Long-term solutions for improved public consultations

About this project

<p>The goal of the project: to increase the demand for meaningful, inclusive public consultations in public administration of Latvia (both at the state and municipal level) within the timeframe of two years.</p> <p>The project will be implemented by the Centre for public policy PROVIDUS - a Latvia-based think-tank which has 18 years of experience in organising public engagement activities. In 3 of the 12 project activities, PROVIDUS will partner with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Affairs to improve opportunities for public involvement at the municipal level.</p> <p>The project will consist of the following main activities:<br> 1) Public opinion survey and two studies on participation opportunities (both good and bad examples);<br> 2) Seminars and master classes for local governments, as well as for national level public administration employees on modern face-to-face and digital engagement methods;<br> 3) Informative materials (educational cartoons, posters), which will educate both decision-makers and the broader public about the effective and ineffective methods of organising consultations with the public;<br> 4) International high-level conference on successful examples of public engagement;<br> 5) A deliberative event on a topical political topic, where Latvians (including representatives of vulnerable groups) would be randomly selected to discuss problems and offer solutions to decision-makers.</p> <p>The project will lay a solid foundation for increasing the awareness of local and national decision-makers about the importance of organising quality consultations. The project will also strengthen and improve the image of civil society organisations as constructive partners for state and local governmental institutions.</p>

Project partners

• Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia Project partner· Latvia