Digital Participation Online Training

/

This course launched officially on October 17! You can now watch the recording of the launch event.

 

Learn how to engage your community in decision-making digitally!

 

Training details

  • Format: self-paced 

  • Languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Traditional Chinese

  • Certification: upon completion of all modules

  • Price: Free

  • Average time to complete: 4-5 weeks or an average of 3 hours per week

Enroll now!


About the training

The Digital Participation Platforms online training seeks to assist governments, civil society organizations, and other institutions in choosing and implementing technological tools for increasing public participation. Several comprehensive digital participation platforms have emerged in the past years to help local governments to engage residents in all types and stages of participatory processes, ranging from planning, budgeting and citizens’ assemblies to drafting legislation. 

This online training provides step-by-step guidance to learners on how to choose, set up, and run digital platforms to start or expand public participation. The training is based on People Powered’s Digital Participation Platforms (DPP) guide, Digital Participation Platforms Ratings and TicTec stories. The course is equipped with instructional videos, engaging reflection prompts and discussion forum prompts where you can interact with other participants.

Why join the digital participation revolution?

Digital tools have emerged recently as a crucial way to engage public participation, but the growing number of tools available has made it difficult to keep track of and select the best ones available based on needs, from planning and budgeting to citizens’ assemblies and the drafting of legislation. At their best, platforms enable decision-makers or communities to manage community and stakeholder engagement, collective deliberation and decision-making, public communication, internal coordination. Our training guides you in every step from selecting a digital platform to running your participatory program.

Who is this training for?

For anyone looking to connect people to power in their community! The training is designed for:

  • Government officials, policymakers and staff who run or want to run participatory programs with digital platforms

  • Civil society organizations and non-governmental organization staff who want to promote, start or expand public participation in their communities through digital platforms

  • Advocates, innovators, community leaders and political party officials and who want to promote democratic practices through digital participation

  • Anyone else interested about learning digital participation 

See more information about the guide, which serves as the source of this training, such as context and methodology, here.

What you will learn

  • Identify needs, key benefits, and approaches for public participation through digital platforms to run more inclusive, equitable, and effective participatory programs

  • Identify the initial steps to choose, set up and run digital participation platforms for public participation by using the Guide to Digital Participation Platforms.

  • Select a digital platform based on your specific context and participatory needs

  • Develop an initial proposal with directions to implement and run digital participation platforms for public participation and deliberation, considering their specific context and community needs.

  • Discuss possibilities for public participation that can be potentialized by digital platforms with other learners

  • Unit 1: Why does digital participation matter?

    In this unit, you will delve into the concept of participation through digital platforms. You will explore different types of participatory processes conducted through platforms and identify how you can use digital platforms.

    Unit 2: How to select a digital platform?

    You will be guided to explore the ratings and select a platform that aligns with your specific needs and criteria. You will learn how to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different platforms based on your criteria.

    Unit 3: How to set up a digital participation platform?

    Once you have selected a platform, the third unit focuses on setting it up effectively. You will receive suggestions on conducting user testing and integrating the platform with in-person activities, ensuring a seamless and inclusive experience.

    Unit 4: How to run a Participatory Program?

    You will learn how to plan and execute a participatory process using the selected platform. You will explore strategies for outreach and discussion, user support, and ensuring transparency and inclusivity throughout the process.

Questions or concerns?

Send your questions or concerns to programteam@peoplepowered.org.