There is no single design for deliberative public engagement. Each process is designed to meet its specific aims and objectives. It is also important that the process meets the needs of participants as well as those of the decision- or policy-makers.
It is crucial that the following elements are clear from the outset:
- the purpose and objectives of the exercise (why and how);
- the intended outcomes (what will be achieved);
- the people who should be involved (specialists, decision-makers and public participants), and their potentially different needs and aspirations; and
- the context (social, political, historical, policy) into which the process will fit.
A helpful formula for ensuring that a deliberative engagement exercise is tailored to the specific circumstances: