On July 2, the INDEU (Inclusive Digitalisation in the EU) project held a training session on the significance of crowdsourcing in fostering direct participation in decision-making processes at local, national and EU levels. This event offered a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn from experts and explore innovative practices that utilize the collective intelligence of citizens to shape policies.
Participants explored how crowdsourcing is changing policy-making and democratic processes across Europe. The session attracted a diverse audience, including citizens, civil society organisation members, academics, decision-makers, and media representatives. The event featured four topics presented by a panel of experts, who are also partners in the INDEU project:
The event allowed for exchanges on the topic between experts and participants, mainly on the possibilities of crowdsourcing to transform policy-making and democratic engagement in Europe.
Participants learned about:
1. the technical aspects, such as the features a crowdsourcing platform should have in order to be secure, protect data, user-friendly and accessible,
2. the practical aspects of running a campaign to involve citizens and how to motivate them to contribute with their inputs and
3. the evaluation and monitoring process before and after a crowdsourcing by using the Assessment Framework for E-Participation.
The experts also explained the importance of having politicians and representatives commit to taking citizens’ contributions in their policy work from the very beginning of the crowdsourcing – this is a way to ensure there is political willingness to allow for the concrete impact of citizens on policy-making once the process is over.
The objective of the event was to equip participants, especially the partners who will be implementing the INDEU crowdsourcing, with practical knowledge on e-participation and strategies for ensuring a ‘successful’ crowdsourcing with citizens.
More information about the project is available here.
