Introduction to Joint Fact Finding in Policy Disputes

Policy disputes often stall when scientific uncertainty or competing evidence is involved, requiring a structured approach to find common ground. This course equips you with the foundational knowledge and practical methodology of Joint Fact Finding (JFF), enabling you to design, implement, and manage collaborative processes that transform conflict into constructive, evidence-based policy solutions. What you'll learn: * Understand the core components and principles of Joint Fact Finding (JFF) and its critical role in resolving high-stakes policy conflicts. * Analyze stakeholder interests and map the scientific uncertainties driving policy disputes in planning and resource management. * Design a structured JFF process, including defining scope, selecting participants, and establishing governance rules for collaboration. * Apply techniques for synthesizing complex scientific data and communicating risk and uncertainty clearly to diverse audiences. * Practice strategies for maintaining process transparency and ensuring ethical data governance throughout the collaborative effort. * Evaluate the outcomes of a JFF process and transition agreed-upon findings into actionable policy recommendations. The course begins with defining collaborative governance and JFF fundamentals, moves through detailed guidance on stakeholder assessment and process design, and concludes with practical methods for evidence synthesis and communicating findings effectively. This course is designed for policy analysts, urban planners, resource managers, community advocates, and anyone new to collaborative decision-making in public administration. No prior experience in conflict resolution or advanced scientific knowledge is required. Start building your expertise in evidence-based conflict resolution today.