Engaging the public is more crucial, now more than ever, to address current priority issues within the international cooperation sector. A more vocal, informed public can help strengthen, inform and influence global solidarity. The Inter-Council Network (ICN) is actively engaged in research and policy processes that inform public engagement practices within the sector.

Our work focuses on equity-based approaches to public engagement. Specifically, we have conducted research projects, hosted webinars and facilitated capacity strengthening workshops on the use of decolonial, anti-racist and feminist perspectives in public engagement.

Our past research, done collaboratively with Canada-based and global feminist activists, community organizers, public engagement practitioners and civil society actors, looked at the application of decolonial, anti-racist and feminist approaches in public engagement. Insights from this project underscore the need for governmental and non-governmental actors to center communities, allocate adequate resources, foster open dialogues, build relations of trust and solidarity, and develop critical reflexivity mechanisms.

Our current research extends this work and looks at the ecosystem within which decolonial, anti-racist and feminist lenses are used in public engagement. Through our analysis, we aim to understand the core elements of a supportive environment, the strategies through which sector actors can navigate complexities and arising challenges and pathways that can foster an enabling environment for the effective and meaningful implementation of these approaches. Through this project, and in our overall work, we aim to contribute valuable insights that can inform better practices and policy in public engagement.