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National Issues Forum

Brief Description:

National Issues Forums (NIF) are a nonpartisan network of locally sponsored public forums created to consider public policy issues.

Description:

NIF is a way for people to deliberate, or to have serious discussions on issues among a small group of 10-20 participants. NIF forums have moderators to help the discussion. Their job is to:

  • Lay out ground rules for discussion.
  • Introduce issues.
  • Draw participants into discussion.
  • Encourage participants to consider alternatives.
  • Lead the final segment of a discussion, as a reflection upon the forum.

Used For:

Forums are used to focus on various important issues such as health care, immigration, or ethnic and racial tensions.

Suitable participants:

Open to all members of the general public.

Cost:

The fees for organising a forum are variable. Possible costs include:

  • Personnel
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Communications
  • Facilities

Time Requirements:

Forums typically last for 1-2 days at a time.

When To Use / What It Can Deliver:

  • To bring together people from conflicting sides in a non-partisan atmosphere.
  • To help people of diverse views find common ground.

When Not To Use / What It Cannot Deliver:

  • If you do not have a trained moderator.
  • If you do not have the required number of participants.

Strengths:

  • Broadens the outlook of participants.
  • Approaches difficult issues collaboratively to create reasoned public judgment.

Weaknesses:

  • Negligble impact on decision makers.
  • Requires a trained moderator.

Origin:

In 1981 at a conference in the United States, 17 organisations created the 'Domestic Policy Association'. The network expanded across the country. Soon afterwards, larger collaborating institutions started initiating their own forums and it renamed as the National Issues Forum.

Case Studies:


Related Methods


Restrictions In Use


None

Further Information

For further information, please see the NIF website:

http://www.nifi.org/

Popular Methods
21st Century Town Meeting
Citizens Jury
Deliberative Polling
Open Space
Participatory Appraisal
Participatory Budgeting
Webcasting