Embedding Participation in Public Digital Infrastructure with Decidim
"Embedding Participation in Public Digital Infrastructure with Decidim" aims to explore how Decidim, can be used for enhancing democratic engagement through the implementation of open government practices. As cities worldwide grapple with the complexities of governance, understanding how to effectively integrate participatory technologies into the public public infrastructure can catalyze and enhance participatory methodologies accross society.
This session will dive into specific use cases from Geneva and Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where local governments have successfully adopted Decidim. In Geneva, for instance, the platform deployment and installation was led at State level. The Canton of Geneva has installed Decidim as the basis of its digital participation strategy and they have made the choice to distribute Decidim as a service to communities accross the state. This has empowered residents to engage in urban planning discussions, influence public policy, and participate in community projects, whithout having to deploy and implement their own technology, therefore reyling on the exisitng digital infrastructure provided by the state. The state has recently decided to double down on this strategy with a policy that will mandate project holders to used the state Decidim plateform for all particpatory processes. The talk will illustrate how open-source technologies can be embeded in open government strategies as these practices foster a culture of engagement, leading to more robust and resilient communities.
At the city level, in Neuchâtel, Decidim has been used to provide free public access to their platforms to all not-for-profit actors in the city. The platform is used both to run participatory processes led by the city but also by not-for-profit actors to run internal and external participatory processes. This strategy has allowed Neuchâtel to enhanced trust between residents, not-for-profits and local government, which is essential for a robust and thriving society. The examples from these two cities highlight the transformative power that public digital infrastructure strategies can have, and can provid a roadmap for other municipalities looking into open government.
In addition to showcasing these case studies, the session will introduce Voca.city, an innovative open-SaaS solution designed specifically to enhance the accessibility of Decidim. One of the primary challenges faced by many organizations and local governments is the technical and financial barriers that often accompany the adoption of new digital tools. Voca.city addresses these challenges by offering a streamlined, user-friendly version of Decidim, empowering governments, NGOs, and community groups to integrate participatory democracy into their public digital infrastructures without the burden of significant costs or technical expertise.
By removing these barriers, Voca.city enables more organizations to participate in the democratic process, fostering a more inclusive approach to governance. This is particularly important in contexts where communities may lack the resources or technical know-how to implement sophisticated digital platforms. With Voca.city, even small organizations can leverage the power of participatory democracy to engage their stakeholders effectively.
The session will also delve into the broader implications of embedding participatory democracy into public infrastructure. By showcasing platforms like Decidim and Voca.city, we can understand how these tools contribute to creating more equitable, transparent, and collaborative governance models. Participants will gain insights into best practices for implementing these technologies in their own contexts, as well as the potential challenges and solutions that may arise.
Moreover, we will discuss the future of civic-tech and its role in enhancing engagement and participation in shaping collective futures. As technology continues to evolve, the opportunities for leveraging digital tools to foster democratic engagement will expand. This session will highlight emerging trends and innovations in civic-tech, providing participants with a forward-looking perspective on how they can harness these developments to promote greater public participation.
Throughout the talk, we will engage participants in discussions about their experiences with digital tools for public engagement, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaboration among attendees.