The project implemented 4 transnational pilot actions in 12 local contexts; using four methodological approaches: Top-Down Participatory, Bottom-Up Participatory, Top-Down Deliberative, and Bottom-Up Deliberative.

Top-Down Participatory: Pilots initiated by public authorities focused on including vulnerable groups in consultations and collaborative activities, aiming to shape local policies and services together with the target populations.

Bottom-Up Participatory: Pilots led by third-sector organizations encouraged vulnerable communities to actively contribute in identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and influencing decisions from the grassroots level.

Top-Down Deliberative: Pilots structured by public institutions promoted dialogue and consensus-building among citizens and vulnerable groups, supporting informed and transparent decision-making processes.

Bottom-Up Deliberative: Pilots emerging from community organizations fostered reflective discussions among vulnerable groups, enabling them to influence public authorities through self-organized deliberative processes.

The pilots engaged a wide range of vulnerable groups, including refugees and asylum seekers, migrants, women (particularly mothers), family units on the receiving end of income support measures, and homeless people. They promoted active civic participation and fostered inclusive policymaking.

Co-development and co-piloting were key principles throughout the project. Project partners, local authorities, NGOs, and community representatives collaborated closely during all phases:

Preparation Phase: Joint analysis of contexts, engagement of stakeholders and target groups, and shared planning of participatory and deliberative activities.

Implementation Phase: Organization of assemblies, focus groups, workshops, and interviews, fostering dialogue between vulnerable groups and institutions.

Follow-Up Phase: Joint evaluation of pilot outcomes, development of recommendations, and dissemination through public events, media, and advocacy actions.

In addition, regular project meetings throughout all phases served as important moments for cross-learning and exchange between partners. These meetings allowed continuous evaluation and reflection across the four methodological approaches, promoting mutual learning and strengthening the quality of pilot activities.

Through these combined efforts, the project demonstrated innovative ways to strengthen the civic engagement of vulnerable groups and enhance participatory governance practices at local and regional levels.

Project Partners and Associated Partners are cooperating in jointly designing, implementing and evaluating pilot actions.

Four practice-oriented tools will be developed to enhance the civic engagement of vulnerable groups, drawing from the experiences of the 12 pilot actions. These tools will focus on facilitating co-planning between public authorities and third-sector organizations to ensure that marginalized communities, including refugees and migrants, are actively included in decision-making. The tools will offer inclusive participation platforms to overcome barriers like language, provide capacity-building to improve civic literacy, establish collaborative frameworks for joint policy-making, and create feedback mechanisms to ensure ongoing responsiveness and adaptation of initiatives. Together, these tools will empower vulnerable groups, strengthen their involvement in governance, and foster more inclusive and sustainable civic engagement.

A transnational strategy will be realized for implementing participatory governance and for developing a transnational Action Plan, which will include specific tasks to be taken up by public an private organisations.