At the highest level of the participation spectrum, citizens are given real authority over a clearly defined decision. The role of public authorities changes: they create the conditions, set the boundaries and commit to supporting what citizens decide.
What's the main purpose?
To give citizens real decision-making power.
What can you do?
Empowerment allows citizens to decide how a budget is spent, gives communities control over a local project, or takes the form of a citizens’ vote, binding decision-making process, or citizen-led body with real decision-making power. It also means supporting communities to set their own priorities and take ownership of solutions. This only works when the scope is clear: citizens need to know what they can decide on, what the limits are, and what support is available to them.
Why it matters?
Empowerment builds strong ownership and trust, because citizens see that their role is real, not symbolic — their decisions carry actual consequences. Done well, it helps communities take responsibility, strengthens democratic participation, and shows that public authorities are willing to share power in a clear and accountable way.
Your promise to citizens:
“You decide, and we will support the outcome.”
Lessons from the field
In this video, Fred (Groningen) explains the empowerment initiative ‘Sterk Hoogkerk’, the goals behind it, and the challenges and lessons learned along the way.
Sterk Hoogkerk (Strong Hoogkerk) - City of Groningen
Discover how Hoogkerk's residents gained control over a €300,000 participatory budget to shape their own neighbourhood.
Climate Villages - Municipality of Skive
Discover how Skive's Climate Villages are turning local communities into testing grounds for citizen-driven climate action.