Dear IAP2 Community, 

We are pleased to share the appointment of Abigail Kajumba as the new Executive Director of IAP2 International, effective 2 June 2026.

This appointment comes at a moment of transition for our organization. After many years of dedicated service, we will be saying farewell to Ellen Ernst, whose contributions have shaped IAP2 in meaningful and lasting ways. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and commitment to the global public participation community.

At the same time, this transition creates an opportunity to move IAP2 International in new directions that benefit our global community.

Abigail is a global leader in , governance, systems change, and public participation with over 20 years of experience across 47 countries. Her early career and Master’s research at SOAS (University of London) focused on public participation, and she has led international organizations and built partnerships across governments, philanthropy, and multilateral institutions.

She is transitioning from Emerging Public Leaders - where she has served as Executive Director.  She is  a Commissioner with the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition and contributes to global forums including the United Nations, World Bank, Skoll World Forum, and G20.

We look forward to the leadership, perspective, and global experience that Abigail brings, and to the opportunities ahead for strengthening and evolving IAP2’s impact worldwide.

Please join us in welcoming Abigail to the IAP2 community.

Warm regards,

Gay Robinson, CP3

Chair, IAP2 International

IAP2’s Spectrum of P2/Engagement has helped shape engagement practice around the world for decades. Now, the IAP2 Spectrum Evolution 2026 process is entering its final phase — and we’re inviting global practitioners and the public to review and share feedback on what the next evolution of IAP2’s Spectrum of P2/Engagement could look like.

This phase of engagement includes:

• A global public survey

• Optional discussion workshops for deeper conversation

Workshop sessions will be offered online across multiple time zones to support global participation:

2 Jun

16:00–17:30 CDT

17:00–18:30 CLT

3 Jun, 7:00–8:30 AEST

5 Jun

8:00–9:30 CDT

15:00–16:30 SAST

20:00–21:30 WIB

8 Jun

10:30–12:00 CDT

16:30–18:00 BST

17:30–19:00 SAST

We are seeking broad and diverse perspectives across sectors, regions, identities and lived experiences because no single experience represents the full practice of engagement.

Whether you work in government, consulting, nonprofits, academia or community leadership — your perspective can help shape this global conversation.

Participate in the Engagement Process

• Complete the Survey - Click here
  Deadline to complete the survey: June 17, 2026.
  

• Register for a Workshop Conversation- Click here

Project Team
The process is being guided by an international project team bringing diverse expertise and perspectives across engagement practice, public participation and community engagement.

Dr. Tracey Ehl, MCP3, PhD, CPF, MCIP, RPP (Canada)

    LinkedIn

Luis Oré, JD, MA, MA, DBA (c) (Perú)

    Linkedin

Dr. Cassie Hemphill, CP3, PhD, CVF, CM (USA) 

Linkedin

Tiffany Skomro, Project Manager, IAP2 International

Linkedin

Kendall Martin
Secretary - IAP2 USA

We extend a very special thanks to Rachel Fox (Australasia) who has concluded her term serving as International Chair. Rachel will continue to serve on the International Board as Immediate Past Chair. We also extend our thanks to outgoing board members for their dedication and contributions to IAP2 and the practice: Jane Newlands (Canada), Tony Clark (Australasia), David Morema (Southern Africa) and Snowy Makhudu (Southern Africa).

The Board welcomed Linda Niksic, the new representative from Canada.

The IAP2 International Board consists of Directors nominated by the IAP2 Affiliates. It is a volunteer
board responsible for the strategic leadership and governance of the international organisation.

Term: Part-time contract basis, estimate of 40 hours per month, initially from August through December 2025, with renewal opportunity
Location: Virtual Office
Compensation: Monthly flat rate, $2,000 (USD), commensurate with experience

Scope of Work:

• Develops and implements communication strategies to promote an organization's messages and maintain its public image.
• Creates clear, concise, and engaging content and ensures consistent messaging across various platforms, including press releases, website content, videos, social media posts, newsletters, presentations and publications.
• Identifies target audiences, selects appropriate communication channels, and sets communication goals.
• Monitors and analyzes communication efforts and effectiveness and provides opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinates with others to obtain information, writes, edits, and designs to ensure that communication is aligned with the organization's overall goals and brand.
  

