In this series, you’ll explore Brazilian experiences with citizen deliberation— a democratic practice based on the belief that every individual can play a key role in political decision-making for the common good, when informed by diverse realities and knowledge. In the first three episodes, we dive into climate discussions within different contexts. Our first stop was in Francisco Morato, São Paulo, for the “Delibera Morato” Citizen Assembly. Here, citizens discussed critical issues related to adapting to climate change, such as waste disposal and recycling programs, resulting in a comprehensive report of citizen recommendations. In episode two, we head to Salvador, Bahia, where participants of the “Salvador no Clima” Citizen Assembly outlined budget priorities for actions in the city’s Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan, which amounted to over R$3 billion over four years. Finally, in the third episode, we visit Toritama, Pernambuco, where the “RespirAr Puro” Citizen Assembly tackled the challenge of air pollution caused by the city’s thriving denim industry, producing recommendations for more sustainable manufacturing practices.

In this new season, we delve into the experiences of citizen deliberations from the Citizen Assembly Project – Tackling Inequality, which fosters public participation in shaping policies to combat poverty and inequality in three Brazilian cities. First Stop: Belém, PA. Explore the “Recicla Belém” Citizen Assembly, where citizens discussed ways to expand recycling programs to all neighborhoods, creating income for both the people and the city. Second Episode: Fortaleza, CE. Join the “For Full-Time Education” Citizen Assembly, which focused on universalizing full-time education in primary schools. For the first time, children and teenagers participated in creating policy recommendations! Third Episode: Niterói, RJ (coming soon). Learn about the “Conecta Niterói: Universal Access to the Internet” Citizen Assembly, which proposed innovative solutions to ensure that all residents have internet access, tackling urban development challenges along the way.

This project is brought to you by Delibera Brasil in partnership with the Rede Conhecimento Social.

ParticipaCast is a series dedicated to exploring the contributions of Citizen Assemblies to civil society, social participation, and public policy planning. Over three episodes, we dive deep into meaningful dialogues and various perspectives that illustrate the impact of these assemblies on communities and governance. Each episode offers a chance to hear directly from the assembly organizers, public officials, and civil society representatives about how citizen deliberation is shaping the social and political structures of their regions, boosting civic engagement, inter-institutional collaboration, and the development of more effective public policies. Join us on this journey of learning and inspiration, and discover how participatory democracy is being reimagined in practice.

This project is brought to you by Delibera Brasil in partnership with the Rede Conhecimento Social.

The Special Edition Magazine from Bujaru celebrates the first-ever Citizen Assembly on Climate held in an Amazonian city. This issue highlights the importance of citizen participation in the sustainable development of the Amazon, a region crucial to global climate balance and the well-being of millions.

The magazine captures the process and outcomes of this pioneering initiative, showcasing how the citizens of Bujaru contributed to shaping public policies that could impact both the climate and the local economy.

Read the full issue by clicking here.