Explore a wide range of methods to engage citizens, foster dialogue, and co-create solutions for complex challenges.
Citizen Assemblies 🏛️
What: Randomly selected citizens deliberate on important issues.
Techniques: Expert briefings, small-group discussions, consensus-building.
Use Cases: Policy recommendations, constitutional debates.
People’s Assemblies 👥
What: Large-scale public gatherings for discussion and decision-making.
Techniques: Breakout groups, structured voting, visual facilitation.
Use Cases: Urban planning, local initiatives, community decision-making.
Deliberative Workshops 🛠️
What: Short-term sessions teaching effective deliberation.
Techniques: Role-playing, simulations, scenario exercises, active listening.
Use Cases: Capacity-building, community planning, organizational strategy.
Transformative Justice Approaches ⚖️
What: Dialogue to address harm, conflict, and historical injustices.
Techniques: Circle processes, restorative dialogue, collaborative problem-solving.
Use Cases: Community reconciliation, social cohesion, conflict resolution.
Participatory Budgeting 💰
What: Communities directly allocate a portion of public funds.
Techniques: Proposal evaluation, deliberation, voting.
Use Cases: Local investment, social infrastructure projects.
Consensus Conferences & Focus Groups 🔍
What: Collaborative discussions on complex topics.
Techniques: Expert briefings, small-group discussions, idea mapping.
Use Cases: Policy development, scientific debates, urban planning.
World Café ☕
What: Rotating small-group discussions to share ideas and insights.
Techniques: Table hosts, group rotation, plenary synthesis.
Use Cases: Strategic planning, social innovation, community visioning.
Open Space Technology 🌐
What: Self-organized discussions around a central theme.
Techniques: Participant-driven agenda, breakout discussions, plenary reporting.
Use Cases: Large forums, conferences, organizational change.
Appreciative Inquiry 🌟
What: Focus on strengths and successes to co-create future visions.
Techniques: Storytelling, visioning exercises, collaborative goal-setting.
Use Cases: Community development, organizational strategy, innovation projects.
Deliberation / Dialogue Circles 🔄
What: Small groups engage in structured, reflective discussion.
Techniques: Talking sticks, turn-taking, facilitated dialogue.
Use Cases: Community cohesion, conflict resolution, social dialogue.
Scenario Planning / Futures Exercises 🔮
What: Explore multiple future scenarios and plan actions.
Techniques: Scenario building, backcasting, group reflection.
Use Cases: Climate adaptation, urban planning, strategic foresight.
Dot Voting / Priority Ranking ✔️
What: Participants vote to identify priorities.
Techniques: Dot-voting, ranking, multi-voting, digital tools.
Use Cases: Participatory budgeting, project selection, prioritization exercises.
Role-Playing / Simulation Exercises 🎭
What: Participants adopt stakeholder roles to explore perspectives and trade-offs.
Techniques: Scenario enactment, debriefing, stakeholder mapping.
Use Cases: Policy debates, urban development, conflict resolution.
Deliberative Mapping 🗺️
What: Visual mapping of ideas, conflicts, or options.
Techniques: Mind maps, flow charts, decision matrices.
Use Cases: Climate planning, infrastructure decisions, complex problem-solving.
Consensus Workshops 🤝
What: Structured sessions to achieve consensus on complex issues.
Techniques: Iterative discussion, refinement, voting/ranking.
Use Cases: Policy design, strategic planning, community development.
Deliberative Polling 📊
What: Surveys before and after deliberation to measure shifts in opinion.
Techniques: Briefings, moderated discussion, pre/post surveys.
Use Cases: National debates, urban planning, public policy decisions.
Visioning & Backcasting 🎯
What: Define a desired future and plan steps to reach it.
Techniques: Brainstorming, roadmap creation, action planning.
Use Cases: Sustainability projects, long-term planning, organizational strategy.
Storytelling Circles 📖
What: Participants share personal experiences and reflect collectively.
Techniques: Storytelling rounds, synthesis, group reflection.
Use Cases: Social justice, health initiatives, community engagement.
Radical Collaboration ⚡
What: Cross-sector participants work together on shared challenges in non-hierarchical settings.
Techniques: Co-creation labs, intensive workshops, interactive problem-solving.
Use Cases: Systemic change projects, innovation initiatives, complex societal challenges.