Your own role

Be clear about your own role


Neutrality and impartiality are necessary for being able to conduct methodologically sound participatory processes. As a facilitator of a youth eParticipation process you should act as an “honest broker” and not seek a particular result. An “honest broker” is an impartial mediator.  

As an honest broker, you should be unbiased in the eyes of both the young people and the decision-makers. If the young people see you as allied with the decision-makers or vice versa you cannot act as an honest broker, and you should then ask someone else to run the process. Being an honest broker and an advocate of youth participation in political decision-making can, however, still go hand in hand. As long as you are able to equally listen to and include the views of all sides, of course.