Citizen Led Impact: Empowering Communities
15 Years of CLI: Empowering Communities Across 12 Countries – From Lebanon to the UK, Syria to Uganda, Australia to Haiti, and beyond.
Citizen Led Impact Certification
On 15th October 2024, the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), in partnership with Impera Analytics, hosted the first-ever Citizen Led Impact (CLI) training for council officers in Northern Ireland. Held at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, this two-day training brought together delegates from councils across Northern Ireland, aiming to transform their approach to community engagement.
Citizen Led Impact is a model that places citizens at the heart of policymaking. Unlike traditional top-down approaches, CLI empowers individuals to contribute their unique insights and lived experiences to the decisions that affect their lives. This collaborative process fosters a deeper sense of ownership, inclusivity, and trust, ensuring that policies are shaped by the very communities they aim to serve.
How can local councils better reflect the needs of their communities in policy-making? This question lies at the heart of CLI, a model that puts lived experience and citizen voices at the forefront of shaping the future.
What Was the Aim of the Event?
The CLI training event aimed to empower local council officers with the tools and methodologies to involve citizens in policy creation. By placing community members at the centre of decision-making, this approach helps to ensure that policies truly reflect the aspirations of those they serve.
Event Highlights
The event was packed with engaging activities, discussions, and real-world applications of the CLI model. Delegates participated in dynamic sessions that highlighted the importance of equitable engagement, data-driven decision-making, and empowering marginalised voices.
Council officers were presented with their Citizen Led Impact Certificates at the end of the two days, marking the beginning of a transformative journey for community engagement in Northern Ireland.
Key Takeaways
1. Citizen Engagement is Critical:The training demonstrated how engaging citizens directly in the policy-making process leads to more responsive, equitable, and impactful decisions. Rather than a top-down approach, CLI empowers communities to co-create solutions tailored to their unique needs.
2. Lived Experience Matters:As Impera Analytics CEO Pye Nyunt put it, “Citizen Led Impact places lived experience at the heart of policymaking. By using data to tell the stories that matter most to our communities, we empower citizens to shape solutions that truly reflect their needs.” This emphasis on lived experience ensures that those most affected by policies are the ones driving the change.
3. Data-Driven Decision Making:Another core takeaway was the power of data in shaping informed policies. CLI incorporates local insights and data points to tell community stories, ensuring that decision-makers have the tools to assess needs accurately and sustainably.
Training Style
The two-day CLI training combined theoretical foundations with practical, hands-on activities. Participants engaged in workshops that allowed them to apply CLI principles to real-world community issues, fostering collaboration and creative problem-solving among council officers.
Certification
Upon completion, participants were awarded their CLI certificates, certified by Socitm. This certification marks their readiness to implement CLI methodologies in their own councils, bringing a fresh approach to community-led policy-making.
What Does CLI Certification Mean?
1. Mastery of the CLI framework, including civic education, inclusive engagement, and impact measurement.
2. Expertise in community-led policy design, research processes, and facilitating focus groups.
3. Proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess the impact of community policies.
4. A commitment to ethical, transparent engagement between citizens and policymakers.
Quotes and Testimonials
Cllr Alison Bennington, NILGA President:“The Citizen Led Impact course provides a wonderful opportunity to help build better communities across our cities, towns, and villages. This approach actively involves diverse voices, including those who are often underrepresented.”
Pye Nyunt, CEO, Impera Analytics:“By placing lived experience at the heart of policymaking, we empower citizens to shape solutions that reflect their needs. This model is about more than just engagement – it's about co-creating a future where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.”
What’s Next?
With the training now completed, council officers are equipped to apply CLI principles within their local authorities. The next step involves embedding these practices into daily operations, ensuring that community voices continue to guide policy-making processes in Northern Ireland.
Are you interested in how Citizen Led Impact can reshape community engagement in your council or organisation? Contact us at Impera Analytics to learn more about how we can help you bring community voices to the heart of policymaking.
Read the Northern Ireland Local Government Association’s press release here.
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