Registration for the Deliberative Democracy Lab is now open

In the context of a full-scale war and Ukraine’s future recovery, deliberative democracy takes on particular importance: questions of social cohesion, collective decision-making, and legitimacy are more relevant than ever. For the first time in Ukraine, such deliberative democracy instruments as citizens’ assemblies and a citizens’ panel have been applied. Interest in and willingness to use this approach are growing. At the same time, communities and the expert community face a lack of consolidated, practice-oriented methodology adapted to the Ukrainian context, as well as institutional unpreparedness for new formats of participation.

The BRIDGE project invites participation from experts in democratic innovation, representatives of civil society organizations, local self-government bodies, and public authorities, as well as researchers in civic participation, to join the Deliberative Democracy Lab, which will take place in a Policy Lab format from February to July 2026.

The Deliberative Democracy Lab is a platform for exchanging ideas where discussions, analysis of international cases, and the review and comparison of existing Ukrainian experience in deliberation will lead to the development of joint methodological recommendations. These recommendations will help experts and communities in Ukraine effectively use deliberative democracy instruments.

The program includes five thematic sessions (online and offline). Each session focuses on a specific aspect of deliberative democracy.

19 February — Preparatory online session.

4-5 March — Citizens’ assemblies as a tool for social cohesion (online).

16-17 April — Deliberative democracy instruments in the context of the Law of Ukraine “On People’s Power” (offline, Kyiv).

16-17 June — Digital participation and deliberation tools (online).

29-30 July — Institutionalization of deliberative democracy principles in Ukraine (offline, Kyiv).

How to join?

🔗 Please complete the registration form at https://forms.gle/HpKG29KXTFLchbdv6. After that, a representative of the BRIDGE project will contact you to confirm your participation. Registration is open until 11 February 2026 .