CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 2018 IVANA BURSIKOVA AGORA CE Agora

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 2018 IVANA BURSIKOVA AGORA CE

Agora Central Europe (Agora CE) was founded in 1998 with the aim of helping: • to enhance communication and co-operation between citizens (CSOs) and town halls • to expand the possibilities of town halls to openly plan and decide on issues with citizens/CSOs • to arouse the interest of citizens in community issues • to back the development of local democracy in the Czech Republic • to help enhance political culture in the Czech Rep. www. agorace. cz

Agora Central Europe Current projects: Projects in co-operation with town halls of Czech towns Trainings, seminars, conferences Public debates on current issues On the Way to Parliament International projects www. agorace. cz

Program § § Introduction Different approaches to CP Guidelines for successful implementation of participatory mechanisms Methods and tools – an practical overview and inspirations

CSOs AND LGs IN THE CZECH REP. • After 1989 - euphoria and enthusiasm to solve all problems together. Lack of recourses and no experience what so ever. NGO sector is being formed. • Middle of the 90 s - neoliberal approach prevails, reducing openness to dialogues and consensus-building. Gap between citizens/CSOs (we) and public authorities (they) is getting wider. • After 2000 - formal renewal of cooperation between CSOs and LGs. Experiences from abroad and new requirements come with the EU accession process. • Today - citizen participation as key concept is part of many areas (social affairs, environment etc. ) and dozens of municipalities require CSOs engagement in local issues.

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Key questions for successful participatory process : WHY? Why do we need a participation? Benefits and limits of citizen participation. WHAT? What we want to achieve? What a re the goals procedural and content-wise WHO? Who should be involve? Different attitudes to various actors. WHEN AND HOW? How should participatory process looks like? Methods and tools to be used.

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Key questions for successful participatory process : WHY? Why do we need a participation? Benefits and limits of citizen participation. WHAT? What we want to achieve? What a re the goals procedural and content-wise WHO? Who should be involve? Different attitudes to various actors. WHEN AND HOW? How should participatory process looks like? Methods and tools to be used.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Benefits of participation. Why we need to engage stakeholders Good Governance Community building High quality of the decision-making process Public support of the decision and implementation– Decision is more effective More trust in democratic system

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Common arguments against involving citizens into decision-making processes Replacing representative democracy Public authority makes coherent decision Process can be misuse by lobbing or well organized interest groups Decision making process is longer and more expensive Certain issues are not suitable for participatory work

INTERACTIVE WORKING TRADITIONAL REACTIVE WORKING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION S T A R T DECISION MAKING SELLING – to find support SELLING TIME IMPLEMENTATION- PERHAPS OF POORER DUALITY, LESS SUCCESSFUL, MISUNDERSTOOD, KOMPROMISE PLAN WITH LESS STAKEHOLDER OWNERSHIP AND SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION – MORE LIKELY TO BE OF HIGHER QUALITY AND MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EASIER TO IMPLEMENT AS HAS WIDER STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT AND OWNERSHIP

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Key questions for successful participatory process : WHY? Why do we need a participation? Benefits and limits of citizen participation. WHAT? What we want to achieve? What a re the goals procedural and content-wise WHO? Who should be involve? Different attitudes to various actors. WHEN AND HOW? How should participatory process looks like? Methods and tools to be used.

Different approaches to participation LEVELS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Self governing Community managing their own affairs Partnership Community and local government cooperating Consultation Government discussing with community Feed back Government calls community for advice Informing Government telling citizens

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESSFUL PARTICIPATORY PROCESS • Local public interest • Competence of local government • Particular activities as results within limited time • More than one solution/option is possible • Enthusiastic supporters among key decision-makers • Active engagement and presence during public events of public officials and other key actors • Available capacities (people, time, material, budget…)

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Key questions for successful participatory process : WHY? Why do we need a participation? Benefits and limits of citizen participation. WHAT? What we want to achieve? What a re the goals procedural and content-wise WHO? Who should be involve? Different attitudes to various actors. WHEN AND HOW? How should participatory process looks like? Methods and tools to be used.

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Who is a stakeholder? Any individual, group or organisation that can affect or is affected by the process, project, programme etc.

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms schools ? ? donors Tourists Municipal council Citizens Local Administrators Provincial/ central authorities Business sector NGOs Universities

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms stakeholder analysis (can be also aplied as a tool of prioritisizing

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Decision-making style • Are crucial for overall work mode of the group • Can differ for various situation Three main styles: • Autoritative • Participatory • By external subject

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Autoritative style Advantages: • promptness • responsibility Tips: • • • Disadvantages: • subjective • low acceptance Pure autoritative decision Decision with arguments Decision with ex post discussion Decision with ex ante consultation Setting limits for group decision

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Participatory style Advantages: • high acceptance • more options identified Disadvantages: • demanding

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Participatory style Voting: • easy and understandable • majority vs. minority • discusion before voting Convergent methods: • stickering • marking (as in the school) • distribution of „points“ • …… Consenzus building: • Individual conscience vs. group agreement

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Decision by external subject Tips: • Given by the law or superior level • Delegation to external subject (Experts, citizens etc. )

Guidelines for participatory mechanisms Key questions for successful participatory process : WHY? Why do we need a participation? Benefits and limits of citizen participation. WHAT? What we want to achieve? What a re the goals procedural and content-wise WHO? Who should be involve? Different attitudes to various actors. WHEN AND HOW? How should participatory process looks like? Methods and tools to be used.

METHODS AND TECHNIQUES Selection of the methods depending on aims: • DECISION • PARTNERSHIP • CONSULTATION • ADVICE/FEED BACK • INFORMING 24

Methods and Techniques for INFORMING • • • Official Board Information telephone line Press release, Press conferences Leaflets, posters Brochures Town Hall magazine Exhibition and presentations Mail merge (incl. e-mail alert) Citizen Information Centre Radio broadcasting Public Hearing Interviews/arcticles in media

Methods and Techniques for ADVICE/FEED BACK • • Surveys Interviews/group interviews/ focus group Phone interviews Panel Internet portal Open door of mayor Interactive displays Open mailbox

Methods and Techniques for CONSULTATION • • Round Table Conference Public meeting Discussion forum Public Debates Local committee of citizens Happening event/festival City walk

Methods and Techniques for PARTNERSHIP • • • Workshops Planning weekend Citizens work groups Community planning Town Hall committees

Methods and Techniques for SELF GOVERNING • • • Referendum Election Citizens jury Neighborly committee Participatory budgeting Delegation responsibilities and funding

Thank you for attention ! Agora CE, o. p. s. Petra Rezka 12 Praha 4 www. agorace. cz