Citizens' Assembly

Begin by developing a clear and understandable guiding question.

Examples include:

• "How can our city become more climate-friendly?"
• "How should the city centre be developed in the future?"
• "Which measures can strengthen social cohesion?"

The question should:

• provide a clear mandate
• remain open-ended
• allow sufficient scope for developing recommendations

Before the process begins, determine:

• Who will receive the recommendations?
• Who is responsible for responding or making decisions?
• What will happen after the assembly concludes?

Participants should understand how their work may influence future decisions.

Participants are chosen through a random selection process.

To ensure broad representation, the final group is usually balanced according to characteristics such as:

• age
• gender
• educational background
• income
• place of residence
• migration background

The aim is to create a group that reflects the diversity of the wider population.

Participation barriers should be reduced wherever possible.

Possible measures include:

• reimbursing travel expenses
• providing childcare
• offering participant compensation
• ensuring accessible venues
• providing technical support for online participation

At the beginning, participants become acquainted and receive an introduction to the process.

Topics include:

• the role of participants
• the overall process and schedule
• expectations
• rules for respectful collaboration

Creating an open and respectful discussion culture is essential.

Participants receive balanced background information on the topic.

Contributors may include:

• researchers
• public administration experts
• practitioners
• affected stakeholders
• interest groups

The objective is to establish a common understanding before deliberation begins.

Participants discuss the issue in professionally facilitated small-group and plenary sessions.

Helpful questions include:

• "Which perspectives have not yet been considered?"
• "How might this proposal affect different groups?"
• "What opportunities and risks do we see?"
• "Whose interests should be taken into account?"

Avoid:

• blaming individuals or groups
• leading questions
• partisan political debates
• rushing to conclusions before sufficient discussion

Based on the discussions, participants formulate concrete recommendations.

Helpful questions include:

• What is realistically achievable?
• Which conditions are necessary?
• What impact is expected?
• Who would be affected?

The recommendations are discussed collectively and formally agreed upon by the assembly.

The recommendations are compiled into a final report and presented to the previously identified political decision-makers.

The report should be written in a clear, transparent, and accessible manner.

The final documentation should clearly include:

• recommendations with explanations
• voting results where applicable
• remaining open questions

Transparent documentation strengthens the credibility of the process.

Helpful evaluation questions include:

• Were different perspectives adequately represented?
• Did participants feel sufficiently informed?
• What worked well during the process?
• What could be improved in future Citizens' Assemblies?

Participants should be informed about:

• which recommendations have been adopted
• which recommendations have not been implemented
• why particular decisions were made

Regular updates on implementation help maintain transparency, strengthen trust, and encourage future participation.

Quelle: https://partizipation.at/partizipation-anwenden/methoden/