Nine-step guide on participatory and deliberative formats in policymaking

Step-by-step guide to help public bodies design and implement effective citizen participatory and deliberative processes for policymaking.

This guide provides a detailed, practical roadmap for public authorities, policymakers, and institutions aiming to meaningfully integrate participatory and deliberative processes into policymaking. Structured around nine clear steps — from problem identification to implementation, communication, feedback, and evaluation — it helps organizers design inclusive, impactful formats such as citizens' assemblies, participatory budgeting, public consultations, and digital crowdsourcing. The guide emphasizes real-world applicability, citing examples from Ireland, France, Latvia, Chile, and Argentina. It outlines common challenges like unclear goals, low trust, and lack of follow-up, while offering actionable strategies to address them. This resource is particularly valuable for those planning to launch or institutionalize democratic innovations that build public trust, integrate local knowledge, and improve decision-making quality.

Source: GLOBSEC
Author information: Barbora Tomlyová
Language: English, Slovak, Hungarian, Polish, Czech

Year of publication: 2024