LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NOW HAVE ACCESS TO A PRACTICAL GUIDE ON CITIZENS’ ASSEMBLIES

The Practical Guide to Citizens’ Assemblies, authored by Nelson Dias and published by Associação Oficina, has just been released. Its purpose is to support members of the Participatory Municipalities Network interested in this participatory tool.

In a context marked by growing challenges to trust in institutions and by the increasing complexity of public decision-making, Citizens’ Assemblies have emerged internationally as one of the most significant democratic innovations. Based on the random selection of citizens and on structured processes of informed deliberation, these initiatives enable the public to take part in policymaking in a meaningful, inclusive, and qualified way.

The newly published Guide aims to support municipalities, technical teams, and other public entities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of Citizens’ Assemblies, offering a clear, rigorous, and adaptable methodological framework suited to different contexts. The document is structured around the full cycle of these processes - from preparation to evaluation - and combines conceptual foundations with practical guidance, drawing on both national and international experiences.

According to Nelson Dias, author of the Guide, “Citizens’ Assemblies do not replace representative democracy; rather, they complement it by enabling more informed and inclusive decision-making. This Guide aims to be a useful tool for those who wish to take this step with quality and responsibility.”

More than a technical manual, this publication highlights the transformative potential of Citizens’ Assemblies, underlining their contribution to strengthening trust between citizens and institutions, promoting civic learning, and fostering more just and sustainable public policies.

The Guide is available through Associação Oficina and is intended for political decision-makers and public administration professionals interested in deepening participatory and deliberative democracy practices.