Exchanges
DELIBERATIVE DECK
In this exchange, we explore the use of everyday technologies as allies for participation, the creation of permanent public infrastructures to sustain deliberative democracy, and the adaptation of methodologies to local contexts from a differential approach. Three key ideas: inhabiting the digital, building from the local, and sustaining networks that care for diversity.
Why explore this deck?
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To discover proven practices in Asia,
Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. -
To inspire you to reimagine
your own processes. -
To inspire you to reimagine
your own processes.
We invite you to read through these letters, share them with your team, and experience new forms of democratic participation.
Turn the card
Not everyone is online
Type of card: Deliberative Challenge
Special power: Forces people to think beyond digital access
How: A mixed strategy was implemented with local facilitators, community media, and printed materials. Calls for participation were broadcast on the radio and through in-person visits. Priority was given to reaching communities without digital connectivity.
Outstanding result: Increased inclusion of rural or disconnected communities
Key actors involved: Rural communities, facilitators, local organizations
Minimum resources required: Mixed communication strategy, local media, printed materials
Context where applied: Brazil, HUB Latin America
View real application Special power: Forces people to think beyond digital access
How: A mixed strategy was implemented with local facilitators, community media, and printed materials. Calls for participation were broadcast on the radio and through in-person visits. Priority was given to reaching communities without digital connectivity.
Outstanding result: Increased inclusion of rural or disconnected communities
Key actors involved: Rural communities, facilitators, local organizations
Minimum resources required: Mixed communication strategy, local media, printed materials
Context where applied: Brazil, HUB Latin America
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The hook of curiosity
Type of card: Strategy
Special power: Attracts people based on personal interests
How: The call for participation used eye-catching questions and social media campaigns featuring young role models. A simple platform was designed to match conversations between different people. The tone was visual, direct, and free of technical jargon.
Outstanding result: Greater diversity of profiles in participatory processes
Key actors involved: Young citizens, communicators, digital activists
Minimum resources required: Social media campaign, visual narratives, local influencers
Context where applied: Thailand, Southeast Asia HUB
View real application Special power: Attracts people based on personal interests
How: The call for participation used eye-catching questions and social media campaigns featuring young role models. A simple platform was designed to match conversations between different people. The tone was visual, direct, and free of technical jargon.
Outstanding result: Greater diversity of profiles in participatory processes
Key actors involved: Young citizens, communicators, digital activists
Minimum resources required: Social media campaign, visual narratives, local influencers
Context where applied: Thailand, Southeast Asia HUB
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Mentoring that empowers
Type of card: Good practice
Special power: Strengthens underrepresented voices
How: One-on-one mentoring programs were implemented with a focus on minorities, strengthening deliberative skills through simulations, debates, and structured feedback. The sessions were held in safe spaces and adapted to the local context.
Outstanding result: Improves the deliberative quality of diverse actors
Context where applied: Eastern Europe, HUB Eastern Europe - Branimira Penić, Hrvatsko Debatno Društvo (Croatian Debate Society)
Key actors involved: Facilitators, youth, minorities
Minimum resources required: Trained mentors, training guides, safe spaces
View real application Special power: Strengthens underrepresented voices
How: One-on-one mentoring programs were implemented with a focus on minorities, strengthening deliberative skills through simulations, debates, and structured feedback. The sessions were held in safe spaces and adapted to the local context.
Outstanding result: Improves the deliberative quality of diverse actors
Context where applied: Eastern Europe, HUB Eastern Europe - Branimira Penić, Hrvatsko Debatno Društvo (Croatian Debate Society)
Key actors involved: Facilitators, youth, minorities
Minimum resources required: Trained mentors, training guides, safe spaces
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Learning by doing, deliberating by deciding
Type of card: Tool
Special power: Links learning to action
How: The process integrated pedagogical modules with real simulations of participatory budgeting. Students designed proposals, deliberated, and prioritized resources in specific scenarios. The activities were guided by facilitators and validated with institutional actors.
Outstanding result: Greater commitment of participants to the process
Context where applied: India, South Asia Hub - Pune Participatory Budget, India
Key actors involved: Students, facilitators, institutional actors
Minimum resources required: Training modules, experiential activities, tools
View real application Special power: Links learning to action
How: The process integrated pedagogical modules with real simulations of participatory budgeting. Students designed proposals, deliberated, and prioritized resources in specific scenarios. The activities were guided by facilitators and validated with institutional actors.
Outstanding result: Greater commitment of participants to the process
Context where applied: India, South Asia Hub - Pune Participatory Budget, India
Key actors involved: Students, facilitators, institutional actors
Minimum resources required: Training modules, experiential activities, tools
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Young design without permissions
Type of card: Strategy
Special power: Positions young people as active designers of the process
How: Young people led the methodological design through participatory laboratories and open sessions with institutions. Flexible formats were used, without adult mediation, to define the themes, languages, and dynamics.
