Responsible scaling also requires careful attention to who is included in participation and decision-making, and whose voices may be absent or marginalised.

As projects expand or engage with new contexts, barriers to participation may become more visible (Pateman et al., 2021). These can include digital exclusion, language barriers, accessibility challenges, or unequal power dynamics between institutions and communities (Pandya, 2012; Pateman et al., 2021). Questions of inclusion often require regular attention, particularly as projects encounter new contexts, communities, or forms of participation.

Representation is equally important. As projects grow, decisions about governance, data use, or partnerships may increasingly affect participants who are not directly involved in decision-making processes. Ensuring that diverse perspectives are meaningfully included can help prevent unintended exclusion or misrepresentation.

For example, a project that expands to new regions may find that existing communication methods are less effective or inclusive in different contexts. Adapting approaches to participation does not weaken a project’s integrity, but can strengthen its ability to remain responsive and equitable.

At its core, inclusion involves asking not only who is present, but whose knowledge and priorities are shaping the direction of the initiative (Haklay, 2013; Shirk et al., 2012).

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