The report makes the case for citizens’ assemblies launching recommendations from the Citizens’ Forum on Housing and public opinion polling that backs the use of assemblies, as well as greater levels of cross-border cooperation.

The Civic Initiative was launched in 2023 during the 25^th anniversary year of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, in recognition of the absence of a Civic Forum. Over the course of 18 months the collaborative project, which involves a wide range of civic society organisations and individuals, held;

• 38 community-based workshops and public forums. Over 500 people took part with 61% of those who took part stating that they had not taking part in a similar event before. Participants identified Healthcare, Education, and Housing, as the three most pressing issues impacting their communities
• A cross-border public survey on Health, Education and Housing
• A Citizens’ Forum on Housing that included 84 members of the general public recruited via a postal lottery system. The Citizens’ Forum on Housing ratified 38 policy recommendations by a consensus vote of 80%+ and created a shared vision for housing
• Public opinion polling carried out by LucidTalk: 1.051 full responses recorded and analysed to be robust and representative – 69% support for the use of citizens’ assemblies or citizens’ forums by the Northern Ireland Assembly. Support for greater levels of cross-border cooperation in Infrastructure (71%), Health (67%), and Economic Development (60%)

Emma DeSouza, Civic Initiative Project Manager and Co-Facilitator says, “The objective of the Civic Initiative has been to test the appetite for greater levels of citizen engagement on policy issues, and to demonstrate the empowering nature of giving people a voice on issues directly impacting their lives. The results have exceeded our expectations.

The level of engagement at all stages of the civic initiative project suggests that communities want greater levels of political participation. There are considerable benefits to using the structure of a Citizens’ Forum or Assembly structure; 54% of those who participated in the Citizens’ Forum on Housing said they felt more inclined to engage in politics as a result and the breadth of recommendations and level of consensus from the Forum shows how effective assemblies can be in consensus-building and gaining public-buy-in for tough decisions.”

Adding that, “Seeing firsthand the enormous untapped potential in providing a forum for members of the public to examine complex policy issues, has been an incredible privilege.”

Housing was selected as a topic for an assembly structure following the 38 community-based workshops actioned by the Civic Initiative in which communities identified housing a key issue. Participants in the Citizens Forum on Housing were recruited via a postal lottery actioned by UK-based NGO Sortition Foundation on behalf of the Civic Initiative. Members were selected to be generally representative of Northern Ireland. Meeting over the course of three days, Forum members heard evidence and testimony from 18 expert speakers. None of the citizens taking part had participated in a similar forum or assembly structure before.

Les Allamby, independent Chair of the Civic Initiative Oversight Committee said, “The Citizens’ Forum on Housing involved a random selection of people coming together to look at a critical issue that affects all of us.

The initiative shows how engaged people are and the valuable contribution they can make. Over a third of the participants had not voted in the last election yet they gave up three days to examine housing policy issues. There is a significant disconnection between people and politics. Citizens Assemblies can complement the work of politicians and build an understanding between people and politicians in a constructive way. The Lucid Talk poll results back that up.

Adding that, “It was also recognised in the recommendation to implement Citizens Assemblies in New Decade, New Approach. The Civic Initiative is proof of concept as to why Citizens Assemblies are needed and can work.”

Avila Kilmurray, International Fund for Ireland Board Member added; “ This project is supported thorough the IFI’s Communities in Partnership Programme, which has a real focus on embedding relationships and delivering work that will benefit communities. It is encouraging to see how this has become a valuable platform to discuss important issues. It has enabled participants to have a voice, overcome challenges, form local leadership and help create a more equal society for all.” 

Video is available here