DEMOCRACY R&D
9TH ANNUAL MEETING 2027
DELIBERATION FOR DEMOCRATIC FUTURES
Bogotá, Colombia
June 2 - 3 2027
DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
BIGGER POSIBILITIES.
What topics are
we looking for?
Proposals from Democracy R&D members should connect real-world experience with the challenges and opportunities facing deliberative democracy. What has worked matters, but so does what hasnʼt, what remains uncertain, and what others could learn from your experience
THEMATIC AREAS
01
Democratic design & institutional innovation
How are deliberative processes designed, embedded and sustained in public decision-making systems?
Explore the institutional arrangements, design choices, and enabling conditions that shape deliberative democracy. Topics may include:
- Institutionalisation.
- The integration of recommendations into decision-making.
- Bottom-up and top-down approaches.
- Public policy and legal frameworks.
- Sortition design and inclusion
- Hybrid models combining deliberation with participatory budgeting.
- Funding models and impact evaluation.
02
Deliberation for complex public challenges
What can deliberation contribute to addressing complex public problems and difficult collective choices?
Explores the role of citizensʼ assemblies and other deliberative approaches in shaping collective decisions that have a direct impact to people's lives. Proposals may explore areas such as:
- Climate and energy.
- Health and care.
- Peace and conflict.
- Migration.
- Inequality and justice.
- Security.
- Arts and culture.
- Children and youth.
- Indigenous peoples and territorial governance.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive; we welcome proposals addressing deliberation in and around other emerging, challenging public issues.
03
Technology, AI & the future of deliberation
How are deliberative processes designed, embedded and sustained in public decision-making systems?
This theme explores how technological developments are reshaping the practice, scale, accessibility, and governance of deliberative democracy. Topics may include:
- AI for facilitation.
- Synthesis and translation
- Digital and hybrid platforms
- Deliberation at scale
- Citizensʼ assemblies on AI and data
- Hybrid models combining deliberation with participatory budgeting.
- Funding models and impact evaluation.
The digital divide and data ethics.
04
Public engagement & political influence
How can deliberative processes build public trust, shape democratic debate, and influence political decision-making?
Topics may include:
- Public trust and democratic legitimacy
- Disinformation and polarization.
- Communicating deliberative outcomes.
- Media engagement.
- Advocacy.
- Political alliances.
05
Deliberation across political & regional contexts
How are deliberative processes designed, embedded and sustained in public decision-making systems?
Explore the institutional arrangements, design choices, and enabling conditions that shape deliberative democracy. Topics may include:
- Diverse democratic traditions.
- political transitions
- Institutional constraints
- Civic space.
- Conditions that shape the adoption and instititutionalization of sortition and deliberative processes.
WHO CAN APPLY?
meet collaborators from around the world, share real-world experiences, and turn shared learning into collective action.
Proposals co-developed by two or more members are especially encouraged and valued, as they foster dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration across the deliberative democracy community, both before and during the conference.
Not a member yet?
Join the Democracy R&D network to become eligible. For further information, email team@democracyrd.org
Learn more about membership here!
WHAT KINDS OF WORKSHOPS
CAN YOU PROPOSE?
We are open to different ways of bringing experiences, questions and practices into the conference. The following are examples of formats that could help participants move between discussion, practice, experimentation and collaboration:
Experimentation labs
Indicative duration: 90 minutes · Around 15- 25 participants
Hands-on sessions where participants can test a method, explore a tool, work through a challenge, compare experiences or co-design something with others. These are not intended as traditional presentations; participants should have an active role in the session.
Conversation & dialogues
Tentative duration: up to 1 hour. 30 - 60 participants
Discussion-based sessions for exchanging perspectives, sharing experiences, and reflecting on a common question or challenge. The focus is on conversation and collective learning rather than hands-on activities or developing practical outputs. These sessions create space to explore different viewpoints, learn from experiences across contexts, and identify shared questions.
Deep-Dive Workshops
Tentative duration: up to 3 hours · 15-25 participants
Longer working sessions for complex questions that benefit from more time for analysis, experimentation, or collaborative development. These could focus on refining a methodology, addressing a shared challenge, or developing a more substantial proposal or resource.
Practice exhibitions & regional showcases
Open throughout a 2–3-hour block, with guided rounds of 15 minutes. Open attendance; around 5–10 people per stand at a time
Spaces to share democratic practices through maps, photographs, videos, tools, process materials, stories, artistic interventions or other forms of documentation. Stands remain accessible throughout the conference, allowing participants to explore practices freely, connect with organizations, and exchange experiences.
To Keep in mind
when you apply
You donʼt need a fully designed workshop yet; the details will be developed later with selected contributors. For now, keep your proposal concise and include:
Workshop idea: a title and a short summary of the topic or question you want to explore.
Purpose: choose the tag that best describes your workshopʼs main goal.
• Share Insights: evidence, research, and lessons learned.
• Build Capabilities: methods, tools, and practical skills.
• Explore Solutions: challenges, experimentation, and collaborative development.
• Connect & Exchange: peer learning across contexts.
• Question & Debate: critical reflection, tensions, and open questions.
Methodology: the type of workshop and how participants will engage. Review the section above
Participant level: indicate the level of experience expected from the participants.
• Open to All: no prior knowledge needed.
• Some Experience Helpful: some familiarity with the topic or practice.
• Advanced / Specialist: for participants with substantial experience or specialized knowledge.
Relevance: why the topic matters to the deliberative democracy community and what others could learn from your experience.
Proposers: who is submitting the proposal and which organizations are involved.
SUBMIT A PROPOSALWHAT KINDS OF WORKSHOPS
CAN YOU PROPOSE?
You donʼt need a fully designed workshop yet; the details will be developed later with selected contributors. For now, keep your proposal concise and include:
The criteria are
• Practical and methodological value: the relevance of the approaches, tools, and experiences shared.
• Potential for collective learning: opportunities to exchange knowledge, reflect critically, and generate new insights.
• Thematic relevance: the contribution to advancing deliberative democracy and exploring democratic futures.
• Diversity of contexts and perspectives: representation across regions, institutional settings, and lived experiences.
• Collaboration: proposals co-developed by two or more members or member organizations.
Selected contributors will receive more information about the program and their participation.
