We’re reimagining democracy, and every citizen’s invited.
We’re shifting from centralized control to a model rooted in participation and shared responsibility.
Because democracy works best when everyone has a voice, not just the loudest.
It’s time for a system that truly reflects its people, listens with intention, and responds with fairness.
Citizens’ Assemblies where everyday people shape real decisions.
Across the world from Paris to London, Brussels to Ostbelgien and many other places, hundreds of Citizens’ Assemblies have stepped up and reshaped the way policies are made. These aren’t symbolic conversations. These conversations are genuine and significant. Citizens’ Assemblies have led to billions in public investment, bold sustainability plans, action against hate speech and online harassment, and new models of local leadership. The power of Citizens’ Assemblies to drive meaningful change is evident in these achievements.
When citizens are trusted with decisions, they deliver.
This is democracy, done differently and done better.
This isn’t just feel good talk, Citizens’ Assemblies are the real deal. They shift power from politicians to citizens and put everyday people in the driver’s seat of democracy.
Here's how it works
It’s built on two core principles
Information-based discussion:
Assembly members dive into the issues, guided by experts and real-world insights.
Through small-group conversations and deliberation, they listen, challenge, and learn from one another, then craft real, actionable policy recommendations. The goal? Make sure every voice is heard and every perspective counts.
A random sampling of diverse citizens:
Assembly participants aren’t an elite few; they’re a true cross-section of society.
Doctors, mechanics, supermarket workers, students, pensioners, etc., all have an equal seat at the table. Together, they shape the policies that affect their lives and communities
Democracy 3.0 is a growing civic initiative working to embed Citizens’ Assemblies as a central part of Israel’s democratic system giving everyday people a real voice in shaping the decisions that affect their lives.
Our first Citizens’ Assembly took place in Kiryat Tivon. Since then, we’ve been leading projects in diverse communities across Israel and we’re just getting started
ABOUT US
In 2020, during political upheaval and the COVID crisis, activists and volunteers, together with the Heschel Center for Sustainability, launched Democracy 3.0 (formerly CAI: Citizens’ Assemblies for Israel) to explore democratic models that give everyday citizens real influence over decisions shaping their lives.
What began as an idea became a national movement. Over 18 months, we conducted research, learning sessions, and expert consultations, developing practical, locally tailored tools for democratic innovation.
In 2022, we launched Israel’s first-ever Citizens’ Assembly in partnership with the local authority of Kiryat Tivon. The 2022 pilot focused on reducing landfill waste, demonstrating how public deliberation can shape effective policy. Eighty percent of the participants’ recommendations were approved and have since been implemented.
In 2023, we established the Lab for Citizens’ Assemblies in Local Authorities, a national hub for training, experimentation, and design. The Lab supports local governments, civil society, and residents in co-creating solutions through structured public deliberation.
Our goal is to make Citizens’ Assemblies a central tool for active participatory democracy throughout Israel.
Despite political instability and the outbreak of war in October 2023, we continued our work. In 2025 alone, the Lab went on to guide and facilitate six full Citizens’ Assemblies in Jewish, Arab, Druze, and mixed communities, with many more on the way.
In times of crisis and change, the call for democratic renewal has only grown louder. Trusted by municipalities, driven by professionals, and inspired by the belief that a better democracy is within reach, we are making it real one assembly at a time.
Cohort 2 of the Lab for Citizens Assemblies launches September 2025- updates to come
OUR VISION
Democracy 3.0 seeks to promote deliberative and innovative democratic practices by implementing Citizen Assemblies as a Key component in the Israeli democratic system
"To me, Citizens' Assemblies are extraordinary. They offer a powerful opportunity to learn how to speak up and just as importantly, how to truly listen. Especially in a community like ours, they create space for meaningful conversations on a wide range of issues. It’s a process I believe in deeply, and one we should fully embrace."
*Participant of the Kiryat Tivon Citizens Assembly
What are Citizens Assemblies?
OUR PARTNERS
