Value proposition, network structure, and action plan

Strengthen public trust by institutionalising inclusive, evidence-based policymaking through Nets4Dem - a place and community of actual connection and possibility for enhancing democratic innovation. Our multidisciplinary network grants you easy access to trailblazing democratic innovations, global best practices, academic rigour, and multi-level institutions to seamlessly implement participatory practices on the ground. Leverage our diverse array of resources and practitioner-researcher collaborations to design and implement robust public engagement strategies that cultivate citizen buy-in. Gain first-mover advantage by joining this vanguard movement that affords unrivalled access to cutting-edge democratic processes, tools and frameworks. Participate in working sessions that bring together policymakers, practitioners and researchers to provide policy recommendations, get feedback on outcomes, and build shared learnings for continuous improvement. Renew democracy's social contract by formulating evidence-based, citizen-centred solutions to society's greatest challenges. Whether national or local government, Nets4Dem equips you to institutionalise participation as the new policymaking paradigm.

Unlock new levels of impact through Nets4Dem's unparalleled network. Gain access to a diverse community of leading practitioners across Europe, sharing cutting-edge knowledge, tools and best practices. Collaborate on innovative approaches and co-create solutions that tangibly strengthen civic engagement and democratic resilience. Rather than competing, Nets4Dem allows you to create added value by forming strategic collaborations with like-minded organisations to pursue mutually reinforcing goals and strong funding partnerships. Directly engage with policymakers from across Europe and globally through working sessions to provide input on policy recommendations, get feedback on outcomes, and build shared learnings. This creates accountability loops between practitioners and decision-makers to ensure policies are informed by on-the-ground realities. Access new opportunities to directly support and influence democratic action through these direct links with policymakers. Amplify your work through cross-pollination of ideas and collective advocacy for meaningful democratic reform. Shape the future of decision-making by contributing your expertise to this pioneering movement.

Transcend disciplinary boundaries and unite your research with transformative real-world applications through Nets4Dem. Our vibrant network facilitates direct collaborations between leading academic thinkers and on-the-ground practitioners to create new transdisciplinary research approaches. Gain unparalleled access to a living laboratory of democratic experiments across diverse contexts to ground your work in practice. Seamlessly translate your academic insights into actionable democratic processes by partnering with implementers through working sessions with policymakers and practitioners. These sessions allow you to provide policy recommendations, get feedback on real-world outcomes, and build shared learnings. Inform innovative, evidence-based policies and practices that tangibly renew democracy's vigour. Maximise the societal impact of your scholarship by shaping narratives, catalysing positive change, and co-creating solutions through these practitioner-policymaker bridges. Leave the ivory towers behind by joining this vibrant ecosystem bridging theory and application.

Propel your grassroots efforts to new heights through Nets4Dem's powerful connective platform. Strengthen your organizations mission by implementing democratic exchange processes into your thematic work (i.e. as organizations working for climate change, equality, social justice, migration etc.) Tap into a rich ecosystem of knowledge-sharing, skill-building resources, and collaborative opportunities with a pan-European network united by the common cause of democratising decision-making. Gain visibility for your initiatives, forge strategic partnerships, and access proven models adaptable to your local realities. Be an integral voice shaping a future where meaningful public participation is intrinsic to governance norms.

An important strand of work for Nets4Dem will be the peer-training and mentoring program. This will allow for long-term and cross-sectoral learning, as well as strengthening ties between Nets4Dem members. Within Nets4Dem sharing knowledge resources and practices is a core value, enriching established members with new democratic approaches and facilitating new or smaller organisations to strengthen their relationships and reach within the field. Training and mentoring will also serve as a bridge across the network, from the Collaborative to the Community spaces of Nets4Dem.

The 'Rising Star Mentorship Program' provides complimentary expert coaching tailored for policymakers practitioners. With a team of highly trained mentors, participants will be offered practical tools and guidance to enhance skills in democratic innovation, civic deliberation, participation and citizenship education.. Through the program, mentees are introduced to tools and competences, empowering them to achieve their professional milestones and fulfil their missions within their own institutions. Nets4Dem coordinators match candidates with suitable mentors, fostering a supportive learning environment. Upon completing the program, participants are encouraged to mentor future applicants, ensuring the continuity of knowledge sharing.

In tandem, the ‘Democracy Accelerator Program’ targets governmental authorities and organisations, offering a comprehensive training curriculum. This program equips participants with skills in deliberation, open governance, digitalization, participatory policymaking, and direct democracy. Additionally, participants become familiar with our Participation Playbook. Through online training, peer learning sessions, and personalised mentorship, participants gain practical insights and tools. By utilising these techniques, participants become more receptive to adopting participatory programs and solutions, thereby advancing democratic practices and innovation. The Accelerator Program will also function as a pathway for new members to the Collaborative.

The resource centre will be a user-friendly online resource centre specifically tailored to European policymakers and practitioners. By adapting and expanding on an existing global resource centre from People Powered, we will curate a collection of 300 prioritised resources in at least 15 European languages. This comprehensive resource centre will empower users with the most practical tools and knowledge necessary to launch and improve inclusive democratic innovation programmes, with a target of reaching 3,000 users across the EU.

A further format to strengthen the networking creates synergies between members of Nets4Dem, we will launch the Democracy Lab. The Democracy Lab is hybrid and will become an on- and offline Agora for practitioners, academics, and policymakers to exchange ideas, best practice and new approaches. It will also serve as a platform to develop strategic partnerships between members and stakeholder groups, to strengthen new and on-goind projects on the grounds. To celebrate outstanding and innovative approaches, a Democratic Innovation Award will be granted to members, based on criteria around inclusivity, diversity and multi-level collaboration.

To establish not only stable working relationships between different stakeholders, online and offline working sessions will allow for deeper sense-making around democratic innovation as it evolves. The work sessions will enable learning around new approaches, joint evaluation of policy recommendations, pathways of evaluating outcomes of democratic exchange processes and develop a deeper understanding of working cultures and norms to facilitate collaboration on equal terms.

During the Nets4Dem project period (til June, 2026), Nets4Dem is already piloting different formats that can establish practice around these working sessions. Formats such as the Policy Dialogues, workshop sessions with external policy makers, researchers and practitioners, Policy retretes and High-Level debates, are some of the formats being prototyped during the project grant phase. These will be evaluated, improved and transferred into the institutional practice of Nets4Dem.