston-Bandeira (Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN)
Details: In this seminar, Stew Sexton will outline the integrated approach the New Zealand Parliament has adopted to embed practices that enable accessible and inclusive engagement with Deaf, disabled, and neurodiverse communities. This is part a wider diversity and inclusion strategy that also enables engagement with indigenous Māori communities, ethnic minority groups and young people.
This is founded on an institutionalisation approach which depends on collaboration between the main bodies of the parliamentary administration, the Parliamentary Service and the Office of the Clerk – and through the establishment of permanent staff roles to ensure that engagement of underrepresented groups remains a priority.
This online seminar will take place in MS Teams and is open to members of the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN).
Speaker: Dr Clementine Hill O’Connor (Research Fellow in the Division for Social and Urban Policy at University of Glasgow)
Chair: Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN)
Details: In this IPEN seminar, Clementine Hill O’Connor will draw from the findings of her Research Fellowship at the Scottish Parliament to explore the role that ‘lived experience’ plays in parliamentary work, namely in scrutiny processes. By ‘lived experience’ we mean the experience of those directly affected by legislation.
There has been a growth in activity around the methods and approaches that are used to bring a wider variety of people into the work of the Scottish Parliament – a key feature is the role of ‘lived experience’ and the role it plays in scrutiny.
This increased interest in lived experience is mirrored across all levels of government, both national and local, and is an increasingly important component of policymaking processes. It has the potential to address democratic deficits, bringing a more diverse range of perspectives into policymaking, ultimately resulting in decisions that have stronger public support.
It is also understood to bring those directly affected by policy into the process, giving voice to often marginalised group. Understanding the perspectives of those who commission and use evidence from people with lived experience (i.e. the committees) is key to ensuring that it is incorporated in ways that are both effective and ethical.
Clementine will draw on three case studies of processes that incorporated lived experience into the work of Scottish Parliamentary committees and will reflect on lessons learned.
This online seminar will take place in MS Teams and is open to members of the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN).
Citizen engagement processes in democracies are regularly criticized for only involving ‘the usual suspects’: people from broadly similar, usually socio-economically advantaged, backgrounds.
This means parliaments are less likely to make decisions, policies and legislation that respond to the needs and interests of the wider population, and more likely to be seen as elite institutions. Engaging underrepresented groups is therefore key for overcoming these challenges and improving democratic outcomes.
This Guide explores different approaches that parliaments can take across all types of engagement activities – information, communication, education, consultation and participation – to ensure that underrepresented groups are reached and that engagement impact is enhanced.
The guidance is supported by a range of examples from parliaments across the world.
Cristina Leston-Bandera (Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN) said:
“Breaking barriers to engagement with parliaments starts with reaching out to communities that do not usually engage.
“This is not always easy to implement but the Guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups officer invaluable advice – such as the importance of understanding the challenges these groups face before planning citizen engagement activities.”
Kagiso Molatlhwa (Programme Specialist, Youth and Gender, UNFPA Botswana and Former Executive Director for the Botswana Council of NGOs) said:
“Inclusion is the cornerstone of sustainable development. In the true spirit of leaving no-one behind, it is critical to facilitate the engagement of the underrepresented. Their voices matter.
“The Guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups is a practical and vital resource that will facilitate this important process.”
About the series
Published in August and launched on 29 October 2025, the Guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups is the seventh in a new eight part series focusing on a range of public engagement topics to help build parliaments’ capacity to engage members of the public in their work.
The series is being created through a project collaboration between the International Parliament Engagement Network (IPEN) and INTER PARES. The Guides are produced with the financial support of the European Union as part of the INTER PARES I Parliaments in Partnership project, implemented by International IDEA.
The Guides have been developed by Cristina Leston-Bandeira (Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN) and Juliet Ollard, (Senior Research and Engagement Officer, IPEN) in partnership with INTER PARES.
The project team have drawn from extensive academic research and parliamentary practice from across the world – including many interviews with parliamentary officials and academics, and the expert advice of our International Advisory Group and the IPEN Executive Team.
The final Guide in the series will be launched next month.
Speakers: Professor Cristina Leston-Bandeira (University of Leeds and Chair of IPEN); Jonathan Murphy (Head of Program, Inter Pares); Juliet Ollard (UK Parliament); representatives from the parliaments in Germany, Zambia and Italy.
This one-hour event will:
introduce the new Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments, created through a partnership between Inter Pares and IPEN
share insights from global experts and practitioners
highlight real-world examples of innovative engagement practices
reflect on how parliaments can embed citizen engagement in their daily work
Book your place
The launch event will take place on Zoom on Wednesday 12 November, 14:00-15:00 GMT / UK time; 15:00-16:00 CET.
Booking is required – please register here. You will receive a confirmation and link to the event by email.
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