After more than two years of intense development, TrygFonden, Analyse & Tal and We Do Democracy are launching a new measurement tool that focuses on the impact of our participation in democracy. The measurement tool is designed to help us all learn more about the impact of participation in democracy and has been developed based on a joint Nordic research group, a deliberative citizen panel of Danes across the country and a stakeholder group of 35 democracy professionals from a wide range of organizations,
There has long been a lack of valid knowledge about which forms of participation help push our democracy in a positive direction. What is it that we as a society need to do more of – or less of – to maintain a robust democracy?
The Democratic Impact model will contribute to creating knowledge about what we need to do to strengthen our democracy – which initiatives and forms of participation that work and create value. What creates a greater desire to be an active citizen? What strengthens the cohesion of our local and national communities? And what creates trust? Both to each other and to the system? With Democratic Impact, we as a society will learn more about how we can reverse a negative development and increase the robustness of Danish democracy.
Democratic Impact is a strategy and analysis tool that can be used to plan and measure the effects, changes, outcomes and conditions that unfold in relation to a participatory method, process or format.
The project is still in development, and preliminary findings are a starting point for further conversation about how we develop democratic participation in our society. If you want to hear more about the development work and the opportunity to participate, write to Simone Klint, Senior Consultant at We Do Democracy and Project Manager at Democratic Impact: simone@wedodemocracy.dk.
The model will be tested with a wide range of organizations in 2026, after which the tool will be made available to everyone.
You can read more about the project here: https://www.wedodemocracy.dk/program/demokratisk-impact/