It’s hard to believe that CitizenLab has been around for 6 years. We are incredibly proud of everything we’ve already achieved: 300+ governments have used our platform to engage their communities online, we’ve grown from a team of three to 40, and we’ve scaled from one country to six. And...
Read Article
We find ourselves consistently impressed by the types of projects launched on our platform. In this inspirational series, we’ll spotlight some of the innovative ways governments and organizations around the world are activating and engaging their communities virtually. Let’s dive in! The City of Arlon rethinks parking spaces 🇧🇪 Parking...
Read Article
Big cities usually have the budgets and brainpower to set up and implement impressive, large-scale participation projects. And smaller municipalities and communes typically harbor a stronger sense of community, helping them facilitate two-way dialogue. So, where do midsize cities fit in when it comes to community engagement? As it turns...
Read Article
Our cities are becoming increasingly more tech-driven, yet digital participation isn’t always growing at the same speed. So, what are the main barriers to participation and how can digital tools help? According to SmartCitiesWorld research, only 10% of public sector organizations (cities, local authorities, public transport operators, etc.) and 0%...
Read Article
In recent years, communities across the globe have voiced a burgeoning need and desire to be directly involved in local decision-making. As a result, community engagement has become an increasingly crucial topic for local governments. Not just because it plays into the inherent collaborative sentiment of a democratic system, but...
Read Article
July 2021 was a month full of extreme weather. Around the world, cities of all sizes were ravaged by natural disasters. Unprecedented heat waves in places like Canada and Finland; fires devastating Siberia, the U.S., and Turkey; and flooding sweeping away communities in Belgium, Germany, and China have painted vivid...
Read Article
With a population of around 94,000, the Stirling Council area sits right in the heart of Scotland. When the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves to communities around the world, Stirling Council found itself with a conundrum: how could they get valuable community input without in-person meetings? With plans...
Read Article
Around the world, people seem to be breathing a collective sigh of relief as cities liven up with a renewed sense of hope. But the road to this point, after a year of loss and hardship, has not been easy. And often, cities were at the forefront of addressing some...
Read Article
At CitizenLab, we believe that a combination of synchronous and asynchronous participation opportunities make for the most qualitative processes. Before Covid shook the world, these synchronous opportunities were mostly happening offline. Public engagement sessions, town halls, focus groups, and citizens’ panels were almost entirely organized as in-person events. However, the...
Read Article
So, you’ve engaged your community. You’ve asked residents and stakeholders to share their ideas, cast their vote, or take part in a survey. You might’ve even asked them to allocate a certain budget or invited them to an online workshop. And now, the results are in. You’ve got the answers...
Read Article