Build and nurture your community

This phase is about building a community of people who are curious about your project, are affected by the selected issue, and are keen to be involved in a more active way, collaborating towards a solution. If in the first step you have identified an issue that citizens really care about, it will be easier to build your community. Citizens will be motivated to participate in the process if there is an alignment with the critical issues they have experienced.

Be aware that this is different from recruiting subjects for your study, which entails a more passive role from citizens.

Also, keep in mind that not all the citizens are the same, and there might be big differences in terms of the amount of time and commitment they want to dedicate to the project. Embrace this variety and plan accordingly. Your main goal is to sustain their engagement over time and ensure that their goals are met throughout the process.