The Ladder of Participation

The Ladder of Participation is a framework that shows levels of community involvement in decision-making processes. It ranges from minimal influence, like simply informing or consulting people, to higher levels where community members share power, collaborate, or directly lead initiatives. The idea is to recognize different degrees of engagement, encouraging approaches that empower people to influence decisions affecting them. This helps organizations and groups create more meaningful participation, fostering trust and better outcomes by involving communities appropriately based on context and goal.