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Pioneering Practitioners: Democratic Innovation Organizations to Watch

Recognizing organizations that support politicians to empower citizens and develop better policies for people and the planet.

Female Lecturer

We acknowledge and thank the organizations on this list bringing the best in democratic innovations to political leaders. There are more organizations doing this important work than those we’ve compiled here. We’d love to hear about them.

 

If you know of an organization working on democratic innovation we haven’t included, please send us an email at info@apolitical.foundation and we’ll add it to our database.

Arantzazulab
Arantzazulab

Arantzazulab has the mission to activate a new era reshaping the relationship between institutions and citizens. It is the epicenter of Basque democracy innovation, where diverse stakeholders converge.

Center for New Democratic Processes
Center for New Democratic Processes

International leaders in civic participation, deliberation, and engagement. Designs and implements innovative democratic processes, primarily using Citizens' Juries, Assemblies, and other deliberative methods.

Decidim Platform
Decidim Platform

Digital platform for citizen participation offering free, open, and safe technology. Governed by the Decidim Free Software Association. Democratizes society through collaborative technology.

DemocracyCo
DemocracyCo

Supports the development of sustainable and evidence-based solutions to complex problems, using innovative deliberative practice to support collaboration by public policy makers, communities and industry.

Federation For Innovation in Democracy
Federation For Innovation in Democracy

Non-profit organization supporting democratic innovations through technical guidance, advocacy, capacity building, research and evaluation.

Healthy Democracy
Healthy Democracy

Designs and coordinates innovative democracy programs in the U.S. Partners with governments and organizations for Lottery-Selected Panels and Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR).

Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability
Institute for Democratic Engagement and Accountability

Seeks to make democracy more deliberative and empower people to talk across differences. Works towards building political change for the public good.

Mehr Demokratie
Mehr Demokratie

Non-partisan organization advocating for direct democracy, citizen participation, and electoral reform in Germany and the EU. Advises and promotes citizens' initiatives.

New Citizenship Project
New Citizenship Project

Innovation consultancy working with politicians but also organizations across sectors. Develops, designs and implements pioneering democratic innovation processes of all shapes and sizes, as well as offering training and support.

Pipeline to Power
Pipeline to Power

Works with governments to set up open platforms fostering greater participation in the U.S.

The Good Lobby
The Good Lobby

The Good Lobby champions equal access to power, demystifying lobbying for democratic participation. This decade-long movement unites nonprofits, philanthropies, and progressive companies for a transparent, accountable political process where every voice matters, challenging restrictions based on wealth or social standing.

We Do Democracy
We Do Democracy

An independent advisory group specializing in innovative democracy, civic engagement, and deliberative processes. They are leaders in Citizens' Assemblies who collaborate with diverse partners to shape a better democratic future through professional advice and facilitation for impactful, participatory change.

Avventura Urbana
Avventura Urbana

Avventura Urbana specializes in the design and management of complex decision-making processes. The consulting group employs advanced tools for engagement, targeting local citizens and stakeholders.

Citizens Foundation
Citizens Foundation

Connects governments and citizens by creating open state-of-the-art engagement platforms and offering consultation on how to best plan and execute successful citizen engagement projects

Delibera
Delibera

Non-profit organization of Brazilian citizens promoting citizen deliberation through mini publics. Contributes to the strengthening and deepening of Brazilian democracy.

DemocracyNext
DemocracyNext

International research and action institute serving as a field builder and knowledge hub specializing in deliberative democracy. Engaged in designing and establishing new democratic institutions, processes, and spaces, including Citizens’ Assemblies.

Global Collaboration Institute
Global Collaboration Institute

The Global Collaboration Institute actively contributes to democratic innovation by supporting initiatives like Hack4Votes, among many others, to engage citizens in shaping a fairer society. It also leads its flagship program 'It's Our Europe,' advocating for eco-centric leadership, as examples of its diverse efforts.

Ideemos
Ideemos

Research and consulting organization providing services in public and democratic innovation. Designs and implements various democratic innovations.

Knowledge Network for Climate Assemblies
Knowledge Network for Climate Assemblies

European network developing and sharing best practices on citizens' assemblies as a means of developing climate policy. Combines knowledge, experience, and expertise of policymakers, civil society actors, and academics.

Missions Publiques
Missions Publiques

Specializes in bringing citizens into policy at local and global levels, based in Paris, Brussels and Bonn. Initiator of We the Internet and other decentralized global participatory initiatives.

Participedia
Participedia

Participedia is the largest open access database and scholarly-practitioner community researching and mobilizing knowledge about democratic innovations from around the world.

School of Collective Intelligence at UM6P
School of Collective Intelligence at UM6P

Offers research, teaching, and training programs in collective intelligence. Focus on political innovation for inclusive and effective institutions.

Treeshake
Treeshake

Treeshake builds advocacy communities to work more closely with policy decision-makers, thus informing smarter policy. We also unearth the stories that inspire more urgent action, and help frame enabling public narratives.

Yiaga Africa
Yiaga Africa

Civil society organization promoting participatory democracy, human rights, and civic participation in Africa. Focuses on research, analysis, and empowering citizens for change.

Center for Democracy Innovation at the National Civic League
Center for Democracy Innovation at the National Civic League

The National Civic League’s Center for Democracy Innovation works with public officials in the US to understand, test, and disseminate innovations that can make democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive.

Computational Democracy Project
Computational Democracy Project

Brings data science to deliberative democracy. Designs Polis, an open-source data crowdsourcing system. Supports communities of journalists, researchers, and public servants.

Deliberativa
Deliberativa

Advocacy and consultancy non-profit organisation promoting deliberative democracy and citizens' assemblies to combat misinformation and help governments make decisions.

Democratic Society (Demsoc)
Democratic Society (Demsoc)

Europe-wide organization which undertakes practical projects, conducts research and builds new democratic infrastructure that aims to enable more people to be more involved in the decisions that shape their lives.

Go Vocal
Go Vocal

Providing governments worldwide with a digital engagement platform and expert advice to make public decision-making more inclusive, participatory, and responsive.

Innovation For Policy Foundation
Innovation For Policy Foundation

i4Policy pioneers new methods of participatory governance, from facilitating citizen-drafted national legislation to organizing the world's first global citizens' assembly.

MASS LBP
MASS LBP

Leads reference panels and citizens’ assemblies for policy-making in Canada. Internationally recognized for work in public deliberation.

Mosaic Lab
Mosaic Lab

Mosaic Lab drives better decisions and meaningful change through innovative deliberative practice, facilitating conversations that connect citizens to government, tackle big problems and strengthen democracy.

People Powered
People Powered

Builds the power of government reformers worldwide to successfully implement democratic innovations. Provides training, mentorship, tools, funding, and others.

The Democratic Odyssey
The Democratic Odyssey

Decentralized, collaborative exercise for a permanent citizens’ assembly in Europe. Strives to institutionalize a participatory ecosystem in the EU.

Victorian Women's Trust
Victorian Women's Trust

The Victorian Women’s Trust exists to support women, girls and gender diverse people to thrive. The organisation pioneered the model of Kitchen Table Conversations as a way to enable communities and politicians to engage thoughtfully and respectfully in honest dialogue on complex issues.

newDemocracy Foundation
newDemocracy Foundation

Research organization working with governments to ensure citizens trust decision-making. Designs and operates public engagement projects for shared and trusted recommendations.

External links provided are for informational purposes only. We do not take responsibility for the accuracy, content, or any other aspect of the third party sites. Users are encouraged to review the external link's terms of use and privacy policy before engaging with or relying on them.

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