Plan for diverse participation

Long-term Actions

Set clear minimum targets, for example, the key groups and number of participants that must be included.
Decide ahead of time what you will do if participation goals are not reached.
Consider extending the comment period, changing your outreach approach, or building new relationships with groups that were not well represented.
Check progress early so you still have time to adjust.
If you’re missing key voices, pause and fix the outreach instead of moving forward anyway.
Ask community partners why people didn’t participate and what would make it easier next time.
Add new accessible engagement options, like phone calls, short sessions, or one-on-one interviews.
Extend timelines if needed, especially for reviewing documents.
Document what didn’t work and what you changed, so the process improves over time.

The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)'s Spectrum of Public Participation helps organizations think about how much influence people have in decision-making, from simply receiving information to helping make decisions. It encourages organizations to choose the right level of participation for each project and to involve people in meaningful ways.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)'s guidance for national standards bodies emphasizes broad stakeholder participation, including government, industry, consumers, workers, and academia, and encourages developing countries and under‑represented groups to take part more actively.
Canada – Standards Council of Canada (SCC)'s accreditation criteria for Standards Development Organizations require respect for “diverse interests” and a commitment to openness, transparency, and balanced participation in committees.