Discussion Note on Public Consultation

The aim of this note is to delineate some of the basic principles that should underlie any process of consultation. It is not specifically intended as a guidance note on how consultation should take place in Bank projects, but is rather an attempt to understand what we mean by consultation and to provide a model that could eventually be developed and adapted into a more formal guidance. The note looks at the reasons why consultation should be carried out, what it comprises, who should be involved and when and where it should be done. It also summarizes some basic principles of how consultation can be carried out effectively.