Population engagement ladder
The example population engagement ladder below shows different ways to engage target audiences. On one end of the ladder is “inform”, which focuses on one-way information sharing with a target audience. At the other end is “defer/empower”, in which the audience owns the process.
Base your population engagement methods on what you aim to achieve. In general, greater audience ownership makes a population engagement process more effective and sustainable. However, depending on the disaster risk communication objectives and the stakeholders involved, other engagement methods such as “partnership” might be more appropriate.
| Ladder rung | Level of target audience/population involvement | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inform | The population receives relevant information but is not involved in the design or decision-making process. | A hurricane is approaching: Evacuate to shelters now. |
| Consult | Population members are asked about their opinions on the design of disaster risk but decisions are made by others. | What would help women and children feel safer in hurricane shelters? Decisions taken may not reflect answers received. |
| Involve | Population members are asked about their opinions on disaster risk decisions, but the final say is left to others. | Where do you think we should build hurricane shelters? Final decisions taken may not reflect answers received. |
| Collaborate/ partnership/ co-design | Disaster risk design and decisions are negotiated between population members and other actors. | Let’s work together to design these shelters. |
| Defer/empower | Population members lead, plan and execute disaster risk measures. | Here’s funding to build a shelter however you want… Oh, you’d rather build a bridge! |