Policy Brief

Participation is the Fundamental Building Block in Science-Policy Interface Design

Meaningful participation is the foundation for building science-policy interfaces that produce shared knowledge and enable collective action.

Science-policy interfaces depend on the participation of the people and institutions they aim to inform and support. Drawing on lessons from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this memo argues that meaningful participation, recognition of diverse forms of knowledge and support for participation are essential to building effective science-policy organizations. It highlights how unequal resources and competing interests can shape who participates, whose knowledge is valued and ultimately how scientific evidence informs collective action.

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