This proposal introduces the evolution and practical application of civic participation in addressing social issues. Civic tech—activities that transform the relationship between governments and citizens through technology and community engagement—includes initiatives utilizing the digital democracy platform “Decidim,” —such as Barcelona’s city planning process involving 40,000 citizens, New York City’s participatory budgeting for citizens aged 11 and above, and youth-led policy initiatives in Kakogawa City, Japan. These initiatives have all yielded tangible results, demonstrating how collective citizen intelligence, powered by technology, can transform policymaking and implementation.

Such civic tech efforts directly contribute to SDG 16, which calls for “effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.” For instance, hybrid models that combine online and offline dialogue, cross-generational participation frameworks, and youth-led policymaking processes—all powered by opensource platforms and community networks—embody this goal in practice. In Japan, internet-enabled citizen participation has been evolving since the late 1990s. Interest in such initiatives has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, which normalized digital communication in daily life. Nonetheless, institutional realization aligned with SDGs remains an ongoing challenge.

Decidim, developed in Barcelona in 2016, is now used across 450 sites in over 30 countries and regions, engaging approximately 3 million users. In Japan, Code for Japan has localized the platform and serves as its official Japanese partner, promoting its adoption nationwide. Since its imple- mentation in Kakogawa City in October 2020, Decidim has been utilized by around 30 national and local governments, businesses, and organizations.

Accumulate various ideas in Decidim

Deepening discussions by referring to Decidim ideas during face-to-face workshops (Kakogawa, Hyogo)

At the Inochi Forum, in collaboration with Code for OSAKA and Code for Japan, Decidim is actively used to share the Inochi Declaration and showcase youth-led initiatives. Within this SDG-aligned movement, Decidim plays a vital role by enabling initiatives that integrate the “Know” and “Connect” dimensions of Inochi.

From the “Understand Inochi” perspective:

● Visualizing diverse voices and wisdom through a digital platform

● Sharing experiences and perspectives across generations, from youth to elders

● Enhancing mutual understanding by ensuring transparen- cy in participation processes

● Fostering collective intelligence through democratized access to information

From the “Bond Inochi” perspective:

● Building new communities by organically integrating online and offline dialogue

● Creating spaces that foster intergenerational and interregional conversations

● Realizing novel collaborations that connect citizens, governments, and multistakeholders

Looking beyond SDGs, there is a pressing need to create cross-regional networks of community-based Inochi wisdom on a global scale. Decidim can serve as the digital archive infrastructure for such an initiative. It also supports the United Nations’ concept of “Digital Public Goods” and contributes to the establishment of digital commons—where intergenerational and interregional knowledge and experience can be shared universally through accessible digital tools.

The Inochi Forum will continue working with diverse organizations to expand the potential of civic tech, while preserving these collaborative efforts as a living record of action toward a more inclusive future.

[References]

・Decidim
https://www.decidim.barcelona/

・Barcelona Decidim
https://www.decidim.barcelona/

・NYC Civic Engagement Commission
https://www.participate.nyc.gov/

・Citizen Participatory Consensus Platform, Kakogawa City
https://kakogawa.diycities.jp/

・Inochi Forum Decidim
https://inochi-forum.makeour.city/

・United Nations Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation

https://www.un.org/en/content/digital-cooperation-roadmap

[Action Platform]
SDGs+Beyond

[SDGs]