The CLEAR model can be a tool for organizing participation as effectively as possible. Citizen participation can be organized in various ways, and the CLEAR model can support this. The CLEAR model can be used by local governments to evaluate current practices and address weaknesses, with the aim of creating better conditions for citizen participation. It is a self-diagnostic tool for local governments to reflect on the weaknesses and strengths of public participation initiatives. The CLEAR model provides insight into the obstacles and what is needed to organize effective participation. CLEAR is an acronym formed from the first letters of relevant factors: Can do, Like to, Enabled to, Asked to, Responded to.
Can do:
Residents must be able to participate. A lack of time, money, or skills can be a barrier to participation. This can mean that residents with disabilities have less time to actively participate in, for example, focus groups. People may also feel unskilled because they imagine a rigid meeting where they don’t feel comfortable. In such cases, they need to be able to express themselves clearly, while they would prefer to demonstrate their involvement and opinion in other ways.
The “Can do” factor also shows that financial compensation can influence participation. The time a resident invests in participating in policy could also be spent on, for example, work or study. The institution must take this into account if it becomes a determining factor.
Like to:
Residents must also want to participate. This depends on how connected residents feel to the districts and the government. It’s important that residents feel part of the district. Organizing social activities in a pleasant and predictable way can help with this. The better you know the target group, the easier it is to gauge their preferences.
Increasing participation is possible by strengthening social cohesion in a community. Naturally, the question immediately arises as to how this social cohesion can be increased. Is the government “our government”? Or is it an anonymous institution owned by others? The more there is an “us versus them” feeling, the less there is a desire to help the government.
Enabled to:
Residents must be given the opportunity to participate. This means organizing groups and activities where residents can share their experiences. By offering a variety of options, all residents can participate in a way that suits their needs and talents. Sometimes residents prefer to participate through their own organization. This is also possible through organizations. Examples of different types of resident participation are:
- •Promotion/information
- •Working group or advisory group
- •Hearing or public consultation meeting
- •Social activities (organizing a work visit)
- •Advisory council
- •Survey
see methods
Asked to:
Residents must be asked to participate. Communication is key in this. Participation can be encouraged by offering multiple opportunities. For example, using online questionnaires or approaching residents directly to participate in meetings. This way, every resident has an opportunity to make themselves heard. But they must know that their input is important. The meeting can be promoted in places where people gather, but if people don’t feel they are being asked, they think it’s not relevant to them. Discussions with experts from the target group about the best way to ask them can be held.
Responded to:
It is important to provide feedback to residents. This gives residents insight into what has been done with their input. Sometimes, for example, for practical reasons, a resident’s proposal cannot be implemented. By expressing these reasons to the resident, they don’t feel ignored. People understand that not everything is possible. When residents feel ignored, their trust and motivation will decline, and they may stop participating.
Response is often overlooked because the government is primarily looking for their input. But the importance of response shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s even a key success factor in building trust. Note that it’s not only important to provide feedback on what happens with the results, but also to express appreciation for the involvement of the residents.