About the IAP2 Federation
The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is an international association of members who seek to promote and improve the practice of public participation in relation to individuals, governments, institutions and other entities that affect the public interest in nations throughout the world. IAP2 carries out its mission by organizing and conducting activities to:
- Serve the learning needs of members through events, publications, and communication technology;
- Advocate for public participation throughout the world;
- Promote a results-oriented research agenda and use research to support educational and advocacy goals;
- Provide technical assistance to improve public participation.
IAP2 is a world-wide Federation, made up of national or multi-national Affiliates, like IAP2 USA. This organizational model recognizes that affiliates are best able to deliver IAP2 knowledge, information, services, and value to members through a national lens. At the same time, this organizational structure makes it easier to share knowledge between affiliates so we are all able to gain easy access to international best practices in public participation.
The IAP2 organizational model is as follows:
IAP2 Federation - the international body
IAP2 Affiliates - national organizations such as IAP2 USA, IAP2 Canada, IAP2 Australasia, etc.
IAP2 Affiliate Chapters – such as Cascades, Intermountain, Southern California and others.
The Federation Board focuses on broad, strategic, internationally-impacting initiatives such as:
a) The New Foundations Training Program
b) Certification
c) Standards (in development)
d) Licensing of IAP2 trainers
e) Integrity of IAP2 ‘brand’
f) Participation in broad-focused information sharing, such as the Journal of Public Participation
Each IAP2 Affiliate appoints and assigns its board members and two Federation representatives. The IAP2 Federation has a direct link with trainers in every affiliate and each affiliate has its own unique training strategy.