Applications:

1.    Open to Members of IAP2, in the first instance
2.    Applications must reach our inbox by no later than the specified closing date Monday, July 21, at 5:00 PM, ET (US/Canada).
3.    Applications will be accepted by email only to operations@iap2.org.

More Information - Communications Specialist Position Description

It is expected this contract will begin immediately following the awarding with final deliverables by 30 September 2025.

Please see the RFP - Branding Services for more information.

Proposals are requested by 5pm ET (US/Canada) on July 1, 2025, to Ellen Ernst at operations@iap2.org. Any questions or requests for clarification should also be directed to the same email address.

RFQ - Creative Services and Graphic Design for IAP2

RFP - Fundraising Development Consultant

Proposals are requested by 5:00 PM ET (US/Canada) on July 1, 2025

Proposals and any questions must be submitted via email to: operations@iap2.org (Cover letters can be addressed to Ms. Ellen Ernst, Executive Manager, IAP2).

As you are aware, the United Nations Sustainable Development Guideline 11 aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. However, a critical component of this guideline, indicator 11.3.2, which measures participation in urban planning processes, is currently under threat due to a significant lack of data.

We need your co-action to avoid SDG 11.3.2 indicator – which focuses on participatory planning processes – from being removed in the SDG Global Database. We have limited time until the beginning of July 2024 to gather the necessary data, about 8000 data points worldwide. Inclusive and participatory urban planning processes are key to creating sustainable urban futures and strengthening social cohesion and democracy is at the core of UN-Habitat’s work, so your participation and support is vital in preserving the integrity and impact of this indicator.

The UN Habitat has developed a survey to address this data gap, and we need your help to distribute it widely. Your involvement is crucial in ensuring that all voices are heard and that we can collectively work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Key Points to Consider:

• Inclusivity and Equity: These are not just ideals but the foundation of our shared vision for the future. By participating in this survey, we reaffirm our commitment to these values.
• Data Collection: With less than 30% of countries collecting data for this indicator, we are at risk of losing a valuable tool for measuring our progress.
• Time-Sensitive: We have only six years left to meet the 2030 SDG targets. Every moment counts, and your prompt action can make a difference.

We urge you to take the survey and encourage others within your network to do the same. Together, we can ensure that SDG 11 remains a priority and that our collective efforts towards resilient urban development are recognized and supported.

Please find the survey link here: UN Habitat SDG 11.3.2 Survey

For more information about SDG 11 and how you can contribute, please visit UN Habitat’s SDG 11 Resource Page.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Your leadership and support are invaluable to this cause.

The I in IAP2:

In our field of work, we look for what brings us together. A new year is one common touch point. Those commonalities allow us to see each other, to be connected, to have relationships where we might not otherwise find them. Just a week ago, across the world, we entered a new year together. 

As the International Association of Public Participation, we get to reinforce our commonalities not just on the day a new year arrives--we get to do so every day of the year with our common touch points: our core values, our code of ethics, our engagement (participation) levels. We see it in our trainer corps that trains practitioners across the world. We see it in the impact our members collectively create— practicing those common touch points to ensure communities shape the decisions and change that affect their lives.

That’s what we refer to as the “I” in the first word of our name, international. We lead with what we have in common across the world. Daily, we work with people around the world to people to bring these touch points into their communities, and to discover and contribute to what they could be now and need to be the future.

We work with people in our established regions—Latin America, Canada, United States, Australasia, Southern Africa, Indonesia—and with people from Finland to Singapore to Ireland to Saudi Arabia who are seeking to bring IAP2 principles to their communities and countries. Not only are we building capacity in these individual places, we are building a common language, culture, expectation around how we solve problems and create change together.

That’s the I in International. 

It matters to have something in common with our neighbours locally and it matters to have these commonalities with each other around the world. What we each do to be the I in our International community matters.

This year, the International Board of IAP2 will be seeking to celebrate the “I” in International, by sharing best practice, connecting practitioners from across the world, and working on our organizational model so we can see IAP2 grow and flourish.

More will be revealed in following posts.

May this year be one we create together. May every day be one when we hold our practice in common across the world.

Rachel Fox, International Chair