Participatory processes — from planning to a recommendation that gets implemented
We work for local governments, institutions and civil-society organisations. For everyone who wants to involve those affected in the decision.
What we do
We don't collect the opinion — we prepare the decision
Citizen engagement most often fails because it starts too late. Once the plan is finished, the consultation is only about getting it accepted. That's bad for both sides: the resident feels shut out, and the decision-maker feels there isn't enough support for the proposal.
We step in where the question is still open. Our services are different-scale versions of the same logic: bring in those who are affected, give them enough information, and make sure that what they say has consequences.
Our services
Three tools, one logic
Organising a community meeting
Our most powerful tool. Randomly selected residents, over a few sessions and with expert support, jointly form their position on a specific question, then issue a written recommendation.
What the process includes
- Framing the question together with the decision-maker — so it can genuinely be answered
- Stratified random sampling: 60-80 people who mirror the given district or municipality by age, gender, education and place of residence
- Compiling balanced background material, drawing in several viewpoints
- Expert hearing and moderated deliberative debate
- A written recommendation with full documentation
- Organising the public feedback — what was implemented and what wasn't, and why
Qualitative research underpinning participatory processes
Through focus groups and in-depth interviews we uncover stakeholders' experiences, needs and perspectives, to prepare participatory processes.
What the process includes
- A research plan and the definition of the target groups
- Recruiting participants, with attention to hard-to-reach groups too
- Drawing up a discussion guide, running moderated conversations
- Transcripts and analysis
- A research report with a summary for decision-makers
Moderation and facilitation
Tense topics, multi-actor negotiations where the parties are at odds. With impartial, trained moderation the conversation doesn't escalate but gets somewhere.
What the process includes
- A preliminary situation assessment: who the actors are, what is really at stake
- Designing the script for the conversation
- Impartial moderation — it isn't our position that's put on the table
- A written record and the documentation of the agreement
- If needed, support through a multi-round process
Who it's for
Who do we work with?
Local governments
District and municipal decisions, development plans, budget frameworks — where public legitimacy is a condition of success.
Institutions
Schools, cultural and healthcare institutions where involving users leads to a better service.
Civil-society organisations
Advocacy and community organising, where the voice of the membership or the local community must be represented authentically.
How the collaboration works
How does a joint project start?
Getting in touch
Write, or call. You tell us what decision you're facing.
Situation assessment
Together we clarify what the real question is, and how open it still is.
Proposal
A written offer: which tool, on what schedule, at what cost.
Delivery
We run the process, you make the decision. The roles stay clear throughout.
Feedback
A public response to the recommendations — without it the whole thing loses its point.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask us most often
How long does a community meeting take?
The assembly itself is typically a single weekend session, but the full process — from framing the question to public feedback — is four to six months. Its length is set mainly by how much background material has to be compiled and how divisive the topic is.
What if the assembly proposes something we can't implement?
That's natural, and it's not a problem. The assembly doesn't make a binding decision — it formulates a recommendation. The commitment isn't that you implement everything, but that you respond publicly to every recommendation: what gets implemented, what doesn't, and why not.
Experience shows, in any case, that well-informed participants make more realistic proposals than decision-makers expect — because they see the constraints too.
Won't loud activists hijack the process?
That's exactly what random selection protects against. An open forum is attended by those who have a strong opinion and the time to spare — but a community meeting includes whoever the sortition selected. That way the group also contains those who would otherwise never speak up.
Why do participants receive a gift voucher?
Because without it, only those with the free time could take part. The gift voucher isn't payment for the "right answer" — it offsets the fact that someone devotes their weekend to the community's cause. Without it the sample would inevitably skew towards the better-off.
What does it cost?
It depends on the tool and the scale: a focus group and a months-long community meeting differ by orders of magnitude. After the situation assessment we provide a written offer that itemises every cost. Get in touch, and let's talk it through.
Not sure which solution is right for you?
Tell us what decision you're facing and we'll tell you — even if the answer is that ours isn't the right tool for it.