35 participants completed a comprehensive training on deliberative democracy, where they gained knowledge and practical skills to effectively support public authorities in implementing Citizens’ Assemblies, as well as in facilitating and coordinating the process. The group included experts in civic participation, facilitators, and representatives of civil society organisations.

The training course “Deliberative Democracy and Citizens’ Assemblies: Innovations for Civic Participation”, designed for national experts, aimed to strengthen participants’ capacities to apply deliberative democracy tools—specifically Citizens’ Assemblies—to ensure participatory decision-making at all levels.

Over the course of three training modules, participants learned about:

• fundamentals of deliberative democracy and citizens’ assemblies;
• international standards and guidance from the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities;
• design, organisation, and facilitation of a Citizens’ Assembly: key aspects and challenges;
• follow-up and cooperation with authorities to implement the results of Assemblies;
• the experience from Council of Europe member states as well as Zviahel and Slavutych municipalities.

In addition, through practical group work, participants learned to:

• formulate a relevant topic for a Citizens’ Assembly;
• define selection criteria for Assembly members;
• identify the list of experts to be involved in the process;
• determine ways to engage with public authorities to support the follow-up and implementation of recommendations developed during the Assemblies.

In 2024 the Council of Europe provided comprehensive support to two Ukrainian communities — Zviahel and Slavutych — in implementing the country’s first Citizens’ Assemblies, marking a key milestone in the development of deliberative democracy in Ukraine.

In 2025–2026, expert and organisational support will be provided for the implementation of three Citizens’ Assemblies. Training participants who attended all modules and passed the tests will be eligible to apply for selection as experts, coordinators or facilitators during the implementation of these Assemblies, with the support of the Council of Europe project.

The training was organised within the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction”  for 2023-2026 and the project “Strengthening multilevel governance and local democracy to support Ukraine’s recovery”, implemented by the Council of Europe Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.