A new Guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups has been published – part of a series of eight Guides on Citizen Engagement for Parliaments, created by the International Parliament Engagement Network in partnership with INTER PARES.
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.
Read the Guide on Engaging Underrepresented Groups.
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.
Image created by Research Retold