It is widely recognized that without concrete and intentional devices, public participation practices in policy-making tend to mirror the under-representations existing in a given reality, thus diminishing their integrative and inclusive potential.

Aware of this trend, the Network of Participatory Local Authorities has been carrying out various actions in this area, including:

• collaborative research, carried out between September 2020 and January 2022, with the aim of understanding the extent to which participation processes tend to ensure the inclusion of under-represented social groups. This work was carried out using two lines of study: i) a self-assessment of each municipality, carried out by answering a questionnaire survey on the practices and strategies adopted; ii) an external assessment of the inclusive nature of the websites dedicated to participation processes;
• the creation of a self-diagnostic tool on the inclusive nature of initiatives promoted by municipalities and parishes. This is a collaborative game called "Who Participates?", in board format, to be used by the teams directly responsible for conducting civic participation processes. The "players" are invited to analyze 42 profiles belonging to traditionally under-represented social groups and check whether the methodologies they adopt are the most appropriate to guarantee the participation of these people. "Who participates?" does not stop at analyzing each of the situations identified, but calls for the adoption of measures to facilitate the inclusion of individuals who are unable to access the participatory process. You can find more information at this address.

If you develop or know an initiative for the participation of under-represented groups, you can contact the Network's Technical Secretariat by e-mail at rap@oficina.org.pt.