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participatory

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

Adapting standardised models that are built on globally accepted principles to local contextual realities is essential for the successful implementation of deliberative democracy approaches. This extends to the selection of members and the approaches used to engage stakeholders and is most effectively done in partnership with a credible local organization that is interested in, or has a track record working on, similar initiatives. In this case UNDEF’s Implementing Partner chose to work with organizations and individuals with local connections and knowledge that complemented well its own practical experience with Citizen Assemblies.

Project Partner
The newDemocracy Foundation
Project Description

Making democracies more inclusive requires bold and innovative reforms to bring the young, the poor, and minorities into the political system. Some countries have piloted initiatives for assemblies on specific issues where members are not nominated by political parties but chosen at random for a limited term to represent all sectors of society, to prevent the formation of self-serving and self-perpetuating political classes disconnected from their electorates. The project aims to enable more countries to develop initiatives of this kind. It will develop and distribute a handbook on ‘Democracy Beyond Elections’ designed to show how nations at various levels of development can apply the principles of representation and deliberation in ways that are appropriate to their economic and educational circumstances. The project will fund three pilot projects to further the demonstration effect and produce a documentary based on one of these to demonstrate how deliberative democracy can work in practice. Among citizens, the project will work to build the sense that ordinary people are involved in making decisions that affect them, and thus to promote trust in Government. Among elected representatives, the project will work to stimulate a greater openness to complementary democratic models in which citizens explore and recommend policy solutions on key issues.

Evaluation Date
March 2025
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

To enhance sustainability and support the establishment of nascent deliberative democracy networks at country or regional level, partner selection is crucial as they should be the actors to take the approach forward in the aftermath of the project. In the selection of countries to pilot Citizen Assembly projects, primary consideration should be given to the existence of these organizations and their willingness, capacity and interest to advance the issue, as well as the wider attitude towards deliberative democracy models.

Project Partner
The newDemocracy Foundation
Project Description

Making democracies more inclusive requires bold and innovative reforms to bring the young, the poor, and minorities into the political system. Some countries have piloted initiatives for assemblies on specific issues where members are not nominated by political parties but chosen at random for a limited term to represent all sectors of society, to prevent the formation of self-serving and self-perpetuating political classes disconnected from their electorates. The project aims to enable more countries to develop initiatives of this kind. It will develop and distribute a handbook on ‘Democracy Beyond Elections’ designed to show how nations at various levels of development can apply the principles of representation and deliberation in ways that are appropriate to their economic and educational circumstances. The project will fund three pilot projects to further the demonstration effect and produce a documentary based on one of these to demonstrate how deliberative democracy can work in practice. Among citizens, the project will work to build the sense that ordinary people are involved in making decisions that affect them, and thus to promote trust in Government. Among elected representatives, the project will work to stimulate a greater openness to complementary democratic models in which citizens explore and recommend policy solutions on key issues.

Evaluation Date
March 2025
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

Investing the time to consult widely, and with an array of thinkers on approaches to deliberative democracy from across the globe, can create a product that positions the drafters as thought-leaders on the issue, increasing the likelihood that others thinking about how to implement such approaches will reference and consult it. UNDEF’s Implementing Partner in this case drew on its existing networks of Citizen Assembly experts and practitioners to produce a robust and widely accepted deliberative democracy implementation handbook.

Link to the deliberative democracy implementation handbook

Project Partner
The newDemocracy Foundation
Project Description

Making democracies more inclusive requires bold and innovative reforms to bring the young, the poor, and minorities into the political system. Some countries have piloted initiatives for assemblies on specific issues where members are not nominated by political parties but chosen at random for a limited term to represent all sectors of society, to prevent the formation of self-serving and self-perpetuating political classes disconnected from their electorates. The project aims to enable more countries to develop initiatives of this kind. It will develop and distribute a handbook on ‘Democracy Beyond Elections’ designed to show how nations at various levels of development can apply the principles of representation and deliberation in ways that are appropriate to their economic and educational circumstances. The project will fund three pilot projects to further the demonstration effect and produce a documentary based on one of these to demonstrate how deliberative democracy can work in practice. Among citizens, the project will work to build the sense that ordinary people are involved in making decisions that affect them, and thus to promote trust in Government. Among elected representatives, the project will work to stimulate a greater openness to complementary democratic models in which citizens explore and recommend policy solutions on key issues.

