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DELIBERATIVE FACILITATION TRAINING

Equipping the next generation of deliberative facilitators, in partnership with

Black and white text graphic reading 'WE DO DEMOCRACY' in uppercase letters.

Quality deliberation depends on quality facilitation. We offer facilitators and practitioners the space, tools, and connections to develop the skills and shared standards the field needs.

For participants working in participation, community organizing, or stakeholder involvement who are new to deliberative democracy and want to enter the field.
See our Citizens’ Assembly Schools
For facilitators with basic deliberative knowledge and some experience in assembly teams as co-facilitators, table moderators, or project team members.
Coming soon
For experienced professional facilitators with deep knowledge of citizens’ assemblies, ready to take the overall responsibility for designing and leading a deliberative process.
Apply now

Picture the path to becoming a lead deliberative facilitator as a ladder. This program is composed of three levels. We offer training at every step – according to your experience.

ENROLL

THE COMPETENCE MODEL

The curriculum is structured around the six competence domains of the Competence Model for Lead Deliberative Facilitators. It sets out what we believe a lead facilitator needs to know and be able to do.

00

Foundations

Belief in the capabilities of ordinary people.

01

Macro Process Design

Design a process that achieves real impact. Navigate governance. Protect integrity. Know when conditions aren’t right.

02

Micro Process Design

Turn a remit into a run sheet. Build the line of inquiry. Choose the right voting procedure.

03

Process Facilitation

Host strangers through difficult conversations. Push beyond easy answers. Handle conflict. Build trust.

04

Project Leadership in Deliberative Contexts

Champion the process with a client. Manage power dynamics. Build a team.

05

Knowledge Curation, Expert Input & Stakeholders

Design a learning experience for people with different backgrounds. Curate balanced information. Help members think critically.

06

Communication & Presentation

Translate complexity for members, commissioners, experts, and the public — all at once.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Deliberative Facilitator Masterclass

Level 3

Lead Facilitator Masterclass

Level 3

DESCRIPTION

September 14-16

Demokrati Garage, Copenhagen

This edition is built for people who have substantial general facilitation training or have worked inside deliberative project teams and are comfortable in a room with people. It is not an introduction. It is a step-change for practitioners ready to take responsibility for the integrity of a full deliberative process.

If you are already leading processes, this is a place to sharpen judgment against peers who do the same work, pressure-test your own practice against a shared reference, and contribute to defining the craft as it institutionalizes across Europe. The cohort is small by design.

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LEARNING FLOW

You cannot become a lead facilitator in a single weekend. The program is built as a four-phase journey across September, mixing intensive in-person practice with peer support and real-world application.

Online onboarding — September 1, 16:00–17:30 CEST.

Introduction to the programme, the team, and the other participants. We will set the learning goals and provide the prep materials.

Homework

Reading, Listening, Reflecting, Case prep

Three-day masterclass in Copenhagen — September 14–16.

Hands-on labs covering macro and micro design, knowledge curation, group dynamics, leading the team, voting and editor groups, and the practice of "spotting" a lead facilitator in the room.

Online group follow-up — September 28, 16:00–17:30 CEST.

Reflect on application, surface obstacles, deepen the cohort.

LEARNING GOALS

30% listening, 50% doing, 20% reflecting

After participating in the training, you will:

Be able to design a citizen's assembly from start to finish
Have a thorough understanding of the role and required skills
Be able to design a team, a program, and a run-sheet
Have a rich toolkit to use during deliberation
Understand the principles of and be ready to design a learning journey for assembly members
Have practiced facilitation skills like managing dysfunctions, mediation, leading large-scale dialogue, deliberation, and voting
Receive feedback from an international facilitator trainer team to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses
Be part of an international community of practice for deliberative facilitators

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- Purpose, learning principles and expectations
- Deliberative facilitation – positioning it within the field
- Design and facilitation starting points
- The lead facilitator role - and me
- Design dimensions and methodology
- Macro-design – stages and activities
- Laboratory 1: How to build a macro design from the remit and work with the commissioning authority.
- Check-in and focus
- Well-designed learning and curriculum– examples and guiding principles
- Micro-design – basic design, guidelines and knowledge curation
- Laboratory 2: Moving from macro- to micro-design
- Gallery: Micro-design elements
- Laboratory 3: Micro-design and team roles
- How to spot a lead facilitator in the room & mindset
- Tour of Demokrati Garage and dinner
- Check-in and reflections
- Leading dialogue, debate and deliberation - practice
- Mediation and handling dysfunctions
- Group dynamics and large-scale - practice
- Leading the team – table facilitators/project team
- You are the most important instrument - practice
- Decisionmaking and finalisation
- ME time – time to digest and get practical
- Wrap-up and info on post-programme activities

PROGRAM

LEAD INSTRUCTORS

DENMARK

GERMANY

GUEST SPEAKER

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Yves Dejaeghere

Executive director, FIDE – europe

BELGIUM

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Jacob Birkenhäger

Zakia Elvang

Advisor

eXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WE DO DEMOCRACY

Deadline: 25 June

HOW TO APPLY

Seats are limited, and we want to make sure each participant is at the right rung of the ladder. To apply, fill out a short form sharing your facilitation background, your deliberative experience, and which competence domains you most want to develop. We review applications on a rolling basis.

20% off the second seat when you sign up with a colleague from the same organization or project

Standard seat — €2,000

For nonprofits, small organizations, practitioners in countries where deliberative processes are still emerging, and unemployed or low-income individuals. Up to one-third of seats in each edition are reserved at this rate.

Reduced seat — €1,000

All prices are VAT excl.

APPLY NOW

Not the right level — or not the right time? Future editions will cover lower rungs of the ladder. Submit your interest at europe@fidemocracy.org