Improving Citizen Participation and Feedback in Your Bagh: AManual on Town Halls
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key organizations within the community. In this case, other
activities may be organized to further discuss the issue and
identify solutions.
Following the meeting, it is useful for a follow-up person
or committee to remain in contact with the elected officials
in order to monitor their work on the issues raised. A com-
mittee (working group) can be established consisting of con-
stituents, CSO, and government officials where they will be
willing to work on a voluntary basis on the topics discussed
at the town hall meeting. Once the problems discussed have
been resolved, it is the responsibility of the follow-up person
or committee to document successes and inform relevant
stakeholders as well as posting the success onto the local
websites and information boards for the mass public.
Conduct a debrief
Shortly after the town hall meeting, gather key staff
members, including those involved in your planning of the
event as well as those in the departments that handle topics
and issues that arose during the meeting. Discuss whether
goals were achieved and expected and unexpected reactions
and citizen feedback. Provide consultation to public offi-
cials on how to move forward on commitments that arose
from discussion through strategic planning, resource man-
agement, etc.
For staff that are engaged in planning the next town hall
meeting or for staff that intend to hold a public forum in the
near future, share with them the results of the immediate
feedback survey.
Develop and implement an action plan
Ensure specific staffers are tasked with the responsibility
to follow up on issues and commitments from the town hall.
Consider what the next steps could be and develop an ac-