Evaluation Date
March 2025
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

The key to the continued engagement of citizens selected to be part of the Citizen Assembly with the process is to ensure that the sessions are well-structured, informative and engaging. Getting the members in the room is an important piece of the puzzle but ensuring that they are active participants is fundamental to their overall output and outcome. In this project local partners, supported by the Implementing Partner, were given resources and guidance that enabled them to ensure adherence to core Citizen Assembly principles but also tailor approaches to contextual realities.

Project Partner
The newDemocracy Foundation
Project Description

Making democracies more inclusive requires bold and innovative reforms to bring the young, the poor, and minorities into the political system. Some countries have piloted initiatives for assemblies on specific issues where members are not nominated by political parties but chosen at random for a limited term to represent all sectors of society, to prevent the formation of self-serving and self-perpetuating political classes disconnected from their electorates. The project aims to enable more countries to develop initiatives of this kind. It will develop and distribute a handbook on ‘Democracy Beyond Elections’ designed to show how nations at various levels of development can apply the principles of representation and deliberation in ways that are appropriate to their economic and educational circumstances. The project will fund three pilot projects to further the demonstration effect and produce a documentary based on one of these to demonstrate how deliberative democracy can work in practice. Among citizens, the project will work to build the sense that ordinary people are involved in making decisions that affect them, and thus to promote trust in Government. Among elected representatives, the project will work to stimulate a greater openness to complementary democratic models in which citizens explore and recommend policy solutions on key issues.

Evaluation Date
March 2025
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enabling National Initiatives to Take Democracy Beyond Elections

Documenting how Citizen Assembly initiatives were successfully delivered and the impacts they had in different contexts is a critical tool for increasing public awareness about the ideas behind the approach and can also strengthen expert networks existing knowledge bases. With the publication of a handbook, UNDEF’s Implementing Partner has provided a valuable resource that can guide the practical application of deliberative democracy ideals into practice through Citizen Assemblies.

Project Partner
The newDemocracy Foundation
Project Description

Making democracies more inclusive requires bold and innovative reforms to bring the young, the poor, and minorities into the political system. Some countries have piloted initiatives for assemblies on specific issues where members are not nominated by political parties but chosen at random for a limited term to represent all sectors of society, to prevent the formation of self-serving and self-perpetuating political classes disconnected from their electorates. The project aims to enable more countries to develop initiatives of this kind. It will develop and distribute a handbook on ‘Democracy Beyond Elections’ designed to show how nations at various levels of development can apply the principles of representation and deliberation in ways that are appropriate to their economic and educational circumstances. The project will fund three pilot projects to further the demonstration effect and produce a documentary based on one of these to demonstrate how deliberative democracy can work in practice. Among citizens, the project will work to build the sense that ordinary people are involved in making decisions that affect them, and thus to promote trust in Government. Among elected representatives, the project will work to stimulate a greater openness to complementary democratic models in which citizens explore and recommend policy solutions on key issues.

Evaluation Date
March 2025
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Strengthening Independent Media in the Arab Region

Inclusive project designs that rely on human rights actors from diverse professions and backgrounds have a high potential for engaging stakeholders and local authorities. In this case, inclusive project designs in Tunisia and Lebanon allowed to effectively work with local authorities towards understanding and addressing issues related to access to information and data-driven journalism.

Project Partner
Journalist for Human Rights
Project Description

The project aims to strengthen independent media in the Arab region so as to build greater accountability and better governance, by improving the working environment for journalists; advancing media freedom and accessible information and data; enhancing the capacity of freelance and full-time journalists to cover sensitive human rights stories; and improving journalists’ legal knowledge through strong working partnerships with civic actors. Project activities also incorporate responses to the Covid-19 crisis for journalists on the front line.

Evaluation Date
February 2025
Theme
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Monitoring Implementation of UN Treaty Bodies’ Recommendations in Morocco

Activities that are based on discussions around complex themes and issues, and are organized in remote or marginal areas, are most impactful when held in person, rather than virtually. In this project, moving to virtual spaces proved difficult, both substantially and technologically, as in these areas regular online attendance was difficult to organize remotely, and was further compounded by technological impediments, potentially weakening effectiveness. 

Project Partner
Médiateur pour la Démocratie et les Droits de l’Homme
Project Description

The project’s objective is to support in an inclusive way the monitoring of governmental efforts to implement UN treaty body recommendations, by bringing together civil society organizations and parliamentary actors to develop a monitoring mechanism; conducting a capacity development programme on international human rights law, monitoring, and advocacy in four regions; and mobilizing legislators to effectively exercise their roles and responsibilities in holding the government accountable for its commitments to implement UN treaty body recommendations.

Evaluation Date
February 2024
Country