Outstanding result: More legitimate, fresh methodological processes that are better suited to young people's needs
Context where applied: Serbia – HUB Eastern Europe – OPENS Youth Center
Key actors involved: Young activists, local governments, educators, youth participation networks
Minimum resources required: Autonomous youth spaces, horizontal methodologies, non-hierarchical institutional support
View real application Special power: Positions young people as active designers of the process
How: Young people led the methodological design through participatory laboratories and open sessions with institutions. Flexible formats were used, without adult mediation, to define the themes, languages, and dynamics.
Outstanding result: More legitimate, fresh methodological processes that are better suited to young people's needs
Context where applied: Serbia – HUB Eastern Europe – OPENS Youth Center
Key actors involved: Young activists, local governments, educators, youth participation networks
Minimum resources required: Autonomous youth spaces, horizontal methodologies, non-hierarchical institutional support
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Eat, talk, decide
Type of card: Strategy
Special power: Builds trust and belonging
How: Community meetings were organized with food as a bridge for dialogue, sparking sensitive conversations in everyday settings. Decisions were built on trust, not formality.
Outstanding result: Increased attendance and openness in tense contexts
Context where applied: Cameroon, HUB Sub-Saharan Africa - Guy Blaise Dongmo, Cameroon For a World Beyond the War
Key actors involved: Young people, women, grassroots organizations
Minimum resources needed: Budget for food, community spaces, logistical support
View real application Special power: Builds trust and belonging
How: Community meetings were organized with food as a bridge for dialogue, sparking sensitive conversations in everyday settings. Decisions were built on trust, not formality.
Outstanding result: Increased attendance and openness in tense contexts
Context where applied: Cameroon, HUB Sub-Saharan Africa - Guy Blaise Dongmo, Cameroon For a World Beyond the War
Key actors involved: Young people, women, grassroots organizations
Minimum resources needed: Budget for food, community spaces, logistical support
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Deliberating is not always voting
Type of card: Key learning
Special power: Prevents voting from being imposed as the only option
How: Deliberative methodologies were applied that prioritized consensus, collective prioritization, and active listening. Facilitators guided processes that avoided immediate voting and promoted reasoned agreements.
Outstanding result: Introduces alternative methods of collective decision-making
Context where applied: Nigeria, West Africa HUB - John Oluwafemi, Act Hub Nigeria
Key actors involved: Facilitators, diverse citizens, decision-makers
Minimum resources required: Training in deliberative methodologies, skilled facilitation, local validation
View real application Special power: Prevents voting from being imposed as the only option
How: Deliberative methodologies were applied that prioritized consensus, collective prioritization, and active listening. Facilitators guided processes that avoided immediate voting and promoted reasoned agreements.
Outstanding result: Introduces alternative methods of collective decision-making
Context where applied: Nigeria, West Africa HUB - John Oluwafemi, Act Hub Nigeria
Key actors involved: Facilitators, diverse citizens, decision-makers
Minimum resources required: Training in deliberative methodologies, skilled facilitation, local validation
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The radio listens
Type of card: Tool
Special power: Transforms the medium into a channel for deliberation
How: Radio programs were designed with key questions and spaces for calls, messages, or community visits. Radio was used not only to inform, but also to spark conversations and gather opinions. The entire process was guided by local facilitators.
Key result: Massive participation in rural areas with poor connectivity
Context where applied: Kenya, East Africa HUB - Africa's Voices Foundation
Key actors involved: Radio broadcasters, rural communities, facilitators
Minimum resources required: Local radio infrastructure, participatory methodology, community partnerships
View real application Special power: Transforms the medium into a channel for deliberation
How: Radio programs were designed with key questions and spaces for calls, messages, or community visits. Radio was used not only to inform, but also to spark conversations and gather opinions. The entire process was guided by local facilitators.
Key result: Massive participation in rural areas with poor connectivity
Context where applied: Kenya, East Africa HUB - Africa's Voices Foundation
Key actors involved: Radio broadcasters, rural communities, facilitators
Minimum resources required: Local radio infrastructure, participatory methodology, community partnerships
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Citizen goal plan
Type of card: Good practice
Special power: Transforms deliberation into binding planning
How: Citizens defined priorities through deliberative processes and agreed on binding goals with the local government. Institutionalized monitoring spaces were established with the active participation of social organizations. The impact was sustained through collective monitoring and shared political will.
Outstanding result: Institutionalization of citizen control in public management
Context where applied: Argentina, HUB Latin America, Red Ciudadana Nuestra Córdoba
Key actors involved: Organized civil society, local government, active citizens
Minimum resources required: Spaces for deliberation, monitoring mechanisms, political will
View real application Special power: Transforms deliberation into binding planning
How: Citizens defined priorities through deliberative processes and agreed on binding goals with the local government. Institutionalized monitoring spaces were established with the active participation of social organizations. The impact was sustained through collective monitoring and shared political will.
Outstanding result: Institutionalization of citizen control in public management
Context where applied: Argentina, HUB Latin America, Red Ciudadana Nuestra Córdoba
Key actors involved: Organized civil society, local government, active citizens
Minimum resources required: Spaces for deliberation, monitoring mechanisms, political will