Discover, Dream, Design and Deliver: Data-based initiatives for citizen engagement

forthcoming

Global challenges like conflicts, democratic erosion, polarization and disinformation threaten trust in institutions and awareness of democratic values. Despite the EU’s efforts, only 45% of citizens trust the EU, and 52% feel informed about EU initiatives, as disparities in digital literacy and participation persist, and marginalized communities, especially rural and peri-urban, face data exclusion. While brain drain exacerbates the complex challenges of rural areas, 4Data Democracy aims at leveraging the power of data and digital tools for: nurturing citizens’ active engagement and participation; connecting emigrants to their native rural areas; helping circulate knowledge; promoting data awareness and use for informed expression and decision-making; fostering equality for all and providing tools to monitor and improve quality of life and gender balance in rural areas. But despite the huge potential of digital tools and data democracy initiatives to ensure open data, civic tech, and participatory governance, there is a widespread urgency of increasing awareness regarding: what data is; the ways of making sense out of it; which official and trustworthy sources exist; how to use data-based information and knowledge for a wide range of purposes, including that of advocating and demanding for change; spreading awareness regarding the Values and Rights of the European Union and engaging citizens in combating disinformation. Participants will be engaged across the 4 Ds of the Appreciative Inquiry methodology: Discover, Dream, Design and Deliver, leveraging resources, strengths and opportunities rather than problems, to cultivate a proactive attitude and a sense of civic engagement. The main project results, to be developed during online, hybrid and live events, will be: Training materials on EU, Data and Democracy; ‘Asking the Right(s) Questions’, a manual to fill in data gaps; Policy recommendations showcasing tangible prototypes and initiatives.