Citizens assembly in Normandie – OECD

Design - Strategy - Training

The OECD Citizen Assembly in Normandie refers to a deliberative citizen assembly in the region of Normandy, France, as part of an initiative to explore new forms of democratic participation and engage the public in decision-making processes. It was supported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which provides guidance on using participatory methods to enhance governance and policy-making.

The assembly is designed to engage citizens in meaningful discussions about cultural mediation within Normandy. It aims to bring together a diverse group of people to deliberate on key issues and provide input into the creation of policies that affect local communities, helping to make decisions more inclusive and reflective of the public's needs and values.

Key elements of the OECD Citizen Assembly in Normandie

Diverse citizen participation

The assembly involves a randomly selected group of citizens, ensuring a broad cross-section of the population was represented in the discussions. This is done to ensure that the voices of everyday people, rather than just political elites or experts, shaped the discussions.

Focus on regional policy

The assembly concentrates on finding recommendations for the Abbaye D’Ardenne near Caen and mainstreaming those into the region cultural policies.

Deliberative process

Citizens engaged in in-depth discussions, informed by expert testimonies, in order to deliberate on the best solutions for regional challenges. This process is intended to be democratic, transparent, and grounded in dialogue.

OECD Expertise

The OECD provides expertise in the design and facilitation of the assembly, ensuring that it followed international best practices for citizen engagement and deliberation.

Influencing policy

The assembly’s recommendations is meant to feed into the policymaking process, informing decision-makers in Normandy and potentially influencing future regional policies.

The OECD Citizen Assembly in Normandie is part of a broader trend to incorporate deliberative democracy models into policymaking, allowing citizens to actively contribute to decision-making processes on issues that directly affect them.