CVEK

Civic participation in public affairs, policymaking, and institutional reform is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Crucially, this requires ensuring that all segments of the population have an equal voice in decision-making. CVEK has long focused on the participation of vulnerable groups, viewing it as a vital driver of social cohesion. As part of ongoing efforts to help local authorities design more inclusive participatory processes, CVEK is developing a dedicated training methodology for municipal staff. Prior to drafting the manual, we conducted a preliminary exploratory study examining local government attitudes, practices, and real-world experiences in engaging minority and vulnerable communities.

This brief outlines key findings from the study—exploring how municipalities perceive participation, its perceived benefits and challenges, the actual opportunities available to vulnerable groups to shape decision-making, and the emerging needs in the field.

This research brief was produced under the project “A Voice for All: A Training Module for Municipalities to Foster the Participation of Vulnerable Groups,” co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.