https://www.fide.eu/spring-school-2025
4-6 JUNE WARSAW
In recent years, Poland has faced democratic challenges, prompting renewed interest in citizen engagement and deliberative democracy. Civil society organizations, some of which have been active for over a decade, have played a key role in fostering a culture of participation. As a result, Poland has become one of the most active countries in Central and Eastern Europe when it comes to organizing citizens’ assemblies.
The Spring School on Climate Citizens’ Assemblies offers a unique opportunity to gain practical skills in designing and running citizens’ assemblies. In collaboration with experienced local organizations—the Shipyard Foundation, Field of Dialogue Foundation—and the City of Warsaw, the school provides hands-on training, case-based learning, and interactive group work.
A special one-day Deep Dive on Involving Children and Youth in Citizens’ Assemblies will provide additional insights into making deliberative processes more
Deliberative democracy is gaining traction as a solution to political polarization and public disengagement. This session provides an introduction to Citizens’ Assemblies—what they are, how they work, and why they are increasingly used to tackle complex policy issues. Drawing on best practices, we explore when deliberative processes are most effective and how they can be integrated into decision-making.
Graham Smith, Chair, KNOCA Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies
How the assembly question -or remit- is framed significantly shapes the deliberative process and its outcomes. This session examines how different framing choices—such as focusing on mitigation vs. adaptation in climate assemblies—can lead to varied policy recommendations. We will discuss how to balance broad and narrow framing, ensuring inclusivity while maintaining specificity for actionable results.
Kelly McBride, Participatory & Deliberative Design Specialist
