Networks for Democracy (Nets4Dem)
Nets4Dem is a pan-European network dedicated to strengthening democracy through enhanced collaboration among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers in the fields of democratic innovation, civic deliberation, participation, and citizenship education.
Why It Matters
Recognizing challenges such as citizen dissatisfaction with democratic institutions, polarization, and technological disruptions to civic discourse, Nets4Dem addresses these issues by facilitating meaningful connections, sharing knowledge and best practices, and creating innovative partnerships for collaboration. By weaving together existing networks and actors, Nets4Dem builds a sustainable democratic infrastructure that promotes inclusive societies and empowers citizens across Europe.
Objectives
The goals of the Nets4Dem project are:
- Create, foster, and sustain a strong network: Establish and develop a European network of policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to benefit from each other's knowledge, practices, and networks, collaboratively addressing key questions in the democracy field.
- Systematize and connect fragmented knowledge: Collect, organize, and make accessible existing knowledge on democratic innovation and governance research to better inform democratic processes and strengthen rule of law.
- Establish coordinated European approaches: Promote systematic accessibility of democratic research and innovation to EU policymakers and stakeholders by establishing coordinated pathways and fostering peer learning and training.
- Raise the ambition of policymaking: Develop policy recommendations to strengthen and reimagine democracy through innovation and experimentation at all levels of governance, drawing on insights from the Conference on the Future of Europe and beyond.
- Build capacity for inclusive democratic practices: Design and implement programs such as the Democracy Accelerator, Democracy Labs, and the Rising Star Mentorship Program to equip policymakers, practitioners, and advocates with the tools, resources, and skills they need to lead participatory processes and strengthen democratic systems.
How It Works
The project will be implemented through complementary and interconnected actions that would be lead in a coordinated way by the members of the network:
- Establishment of the Network of Networks for Democracy: Creation of a multi-layered, pan-European network that connects practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and existing networks to foster collaboration, shared learning, and collective action.
- Development of the Digital Governance Platform (Decidim): Implementation of an open-source, participatory platform that enables network members to engage in governance discussions, decision-making processes, and collaborative initiatives.
- Democratic Knowledge Database: A comprehensive, open-access repository featuring systematized knowledge on democratic innovation and governance research, derived from over 400 EU-funded projects.
- Capacity-Building Programs: Initiatives such as the Democracy Accelerator, Democracy Labs, and the Rising Star Mentorship Program that provide training, mentorship, and resources to policymakers, practitioners, and advocates.
- Policy Recommendations and Impact: Development of a comprehensive set of policy recommendations for institutionalizing democratic innovations, aimed at strengthening and renewing democracy at all levels of governance.
- Dissemination and Outreach Activities: Organization of networking events, policy dialogues, retreats, workshops, and the Democratic Innovation Award Ceremony to promote democratic innovation, share best practices, and engage a wide range of stakeholders.
Get Involved
The network is open for new members. If you feel appeal, you can join our community of policymakers, researchers and practitioners working to revive and innovate democracy in Europe here.