1. Correia, Diogo, José Eduardo Feio, João Marques, and Leonor Teixeira. “Participatory methodology guidelines to promote citizens participation in decision‑making: Evidence based on a Portuguese case study.” Sustainability, vol. 135, 2023. Link to article. Accessed 26 June 2026

The paper presents a systematic set of guidelines designed to enhance citizen participation in municipal decision‑making, using a Portuguese case study as a proof‑of‑concept. It breaks the participatory process into five core stages—pre‑planning, stakeholder mapping, engagement design, implementation, and evaluation—offering concrete tools, criteria, and indicators for each phase. By applying these guidelines in the case study, the authors demonstrate that a structured, evidence‑based approach leads to more inclusive, transparent, and policy‑responsive outcomes.

2. “Local Citizens’ Assemblies” Energy Cities, 2024, Link to factsheets. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

Published by Energy Cities, this factsheet explores citizens' assemblies as a participatory democracy tool, tracing their roots to the 1970s and highlighting their growing use in addressing climate and public policy issues at city, regional, and national levels. Drawing on case studies from seven European cities and territories — Bologna, Bordeaux, Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Brussels, Grenoble, Gipuzkoa, and Stuttgart — it examines how these assemblies work, what makes them effective, and the practical challenges (political backing, public visibility, sustained participation) that organizers face, offering lessons from Energy Cities' member network on running them successfully.