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Participatory Budgeting
Participatory budgeting encompasses a range of methods designed to directly involve citizens in decision making regarding spending and investment priorities for a local budget. The budget will tend to belong to a local council or other statutory body and can range from a neighbourhood level up to a city or national level budget.
Public Conversations Project Dialogue
Public Conversations Project Dialogue (PCP Dialogue) is appropriate for exploring deeply divisive topics that are not easily resolved through compromise. Such issues are often rooted in deeply personal aspects of identity, values and worldviews, and often undermine the creation of a cooperative and constructive style of interaction within a community.
Planning Cells
Planning Cells – developed by Professor Dr Peter C Dienel of the University of Wuppertal, Germany – bring together a small group of members of the public to develop solutions for a specific planning or policy problem. They tend to be used to develop a way forward for an urgent problem where a number of options are available, and for issues where there is not a large degree of existing polarisation in the attitudes of the affected population.
Local and Global Civic Innovation Tools
Top Tips For Civic Innovation
Focus on the Solution
Much engagement with service providers and public representatives tends to focus on what is not working.
Identify champions
It can really help you to engage with a decision maker if you can identify and build a relationship with a 'champion'.
Learn
Track your progress – all the ups and downs – and learn lessons from your experience.