FAQ

Unlike traditional debates (which focus on winning an argument) or standard consultations (which often gather quick, unmoderated feedback), public deliberation is a process where a representative group of citizens:

• Learns about a topic using balanced, expert evidence.

• Dialogues respectfully across different viewpoints.

• Weighs trade-offs and collectively formulates informed, consensus-driven recommendations for policymakers.

A Citizen Assembly is a structured process where a randomly selected, demographically representative group of citizens comes together to learn about, deliberate on, and make recommendations regarding important public issues. Participants engage with experts and diverse viewpoints before collectively forming informed recommendations. It is designed to strengthen decision-making by ensuring inclusive, evidence-based public deliberation.

We prioritize demographic representation (gender, age, socio-economic background, geographic diversity), provide multilingual facilitation, use accessible learning materials, and ensure expert testimony represents multiple balanced viewpoints. Neutral facilitators guide conversations so that all voices—especially marginalized ones—are heard equally.

Public deliberation supports public agencies and local authorities by providing clear, nuanced, and community-tested citizen perspectives. It bridges the gap between policymakers and civil society, increasing public trust, improving policy design, and aiding smoother implementation of complex decisions.

The CoP initiated by CEE Samvad is a collaborative network of practitioners, researchers, civil society organizations, urban planners, facilitators, and policymakers in India who are passionate about public deliberation. It serves as a space to share learnings, develop tools, document case studies, and advance deliberative practices in the region.

There are several ways to engage:

• • As a Practitioner/Researcher: Join our Community of Practice to share knowledge and co-design frameworks.

  • As a Government Agency / Local Body: Partner with us to host a deliberative process or Citizen Assembly on a policy challenge.

  • As a Citizen / Facilitator: Volunteer or train as a deliberation facilitator for upcoming local assemblies.

  • Visit our Get Involved page to sign up or reach out to us directly.