PCI Looks Ahead

Whenever we talk with state leaders, they describe many difficult issues they face that often cross geographical boundaries and defy fixing by government alone. Throughout the country, governments and citizens are participating in “collaborative governance,” a term that encompasses various approaches that seek to find solutions for complex public issues.

A new publication of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Collaborative Governance: A Guide for Grantmakers, describes three general types of activities that fall within the definition of collaborative governance. They are:

  1. Forums for Public Deliberation. These forums can be used to educate the public, build stronger relationships, and promote cooperation and conflict resolution as well as provide advice for policy and action by public officials.
  2. Community Problem-Solving. These activities generally involve collaborations among community, government, and private groups who work to address problems together over an extended period of time.
  3. Multi-Stakeholder Dispute Resolution. This is more like "classic" conflict resolution. It typically brings together stakeholder groups representing different interests and points of view, such as environmentalists, business, and governments, who negotiate and document terms that settle their dispute.

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The Hewlett report may be downloaded from their web site.