Citizen Assemblies in Bogotá: Conceptual Foundations and Guide
Deliberative Cycles in Bogotá: Foundations and Methodological Guide for Strengthening Deliberative Democracy
Deliberative Cycles in Bogotá are a democratic innovation designed to strengthen citizen participation through informed, inclusive, and impactful deliberation processes. Their purpose is to create spaces where residents can engage in dialogue, develop collective recommendations, and contribute to decision-making on public issues that affect the city.
This publication brings together two key documents that explain the origins, principles, and implementation of this initiative, developed through a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, Fundación Corona, and the Open Policy Institute (Extituto de Política Abierta), with contributions from citizens and a diverse range of actors within the democratic ecosystem.
What will you find in this publication?
Conceptual Foundations of the Deliberative Cycles
A document that explores the principles of deliberative democracy, international experiences with Citizens’ Assemblies, and the foundations guiding the implementation of Deliberative Cycles in Bogotá. It also presents the lessons learned from the 2024 Meta Citizens’ Assembly, a pilot process that helped define the characteristics and rules of this democratic innovation for the city.
Guide to Designing and Implementing Citizens’ Assemblies
A practical resource that provides step-by-step guidance for designing, organizing, and implementing Citizens’ Assemblies. It includes recommendations on public outreach, civic lottery selection, participant recruitment, deliberation, monitoring, impact, and feedback processes, drawing directly from Bogotá’s experience.
Together, these documents provide a comprehensive understanding of how to design participation processes that are more inclusive, representative, and effective. They serve as a valuable resource for governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and practitioners interested in strengthening deliberative democracy and meaningful citizen participation.
Conceptual Foundations of the Deliberative Cycles
Guide to Designing and Implementing Citizens’ Assemblies