The Final Report of EUARENAS Piloting is Ready!
- stanislawdomaniews
- Oct 31, 2024
- 2 min read
Our latest update to the EUARENAS project is now available for download! We’re excited to share the outcomes and insights from piloting activities core part of our project focused on bringing democratic innovation to life in urban spaces across Europe. Piloting initiatives have been all about connecting research and action by testing and refining tools and methods for deliberative participatory democracy in three unique cities: Gdansk, Reggio Emilia, and Voru.
What Was the Goal of WP4?
The main objective of WP4 was simple but ambitious: to move beyond theory and apply democratic principles directly within urban communities. The approach was to adapt existing participatory tools, test them in real-world settings, and understand how they could better serve the people. Each city acted as a pilot for exploring new ways to engage citizens, fostering meaningful deliberation and collaboration on public issues.
The Pilots: Gdansk, Reggio Emilia, and Voru: Hackatons, Mini- Publics & Action Research...Oh My!
Each city in WP4’s pilot program brought its own strengths, challenges, and local contexts. Gdansk, with its long-standing tradition of grassroots initiatives, provided fertile ground for community-led dialogues. Reggio Emilia introduced methods that leveraged its cooperative culture, encouraging citizens to shape policies and solutions through direct involvement. Voru, with its unique demographic and geographic setting, allowed us to test the adaptability of these democratic tools in smaller, more close-knit urban environments.
What’s in the Report?
This final report offers a structured look at everything we’ve learned from WP4—from the methods we used and the planning of pilot activities, to the lessons we picked up along the way. Here’s a peek at what we’ve covered:
Methodologies and Frameworks
Organizing the Pilots
Challenges and Solutions
Impact and Outcomes in each city
Why It Matters
The findings from WP4 provide valuable insights and practical tools for cities across Europe and beyond, illustrating how participatory projects can be integrated into urban governance. By emphasizing support for local communities and the positive impact of these democratic initiatives, we hope this report will serve as a roadmap for others looking to make their cities more participatory, inclusive, and responsive to their citizens’ needs.
For anyone interested in the practical side of participatory democracy, this report is packed with actionable insights and examples. We invite policymakers, researchers, and community leaders to explore these findings and consider how they might bring similar approaches to their own urban areas. Let’s continue building spaces where everyone has a voice and a hand in shaping their community!
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