Description
Although public participation is not a new concept in the Czech Republic anymore, its implementation especially on local level and in sensitive decisions is not yet often used. The main reasons usually are the lack of political will, lack of positive experiences and knowledge and often the lack of citizen’s interest. The project will strengthen participatory planning and decision making in Plzen municipality. The project partners together with the community civic initiatives, representatives of municipality and municipal districts employees and elected officials will implement series of activities strengthening participatory democracy including: a) nonpolitical pre-election candidates forums, b) pilot involvement of citizens in selected key municipal decisions and c) education and training activities on public participation for public administration, NGOs and citizen initiatives. Partner will contribute to the project by introducing of new approaches, sharing good practices and evaluating public participation programs.
Summary of project results
The overall goal of the project was to promote participatory democracy in planning and decision-making in Plzen city. Currently involvement of citizens and citizens initiatives is happening only on an ad hoc basis depending on personal decison of key person or the decision-maker. As it is difficult to formalize public participation requirements the project focused at delivering positive personal experiences with and wider information about public participation to key people and decision-makers in Plzen. The project objective was achieved. Within the project there were organized 6 pre-election candidates forums, 7 round tables on various topics, 1 exhibition, new Fb profile was established, 2 internet surveys, 2 sociological surveys, 3 public discussions, 7 project days at 2 high schools, study analyzing 3 key decisions in Plzen taken in not-transparent way and its implications and based on that education film was prepared. Training and study tour for public administration, elected officials and NGOs was organized and training module on public participation was developed. Candidates for municipal election: project adressed more than 15 political parties or associations, cca 50 candidates participated in pre-election discussions. Key people from public administration participated in various project activities and thus obtained information ar practical experiences with public participation projects and approaches. Approx. 15 NGOs and citizens initiatives were involved in specific planning and decision making processes and thus had opportunity to influence outcome of those. Do jednotlivých aktivit projektu se zapojilo cca 15 NNO a občanských iniciativ. 60 young people participated in education program on citizens participation. More thatn 2500 citizens were directly involved in project activities and through media hundereds of others were indirectly addressed.
Summary of bilateral results
The main contribution of Ideas Bank Foundation involvement in the project implementation was the sharing of information and knowledge about projects and methods of participatory democrady used in Norway. As IBF is working in other countries also, it was possible to obtain information about interesting practices in other countries and under different conditions. These informations were very valuable not only for project employees for planning of specific project activities and for all other employees of CCO, but also for representatives of project target groups. All participants of the workshop and of the study tour that were organized within the project appretiated opportunity to learn about projects and new approaches in the area of citizens involvement. Information about participatory methods and approaches that are common part of public administration work in Norway or in other countries is very important for members of project target group. Also it is important that these information are delivered preferably directly by personal experience or at least by foreign expert/lector. This would not be possible without direct involvement of international partner. Involvement of international partner also contributed to increase visibility and understanding of importance of the issue project was dealing with (participatory democracy on local level) in the project communities in the Czech Republic. However we feel that even more intensive involvement of partner would be beneficial in future e.g. for specific citizens participation projects planning, evaluation and wider distribution of lessons learned between countries. Unfortunatelly after finalizing the project IBF closed down.