On December 28, 2024, a local event was successfully held in Skopje, focusing on the transformative potential of e-participation and e-democracy. Organized as part of the TUNE network initiative, this event aimed to explore innovative digital tools for civic engagement and highlight their application within local and European contexts.
TUNE Network represents a network of 18 partner organizations from 16 European countries, coordinated by United Societies of Balkans, who share the values of empowering youth to be active citizens in democratic life, promotion of voluntarism and social inclusion with support of Erasmus+ programme and European Solidarity Corps.
The event gathered 16 participants, including youth leaders, NGO representatives and ICT professionals. The primary goal was to promote the integration of digital tools for inclusive governance and citizen participation in decision-making processes.
Sessions and Activities
1. Introduction to E-Democracy
The day began with a presentation on e-democracy, led by a representative from the TUNE network. The speaker outlined the importance of leveraging ICT to enhance transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in governance. Special emphasis was placed on tools like the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) and Finland’s Off-Road Traffic Act Experiment as examples of successful e-participation mechanisms.
2. Workshop: Design Thinking for E-Participation, Empathy Mapping and SWOT analyses
Participants engaged in an interactive workshop applying the design thinking methodology. The session followed the four-stage model—Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver—to ideate solutions for improving digital civic engagement in Skopje. Teams worked on prototypes for local e-participation platforms tailored to the needs of marginalized communities. Later on the same groups created empathy maps for diverse citizen groups, identifying their needs, concerns, and motivations related to digital participation.
3. ICT Tools Showcase
The event featured a live demonstration of popular ICT tools relevant to e-advocacy and e-participation. Tools such as Miro, Slack, and Jira were showcased to demonstrate their applications in brainstorming, communication, and data visualization for campaigns. Participants also explored the creation of petitions using platforms like Change.org and YouMove Europe.
4. Open Discussion: Overcoming Challenges in Digital Inclusion
An open discussion addressed critical challenges in e-participation, including the digital divide, misinformation, and data security. Solutions discussed ranged from community-led digital literacy programs to partnerships with tech companies for secure platforms.
The local event in Skopje marked a significant step forward in promoting e-democracy and inclusive governance through the TUNE network. By bridging technology and civic engagement, the event empowered participants to drive meaningful change in their communities, setting a strong foundation for future initiatives.
