Problem addressed

A lack of opportunities for citizens to influence policy that they feel is directly relevant to them may contribute to disengagement in civic and democratic processes. In Spain, the two-party dominated political system unravelled in the 2015 general election, indicating voter demands for more political choice and accountability. Alternative means of civic and democratic participation are not widespread in many European countries, however.

Innovative solution

The Decide Madrid platform was set up in 2015 to facilitate direct individual online citizen participation in the city’s public affairs. The Madrid City Council developed e-participation software and a platform to foster direct democracy at the local level. This dedicated software, called CONSUL, supports a participation website that allows citizens to propose measures and projects through an online, simple and user-friendly tool accessed at home, or available at one of Madrid’s 26 Citizen Service Offices.

Each registered user can submit proposals for new local laws, projects, and consultations. They can decide on municipal regulations and participate in open debates to exchange opinions with other citizens, and vote on submitted proposals. Proposals voted for by at least 1% of the city's registered population aged 16 and above are then discussed, amended, voted on, and eventually transferred to the City Council for examination within 30 days of receipt. The government earmarks EUR 100 million for citizens’ proposals, divided into EUR 70 million for district projects and EUR 30 million for city-wide projects.

This open-source civic technology has led to measures enhancing the sustainability and regeneration of urban spaces, optimising public transport efficiency, and improving the use of cultural spaces, among others. Measures have ranged from founding a cultural film centre, to a citizen’s consultation on the renovation works of Gran Via and Plaza de España in 2017. Other measures undertaken as a result of platform initiatives include the installation of solar panels in public buildings, a consultation on the redevelopment of 11 squares in different districts of Madrid, a proposal to establish a single transport ticket to move around the city, and the 100% Madrid Sostenible project, which aims to improve the energy efficiency of the city and boost the sustainability of its transport system.

Key results and benefits

Out of Madrid’s 2.7 million citizens over the age of 16 years, more than 400 000 are registered on the platform and can voice their opinions on it directly. Since the start of the project, there have been more than EUR 360 million worth of collaborative citizens’ proposals made on the platform.

Potential for mainstreaming

Decide Madrid has strong potential to be mainstreamed and transferred to another context. The platform’s dedicated software was developed with an open-source license, allowing for its replication. Decide Madrid’s software is now being used in more than 30 countries, by over 100 institutions, reaching 90 million citizens all over the world. Decide Madrid has its own workgroup, known as the Institutional Extension Service, that provides technical, organisational and legal advice to other local governments interested in adopting the project. Moreover, the collaborative approach used to refine the Consul open-source software has allowed users from different municipalities to freely add features and functionalities and suggest improvements, supporting its sustainability.

Decide Madrid also engages in best practice exchanges and raises awareness about its software and its availability. Its annual conference aims to promote its approach at the international level, gathering around 350 people from over 30 countries.

The initiative has been recognised as an innovative citizens’ participation tool supported by organisations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union and Nesta. In 2018, the project was awarded the UN Public Service Award (UNPSA) under the category ‘Making institutions inclusive and ensuring participation in decision-making’.