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Description
As part of the project, in two municipalities: Augustów and Wasilków we will carry out model participatory processes using the digital Citizenlab platform and direct activities with residents. As research shows (e.g. ‘Public participation. Report on the state of Polish cities’, 2020), public participation in medium and small towns is much less common than in large cities. Smaller municipalities lack diverse forms of consultation and communication with their inhabitants. And this is one of the most important indicators of democratic culture. Moreover, technological progress has changed the way we search for information, absorb it and share it with others. New tools and forms of communication are a challenge for local governments, because the traditional analogue tools of participation are no longer sufficient. In our project, we will implement the Citizenlab digital platform to facillitate communication between local governments of Wasilkowo and Augustów municipalities and the residents. We will launch an information and marketing campaign to promote the platform. We will also implement 6 participatory processes using both the Citizenlab platform and direct activities with citizens, such as research walks, citizen cafes, etc. We will produce a publication on the use of new technologies in processes of consultation and co-decision with citizens (in Polish and English). The project will be concluded with an international e-Participation Festival. In the project, we will benefit from international experience of using the digital platform so that the implemented participatory processes are effective, attractive and bring about a sustainable change in local governments.
Summary of project results
Project "E-democracy. People have the power!" was a response to the needs of greater involvement of citizens of medium-sized and small Polish cities in the socio-political life of their communities. Implemented in the context of growing trust in local governments and support for co-decision on local issues, the project aimed to adapt local governments to the changing socio-technological realities, using modern digital tools for participation.
E-participation enabled residents to quickly obtain information, increased the availability and transparency of local government activities, while reducing communication costs and increasing health safety in the context of the pandemic. By promoting Civic Tech platforms, the project increased civic engagement while offering the opportunity to combine traditional forms of participation with new methods, which strengthened local social capital.
The key challenge was to prepare clerical staff for the effective use of digital participation tools, which required training, workshops and the creation of participation teams. The project emphasized the need for local governments to open up to digital innovations to meet the expectations of changing habits of residents.
The implementation of the CitizenLab platform was aimed not only at enabling residents to actively participate in shaping local policy, but also at relieving them from the polarizing algorithms of social networks. Project "E-democracy. People have the power!" proved that digital democracy can significantly increase citizens'' participation in local life, contributing to an increase in the quality of processes of co-creation of local policies. It has become a model for adapting local governments to new realities, opening the way to deeper involvement of residents in decision-making processes and building a more democratic community.
Project "E-democracy. People have the power!" focused on increasing the involvement of residents of Polish medium-sized and small towns in local life through new technologies and methods of public consultation. The CitizenLab platform was used for dialogue and collecting opinions. The project began with an international webinar, where local government officials from Western Europe shared their experiences with using the platform. The implementation included technical implementation and training of officials. E-voting and consultations were carried out, e.g. on murals or the civic budget, which enabled direct interaction between residents and the local government.
The information and promotion campaign aimed to raise awareness of CitizenLab''s capabilities, using leaflets, posters and social media. Meetings were organized with local leaders and social organizations to promote the platform. The project also aimed to professionalize office staff through training and workshops, preparing them to manage participatory processes. Permanent participation teams were established.
The evaluation of the activities made it possible to collect conclusions and recommendations, presented at the e-democracy festival and in the publication "E-participation. How to talk to residents?" (in Polish and English). Local governments gained a digital participation tool and knowledge about engaging residents. Project "E-democracy. People have the power!" is a step towards modernizing social dialogue and strengthening civic participation.
The project increased citizens'' involvement in local life, which was reflected in active participation in consultations and voting on the platform. Project results:
1) Increased involvement of residents.
2) The project enabled residents and local government authorities to better communicate and exchange opinions on matters important to the commune.
3) Through direct involvement in decision-making processes, residents had a real influence on shaping their immediate space.
Project beneficiaries:
- Commune residents: experienced direct benefits from the project through the opportunity to actively participate in the life of their commune. Thanks to the project, they gained a platform to express their needs, ideas and priorities.
- Local governments: Local authorities used a tool that improved the process of public consultations and enabled more effective management of residents'' ideas and expectations. The project helped build a positive image of the local government as open to dialogue and innovation, which in turn strengthens citizens'' trust.
- Community organizations and local leaders: The project offered opportunities for cooperation and partnership, enabling organizations and local leaders to actively support the participation process and engage more residents in community activities.
The project therefore brought significant results that had a positive impact on the development of local democracy, strengthening the community and building an effective model of cooperation between residents and authorities. He showed that the use of modern e-participation tools can effectively support decision-making processes and improve the quality of life in municipalities. Certainly, new tools related to new technologies, such as the CitizenLab platform, need more time to become very popular and known among residents. This requires consistency in participatory activities using the platform.