Recommendations for inclusive virtual meetings

This report by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) presents findings from a SurveyMonkey poll of 88 stakeholders regarding the challenges and opportunities of virtual engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on avoiding "digital exclusion" for grassroots and community-based organisations (CBOs), particularly in the Global South, and provides recommendations for more inclusive virtual meetings.

• The primary barriers to virtual engagement for partners in the Global South are lack of stable internet connectivity and a shortage of physical hardware such as laptops and smartphones. To address this, the report recommends financing data fees and subscriptions for CBOs, budgeting for equipment or sourcing refurbished devices, and creating semi-virtual options where local organisations provide office space and internet access.
• While Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting, and Microsoft Teams are the most familiar and easy-to-use platforms, the report emphasizes that consistency in using a single platform is more important than the specific software chosen to avoid user frustration. WhatsApp is identified as a highly rated communication tool for CBOs and grassroots organisations, serving as a 'bridge' between larger virtual events.
• Virtual meetings often exclude non-English speakers and those in the Global South due to Europe-centric time zones, Northern holiday schedules, and language barriers. Recommendations to improve inclusion include offering staggered meeting times across different days and time zones, providing preparatory materials and presentations in advance, and enabling closed captioning.
• Current virtual engagement power dynamics lack equity, as agendas are typically set by formal organisations in the Global North. The report suggests empowering grassroots and CBOs to co-create agendas and initiate their own meetings, supported by skilled moderators and capacity training.
• Successful virtual engagements rely on high-quality preparation and follow-up, inclusive agenda co-creation, and interactive formats. The report notes that insufficient lead time for engaging diverse stakeholders often results in "token-like" representation that fails to address the priorities of the most vulnerable.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). Recommendations for inclusive virtual meetings. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/key-recommendations-from-survey-monkey-_-final-1.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. Recommendations for inclusive virtual meetings. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/key-recommendations-from-survey-monkey-_-final-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=Recommendations for inclusive virtual meetings |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/key-recommendations-from-survey-monkey-_-final-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndrecommendations, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{Recommendations for inclusive virtual meetings}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/key-recommendations-from-survey-monkey-_-final-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }