Your organization is unique. And the problems and questions you have are similarly unique. At One World, we believe strongly that each process we develop must be adapted for its particular situation.

Respecting the principles outlined below, we work with you to select and tailor methodologies that are appropriate to your needs. Dialogue is at the heart of our work because we believe it helps to build a collaborative and respectful way of working together.

When you partner with One World, your engagement process will be built on the principles below.

One World Principles

• Innovative and Tailored: Each organization and community is unique. We never apply a “cookie cutter” approach. Rather, we work with you to determine the key questions that need to be answered and design a process tailored to your needs and those of the participating groups.
• Participatory: Meaningful processes are inclusive, giving people a real opportunity to contribute to the outcomes. All types of knowledge, such as experiential or scientific knowledge, are respected and diversity is welcomed.
• Focused and Clear: From the get-go, we work with you to clarify key objectives and issues. At all stages of the process, we use focused questions to facilitate on-topic engagement.
• Respectful: The processes we design for you are respectful of people’s experience and wisdom. Participants have a genuine opportunity to contribute to outcomes.
• Rigorous: We recognize that the consultation and engagement methodologies we propose for you, and the results and analyses we deliver, may inform decisions on highly sensitive issues. Accordingly, process integrity, transparency and openness are essential.
• Context Sensitive: We know it is important that the consultation designs and schedules conform to your organization’s culture and considerations. At every stage of the process, we present the results you need for informed decision-making.

The Elements of Successful Engagement

One World is a leader in traditional and progressive consultation processes that achieve the productive public and stakeholder involvement you need. In designing your project, One World will consider a variety of proven and innovative methodologies. Chief among these is our work with deliberative dialogue, for which we have received awards and been nationally recognized.

We can even train your staff in public engagement techniques, so you can use these approaches in your own consultations and workplace.

Deliberative Dialogue – An Inclusive Approach

One World is a Canadian pioneer in Deliberative Dialogue, a process that highlights a values-based conversation.

Deliberative dialogue explores the perceptions and assumptions of your participants and finds the common ground from which progress can be made on a problem or issue. It allows you to thoughtfully examine divergent perspectives on an issue and identify common ground, such as shared values and principles, from which solutions can be built.

You receive more thorough input to make better decisions based on understanding the choices and trade-offs people are prepared to make. It fully engages people in structured discussions on key issues of policies and programs, producing results you can have confidence in.

The Deliberative Dialogue Difference

In contrast to an agenda-driven debate, in which people have to take sides on an issue and alternative approaches are lost, deliberative dialogue encourages values-based discussions and an understanding of other perspectives.

The facilitator leads people to confront the contradictions and long-term consequences of different perspectives and make choices. Working through the conflicts and trade-offs, people identify what is most important to them. They better understand the issue and find a shared understanding that leads to the development of alternatives, solutions and common ground.

One World’s President and CEO, Jacquie Dale, is a pioneer in the use of deliberative dialogue in Canada. Her work for the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), engaging Canadians in meaningful discussions on international policy, poverty and other complex issues, received the 2002 Arthur Kroeger Award in Public Discourse and the 2000 Suzanne Peters Citizen Engagement Award.