How can citizen’s participate? Purpose and levels of participation: approach, methods, techniques, tools.

1. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. How can citizen’s participate? Purpose and levels of participation: approach, methods, techniques, tools.

2. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Citizen centered exercise needs support from civil society It aims to empower citizens, to give them better access to information and better forums for debate because ‘ information is power ‘. Clearly, this requires cooperation from civil society organizations ( CSOs ). CSOs are well placed to organize polls, petitions, trans-national forums for debate on the web in order to enable citizens to make their voices heard. Margot Wallstrom, Vice President of the EU Commission 3 October, 2007 - European Citizen Action Service

3. Cost effectiveness Access and inclusion Quantity of services Quality of services Increase of resources Outcomes: Citizen’s participation in decision making Inputs: Transparency Freedom of active participation Responsibility Resources Participation of Civil Society Channels of Commu- nication Clear and specific regulations Existent channels for participation Openness in processes Autonomy Transparency Adjustment in processes

4. 5 4 TIME IN DECISION MAKING 3 Legend 2 Gov. authorities Citizens Mutual committees 1 Citizen’s committees Mutual cooperation LEVEL OF CITIZEN’S INFLUENCE IN DECISION MAKING Level of citizen’s influence in decision making- Establishment of channels and bodies for mutual cooperation-

5. Government and Citizen’s approaches in decision making Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

6. E - Government Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Key issues in e-government: • Infrastructure • Accessibility • Usability • Responsiveness • Credibility

7. Issues needed to be taken into consideration on e-government Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Adequate IT infrastructure Amorphous factors: culture, citizen’s awareness, tradition of GO-citizens communication Systematic framework Digital divide Inability of handicapped persons to access and utilize information Social inclusion in participation

8. Strategic direction of participatory e-government Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

9. Changes in participation in e-Government maturity Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

10. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. How citizen’s can participateCurrent and future EU challenges in creating effective mechanisms for citizen’s participation in decision making • Case study I: Center for European Studies ( summary report 2009 available ) • Case study II: CIPAST – Citizen Participation in Science and Technology • E- participation ( Database: examples of e-democracy activities )

11. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Gaps between theory and practice

12. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Challenges that IPA beneficiary countries ( Western Balkans and Turkey ) are facing in regard to citizen’s participation in decision makingCountry specifics and common problems that civil society is facing in the region Discussion:

13. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Regional challenges in decision making environment • Political willingness • Transparency and accountability • Transition and it’s challenges • Capacity building • Information technology • Institutional mechanisms for citizen’s participation • Other communication channels

14. Field analysis Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Exercise ( group work ): What are the main gaps between theory and practice in decision making process? • Name at least four areas where the gap between theory and practice is too wide. • Identify the main causes which affects the gap to be wide. • Identify the overall societal and current political environment which enables the causes to exist. Follow up exercise ( univocally ): • Prioritization of the gaps between theory and practice ( finding similarities and country specifics though prioritizing the most common gaps to the least identified gaps )

15. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. How to transfer theoretical knowledge into the practice? - How to overcome obstacles? -

16. Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Citizen’s participation in decision making process It is considered as a process through which citizens can address and be a part of implementation of their concerns, needs, values, problem solving, developing and monitoring processes in conjunction with political agenda and central/local government strategies. Group exercise: can you think of a model with combined aims between government and it’s citizen’s?

17. Ways of citizens participation in decision making • Participatory Governance • Participatory Economics • Participatory Budgeting • Participatory planning Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union.

18. Categories of Citizens participation Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Spectrum of citizens participation in decision making • Political participation • Administrative participation Level of involvement in citizens participation • Passive ( one way ) participation • Active participation

19. Citizens participatory activity Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. • Information delivery, Information request/disclosure • Public (Administrative) Service • Opinion polls • Information disclosure/accessibility (demand/provision) • Opinion polls Passive Active • Opinion exchanges, Public hearings • Monitor/control, citizen informant, opinion gathering • Request for administration • Citizen general assembly, Public Hearings • Voting, Proposition

20. Methods of citizens participation( correlation with political and administrative participation ) Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Discussion: Public hearings ( mandated or otherwise ) Town meetings Participation in regular meetings or otherwise Citizens advisory boards Citizen’s coupons ( cards /mail coupons ) Surveys Web sites/ email Mutual visits GO and SCO Contact initiated by citizens

21. Exercise: Best practices for overcoming obstacles in decision making Technical Assistance for Civil Society Organisations Regional Office This project is funded by the European Union. Exercise - presentation ( group work ): • Finding the best solutions to overcome the obstacles in decision making • Discussion: explanation of the chosen methods