Training of Trainers On Deliberative Democracy in South-East Europe

Deadline: 20-Oct-2024

The Center of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has launched a call for participants to take part in the training program on Deliberative Democracy.

The purpose of the Project “Promoting deliberative democracy and innovative approaches to citizen participation in South-East Europe” is to strengthen democratic processes in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. More specifically, it aims to:

• Further promote deliberative democracy as an innovative form of citizen participation in local decision-making and as a complement to representative democracy in six Beneficiaries in the South-East Europe;
• Enhance the skills and capacities of local authorities and their associations in Southeast Europe, to organize deliberative processes

Aims

• The Long-Term Training Course aims to establish a pool of Trainers in South-East Europe on Deliberative Democracy who will be equipped to train local authorities on participatory processes. By the end of the course, participants will:
  • Gain a deeper understanding of innovative practices and deliberative processes,
  • Increase their knowledge and skills in organising citizens’ assemblies at the local level,
  • Develop initiatives for more inclusive and innovative practices,
  • Further enhance their training and facilitation skills.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible to participate in the Training Course for Trainers on Deliberative Democracy, an applicant must:
  • Be a citizen of one of project beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia or Serbia;
  • Be a part of academia, civil society organisation, association of local authorities, representative of a local authority or a free-lance expert on citizen participation and democracy;
  • Must have a basic understanding of participatory processes and democratic engagement;
  • Have a previous experience in facilitating discussions or workshops;
  • Ability to work in diverse teams and with various stakeholders;
  • Must be available to commit to the full duration of the training course, including all assigned online and in person sessions and mentorship opportunities.

Selection Criteria

• Applications will be assessed based on the application form (see Annex I) against the following criteria:
  • Professional background: applicants must demonstrate their affiliation to one of the following groups – academia, civil society organisation, association of local authorities, local authority and/or their experience working with them.
  • Motivation and commitment: clear articulation of personal motivation for participating in the training and commitment to applying the knowledge gained in their local context must be presented.
  • Relevant experience: experience in participatory processes or civic engagement initiatives will be considered as an asset, and previous involvement in community in organising advocacy or similar activities may be an added value.
  • Training and communication skills: additional experience as a trainer will be considered as an asset.

Application Requirements

• In particular, the application should:
  • Be filled properly by providing clear answers on the questions.
  • Be signed by the applicant.
  • Be accompanied by CV.
• Use of AI tools in providing the answers is strongly discouraged.

For more information, visit Council of Europe.