Although policy-makers and different actors are harnessing e-tools to foster democratic processes, it is still difficult to assess the success of these tools because a universally applicable methodology for assessment of e-participation experiences is currently lacking. Moreover, while digital democracy is increasingly experimented at local and national levels, there are still no effective mechanisms for engaging citizens and CSOs in the process of co-producing policy solutions for Europe. 

Our project proposes to pilot the collaborative method of crowdsourcing legislation in 5 beneficiary countries on the subject of air quality – a topic chosen because of its transnational nature and the problems associated with it. We will test a “social listening” method using advanced information technologies to monitor citizens’ opinions.

The evaluated results of the crowdsourcing pilots will be used to provide policy makers with recommendations on how to improve digital democracy in Europe; and the citizens’ contributions on air quality through the crowdsourcing and the “social listening” experiments will feed into and impact policy-making on national and on EU level.

We will develop a universally applicable methodology – the E-Participation Assessment Framework – to allow objective comparison of the results of e-participation projects across time and geographical space and use it for evaluating the crowdsourcing pilots. We will also test a “social listening” method through a Digital Dashboard to include citizens’ opinions. The project will deliver guidelines for ethical “social listening” to benefit from the availability of big data while protecting individual privacy and safeguarding citizens against inappropriate access and use of data.

Summary of bilateral results

The Icelandic partner in the consortium, Citizens Foundation (CF), played an important role in the project, leveraging its extensive experience from Iceland's Constitutional Reform to bring invaluable expertise to the crowdsourcing processes. As “veterans” in the field, CF's involvement was critical at literally every step in the project. Experts at CF provided advice on several key aspects, including the development of the technology platform designed to facilitate the crowdsourcing initiative. Their insights were instrumental in formulating a communication strategy that effectively engaged citizens, ensuring maximum participation and interaction. However, CF also derived insights from partners in other European countries, gaining an understanding of how divergent state-level political cultures and public attitudes towards democracy necessitate the formulation of customized messages.

CF contributed significantly to the development of the Assessment Framework. Their experience in managing crowdsourcing initiatives provided a robust foundation for the framework, making it a critical component for the project's success.

The collaboration with CF also brought a wealth of benefits to the donor country and the beneficiary countries involved in the project. The virtual Iceland study tour of the project (due to travel restrictions during COVID-19) laid down the foundations of intensive knowledge exchange. The donor country received practical support from CF's expertise, enhancing its own capacities in crowdsourcing and civic engagement. On the other hand, the beneficiary countries benefited immensely from the knowledge and experience shared by CF. They learned about the intricacies of implementing crowdsourcing initiatives in diverse political and historical contexts. This exchange highlighted the adaptability of crowdsourcing methods to different national cultures of participation and the importance of tailoring approaches to fit each country's unique circumstances.

Project details

Project info
Period
2014-2021
Project Website
https://codecidingeurope.eu/
Approval date
Grant financing
1253331.00€
Final project cost
1287083.57€

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