Lesson Learned: Deliberative Democracy and Citizen Assemblies to Fight Inequality and Poverty in Brazil
Reporting good news stories (as opposed to crises and conflicts) is a challenge everywhere. Plan accordingly and manage expectations. Communications strategies should remain an important part of any project design and delivery – to improve understanding and acceptability of Citizen Assemblies (CAs). For countries in the Global South, like Brazil, these should tackle head-on any reservations about the “random” nature of selection, and representation/inclusivity. The Brazilian experience is already demonstrating that CAs are not some Western import but are building on a long tradition of social participation in decision-making processes at local and national levels. In this project, engaging with journalists was challenging, and media interest was not as strong as the Grantee was hoping for.
Working in collaboration with municipal governments and civil society, the project seeks to establish Citizen Assemblies in three cities in Brazil to facilitate public participation in policymaking to address poverty and inequality. Building on experience from Brazil and elsewhere, the aim is to demonstrate to public managers, political leaders and citizens alike the feasibility and value of open, inclusive deliberation to build sustainable and widely supported policy responses to complex issues. Results and lessons from the project’s three pilot efforts will be shared at national level. Increased cooperation among policymakers and civil society will address declining public political participation even as it contributes to more equitable and sustainable urban development. The project includes activities relevant to the Covid-19 crisis as it impacts civil society and ensuring that responses uphold their rights and are inclusive of their needs.