How can you engage hard-to-reach populations in public policy making?

This needs to occur at the sub ethnic level if possible as it creates a deeper understanding of the cultural differences between groups that are on the surface homogeneous but when identified in detail can have vastly different experiences.

Simplifying complex policy outcomes is key to make people understand the policy making process. Much of policy making is an elite process, the masses only feel the brunt of the outcome if it’s poorly designed so policy wonks must simplify & do modelling to show outcomes. Modelling outcomes will bridge the gap & make more people involved in the process. Right now, it’s restricted to some elites / specialists. But the masses are so overwhelmed with survival that it’s difficult for them to take an interest without simplification.

One thing that I have observed and seen working in Kenya is the use of gatekeepers (who have local names synonymous with the communities) in these areas. In my country, there are leaders at the local levels that are maintained on a monthly stipend and have proven to be efficient and effective with regards to health matters. Given the mutual relationship they have with their community, it's easy for them to organise themselves and give feedback. Most of their contact details are known & available with their local chief/chieftain. These groups of leaders are usually the ordinary citizens living amongst the given community. Known by both adults & children, & often share common banter as the community. When marshalled, they deliver the result

I would go further than simply consulting with relevant community leaders and groups. It's far better to think about ways to enable the community itself to take the lead, and to empower them to do so. Often, such community groups are small and precariously funded - it's really important to pay for their input and expertise, as you would for any other expert input. It recognises the value of their input, and also helps support the continued sustainability of the group or network.

At the outset I would use 'seldom reached' thus putting the onus on those trying to reach. Work with the community groups that they trust and fit in with their schedule. I used a sewing class to talk about ageism with a group of Muslim one. It fitted in with their lives.

Before the social media advertising model completely upended the industry, most communications leaders relied on brick-and-mortar communications channels, such as billboards, to communicate with their targeted audience. Digital advertising was cheap in 2005 and brought the promise of better targeting. Comms professionals abandoned the old communications channels and flooded the digital space with ads. Today, it is no longer that cheap to advertise online and many users have been trained to drown out digital ads as background noise. Some savvy executives have realized that some of the old channels, like brick-and-mortar, are now much cheaper and actually stand out more. Sometimes, being ahead of the curve means looking backward.

Meet people where they are. Hosting in-person roundtables in communities where people live and work provided insights to the those serving in the federal government we did not hear in our office in DC.

In my role as statewide coordinator of the "Unlock Your Vote" campaign I developed communication strategies that were a direct result of my "lived experience" with the criminal justice system. I knew that our targeted population would be skeptical of traditional methods of outreach. Therefore, rather than using focus groups, I created campaign material that spoke their language and distributed it to every parole office in the state. I also utilized my communitry resources and created PSA's that were in heavy rotatation on the major media markets in Texas. We had a campaign goal of registering 10,000 formerly incarcerated individuals to vote in the 2004 presidential election. We surpassed that goal by 5.000.

Public policy process is crafted as common good that should be all inclusive to give a voice to those who feel left our such as PWD, minority tribes, gender or youth in specific areas. An inclusive approach is therefore necessary based on; 1. Accessible channel (newspaper, TV and radio). In Kenya, we have a law requiring all pubic institutions to publish in the leading national newspapers policy information such as tax laws, electoral law etc. The criterial is national reach 2. Public hearings at local levels in all 47 counties in Kenya. We had public hearings on land law process so that community organize themselves and present their views 3. Public submissions -announce call for public submissions at local levels.

Word of mouth still works, Cypress,Tx found out Beto was coming, 2 days before he showed up, on a drizzling Tuesday at 2. We managed to get around 500 people to turn out. Most were skeptical of him when they came in, but walked out as new voters. That 500 turned Cypress,TX blue that year. As an organizer than a director, I find the better turn outs are from those you actually get to speak to, face to face is best than phones. As others have said know your audience. 18-30 year olds are not home, it's better to text them. 31-40 social media, they grew up on it. After that, those face to face at the door or round table are your best bet. Even better have volunteers host the round table at their house with friends. Kitchen table ideas.

Public policy participation is dependent on clarity of message communicated i.e the ultimate expected outcome from the public policy process. This is the most important rallying call to action message to encourage participation. Other sub-messages are details that are policy champions engage their larger audiences and or communities. In all these use of relevant mediums is required such as chart for demonstration etc

Personally, I find the term 'hard to reach' quite disempowering, as it suggests that the problem is with the communities themselves being difficult to get to. I prefer 'harder to hear', as it centres the responsibility back on the organisation that needs to hear their voices

When working with community groups and networks, it is important to also pay people for their input and expertise, especially when you are asking those groups and networks to undertake any activities to support your objectives, such as setting up focus groups or finding people for you to speak with or connect with.

Stakeholders need to know their involvement is both appreciated and necessary. This is particularly true of hard-to-reach populations, especially those that are often sought, but rarely reached. We need to be clear why populations need to be part of the effort. We need to articulate what we are hoping to accomplish. We need to share progress, even if we are slowed or stymied. Engagement isn’t a one-time thing or a one-off. Hard-to-react populations need to know they partners in the process, and need yo invest their time and interest as such. Audiences need to take ownership, and credit for our progress. Communication must be regular, informed, engaging, and two-way. It is about more than just informing. Stakeholders must have a voice.

To state clearly and simply what the objective is, what can be considered within what time frame. People in hard to reach communities are often so intimidated and afraid to speak the truth. So sharing what has happened with the information received, how it has created the disruption and action for policy change is where their belief and confidence will appear and can grow. The timeliness of this feedback, happening at intervals along the way, is critical, so that they can see their input will and is creating the voice and the difference in public policy making. Investing in a 'created by' rather than a 'done to' population.

Intentional design and outreach can engage those we think are the hardest to engage in public policy decision making. So often, the meetings, events and conversations that lead to policy outcomes happen in places where the very public were serving have not been invited or public meetings are held at times or in locations that make it hard for the average citizen to engage. Move the meetings and conversations to where the people are and in survey research, design for an oversampling of groups that are often underrepresented. You'll find that inclusive decision making leads to better decisions, actions and outcomes.

HAVE A BOTTOMS UP APPROACH Policy decisions need not always be driven from the top. Real problems exist at the bottom of the pyramid. It is imperative to have an engagement strategy that involves those who are impacted and seek a change in policy. Government is open to seeking solutions from experts. Here is an opportunity to demonstrate change at the ground level, mobilise the community, gather impact metrics, and then present the same to policy makers. Begin small. Corporate social responsibility projects that reach to far out population is a great strategy. Work with a problem identified by the community, implement well thought of interventions. Measure and evaluate impact. Push for policy change. Nothing begets success like success.

Building Partnerships Collaboration with local community-based organizations and advocacy groups that already have connections with hard-to-reach populations can be a powerful strategy. These organizations often possess valuable insights and established relationships that can bridge the gap between public policy initiatives and the target population. By partnering with such organizations, you can tap into their expertise and credibility, making it easier to engage hard-to-reach communities effectively.