A/HRC/39/51 participate in, contribute to and enjoy development in its economic, social, cultural and political dimensions. This must be the guiding force in the implementation of the post-2015 policy development framework. 24. So how can genuine, wide and meaningful participation be achieved? Overwhelmingly, the response of civil society to that question in consultations with the Special Rapporteur has been: through wider access to information regarding development policies, programmes and projects for all concerned stakeholders and constituencies. Access to information and participation will lead to understanding of the process, and widen support for much needed reforms. Participation will also help in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the results of development programmes and projects in a meaningful way and increasing their effectiveness and efficiency. Last but not least, it would lead to greater accountability and contribute to tackling endemic issues, such as corruption and lack of good governance. 25. In 2015, OECD suggested that reducing the growing divide between rich and poor and restoring opportunities for all required focusing policy attention on four main areas: employment promotion and good-quality jobs; skills and education; tax-and-transfer systems for efficient redistribution; and, notably, women’s participation in economic life. 28 26. ILO 29 suggested as one of the measures to reduce inequalities that: “Sustainable enterprises engage in social dialogue and good industrial relations, such as collective bargaining and worker information, consultation and participation. These are effective instruments to create win-win situations, as they promote shared values, trust and cooperation, and socially responsible behaviour.” Measures such as adopting or strengthening minimum wages, as one way of reducing wage inequality, can only be effective if implemented in full consultation with social partners and, where appropriate, “with their direct participation on an equal footing”. 30 Principle 18 (b) of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights also requests that, in order to gauge human rights risks, business enterprises should conduct meaningful consultation with potentially affected groups and other relevant stakeholders, as appropriate to the size of the business enterprise and the nature and context of the operation. 27. The World Bank has argued 31 that participation may also have value by increasing cooperation, through contribution to the funding of projects or through compliance with decisions made, and that increasing the direct representation of disadvantaged individuals in legislative assemblies can promote policymakers’ commitment to reforms that improve equity. The Bank has also warned, however, that: participants in civic activities tended to be wealthier, more educated, of higher social status, male, and more politically connected than non-participants; the cost of participation was higher for the poor because they have less leisure time and need to work longer hours to generate income; and it is more difficult for the poor “to influence outcomes because they are less educated or may find it difficult to debate with and contradict individuals who traditionally hold influence and authority”.32 In the context of human rights-compliant development policies and programmes, the way the participation processes are designed is extremely important. Furthermore, the cost of participation should be duly budgeted, so that those who are being consulted do not bear the costs or end up excluded because are unable to afford the participation costs. 28. Access to information and to participatory mechanisms are closely related. The majority of the high-income countries make information about existing regulations publicly available and provide advance notice of regulatory changes. Information regarding State, regional or municipal budgets is available and there are mechanisms for feedback and options to challenge the choices of the executive. Such mechanisms to collect feedback from the public and to report on the results and impact assessments of regulatory policies 28 29 30 31 32 10 OECD, “In it together”, p. 22. ILO, Global Wage Report 2016/17, p. xxi. Ibid., p. 25. World Bank Group, World Development Report 2017, pp. 173 and 178. Ibid., p. 181.