Citizen participation is the process of involving residents and other stakeholders in decision-making about spatial projects, policy and plans. It's about actively listening to and incorporating citizens' knowledge, experiences and wishes.
Effective citizen participation leads to better plans with more support. When residents are involved from the start, there is more understanding of decisions and potential problems are identified early.
There are different forms of citizen participation: from informing and consulting to co-producing and co-deciding. The choice of a particular form depends on the project, the phase it's in and the desired level of influence.
Modern technologies like MapTalk make citizen participation more accessible and effective. By using online tools, more people can participate and input can be collected and analyzed in a structured way.
