Inclusive Policies
Welcome to the last module! In this module, we will address these questions:
What is inclusivity?
Why is it important in policy design?
How do we acheive it?
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
More Than a Buzzword: Inclusion is the Foundation of a Thriving Society
Inclusion isn’t just about being “nice” or politically correct—it’s about building a society that actually works for everyone. When policies are designed with only a small fraction of people in mind, entire communities are left behind. That’s not just unfair; it’s inefficient. A government that fails to address the needs of all its citizens—whether based on race, gender, disability, economic status, or anything else—is like a machine with missing parts. It simply won’t function as well as it should.
Think about the economy. When more people have access to education, healthcare, and job opportunities, more people contribute. That means stronger businesses, more innovation, and a workforce that actually reflects the population. Exclusion, on the other hand, leads to wasted potential, social instability, and preventable poverty. The cost of ignoring inclusion isn’t just moral—it’s measurable, in dollars lost and crises created.
And then there’s social stability. Societies that prioritize inclusion are less prone to unrest, violence, and deep political divides. Why? Because when people feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to engage positively with their communities and trust their institutions. History has shown time and time again that exclusion breeds resentment, and resentment breeds conflict. Inclusion isn’t charity—it’s a survival strategy.
At its core, inclusion is about designing policies that work for the real world, not just for a privileged few. It’s about understanding that diversity isn’t a liability—it’s an asset. Whether in technology, economics, or governance, the best solutions come from a broad range of perspectives. If we want to build societies that are strong, innovative, and sustainable, inclusion isn’t optional. It’s the only way forward.
Summary
Here's what we learned during this training:
Inclusive policymaking must consider a wide variety of human experiences to maximize benefits and minimize unintended consequences.
Tools that can be used to achieve inclusivity include stakeholder analyses, analyzing the problem from multiple perspectives, thorough research on the surrounding context, stakeholder engagement, and an evaluation and improvement plan.
Policy Resources:
During the hackathon, be sure to thoroughly explore the resources provided, including external resources, multiple perspectives, and experts who will be available periodically.
Useful tools and guidelines
Think from different lenses
Policymakers can approach a problem from different perspectives by looking at it from common societal perspectives, such as gender, age, disability, race, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, language, etc. However, another way to gain a more robust view of a problem is to involve multiple disciplines in the policymaking process. Don't have a team of just engineers, nor just artists, and certainly not just policymakers! An interdisciplinary approach, involving different areas of expertise, ensures a more comprehensive view of all the considerations surrounding a complex issue.
In-depth research on socio-economic, political and cultural contexts
There are many ways to conduct this background research, including desk reviews using reliable sources of information, such as reputable news agencies, government reports, and academic publications. Research case studies of similar past policies. What impact did they have on the stakeholder groups identified earlier? Expert opinion will be another important resource at this hackathon, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to discuss your team's ideas with researchers closely involved in the hackathon programs.
Stakeholder participation and questions
While this can be challenging in a 24-hour hackathon, interviews with stakeholders themselves are an important source of data. Indeed, one of the core principles of inclusive policy design is participation, which intentionally and directly involves stakeholders throughout the design process, from brainstorming to final review.
Plan for monitoring, evaluation and regular improvement of policies
Consider establishing clear, measurable indicators to track policy impact. These can be quantitative (hard data) or qualitative (detailed description). Your proposal likely won't be perfect the first time, so it's important to think of policies as dynamic, requiring regular revisions and adjustments based on feedback.
Think about stakeholders
When designing new policies, one of the first steps is to consider the various individuals, groups, or organizations affected by the outcomes: these are the "stakeholders”. The success of a policy depends on understanding the perspectives of all entities directly affected by a policy, including community members, local businesses, workers, employers, and even government officials. These are called direct stakeholders—those directly involved in the policy’s implementation or impact.
A second, often overlooked group of stakeholders are indirect stakeholders, who are not directly affected by the policy. For example:
Environmental policies may neglect their impacts on tourism.
Transportation policies may neglect impacts on native wildlife or air quality.
It is easy to overlook the impacts on future generations when designing policies today.
Many well-intentioned policies have unintended consequences, particularly for vulnerable and often overlooked social groups. Consider urban revitalization efforts in the United States, for example, which have often led to the displacement of longtime residents, often minorities, due to rising rents and the cost of living—a process commonly referred to as gentrification. More inclusive policies such as tenant protection laws and the creation of affordable housing aim to revitalize urban areas and protect longtime residents.
For this reason, a common initial step when creating an inclusive policy is stakeholder identification, where a wide variety of potential stakeholders are first identified and serious research is conducted to understand their perspectives, experiences, and situations. Then, this information can help policymakers understand if a policy is realistic and would have a positive impact.