What we can learn from Citizens' Dialogues with the World Economic Forum

While knowing the effects of COVID-19 on the world helps us see the big picture for the post-pandemic recovery, understanding the individual experiences and perceptions of citizens will help chart a path forward towards a just recovery that puts those most affected by the crisis at the center of these efforts. 

Through this report, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, we share the results of deliberative citizen dialogues, unearthing collective intelligence on citizen priorities during the pandemic and beyond.

This pivotal moment in time sheds light on the importance of reinventing a new paradigm, one where citizens are no longer considered as mere users and customers, and where human centric approaches are preferred to customer centric approaches. Governments and private companies must put aside the methods inspired by marketing strategies from the 1950s, where citizens were considered as markets, they are now invited to consider them as co decision-makers.

These Great Reset Dialogues, though a first experiment, are a long-term solution to this challenge. Ordinary citizens from 6 diverse countries, professions and ages, some of them as young as 8 years old, answered together the following question: 

What needs to be reinvented to improve living together in society and in the world?

Taking their collective point of view into account appropriately complements other forms of diagnosis and expertise. The findings highlight the effects of COVID-19 on the participants and their priorities for the post-pandemic recovery, as well as the importance of social cohesion and trust. The report concludes with a proposal to spur collective action for a transformational recovery.

A few findings:

•  According to French and global participants, there is a need to move away from the neoliberal capitalist paradigm, the world of overconsumption, “unbridled ultraliberalism”, to “take into account the well-being of humanity rather than the GDP”, replacing it with a reasoned capitalism (keeping the spirit of free trade while taking into consideration its social and ecological impacts). West African participants called for a strong and resilient economic system, and the need to explore strategies that reduce the need to seek foreign aid.
• Regarding Inclusion, participation and shared values : Adopting an altruistic lens was highlighted by participants as an important element in encouraging social cohesion – examining our own worth through the lens of the value we add to others. Collective action and collectivism were seen as necessary elements to reduce cynicism and advance social cohesion.
• On Covid-19: Participants thought the pandemic presents an opportunity for an architectural revolution, where urban planning can emphasize pedestrianized and green spaces, as well as social inclusion such as gender-neutral bathrooms.
• On religion: According to participants, religion and its influence should not be underestimated. Participants spoke of spiritual processes and how they can create a sense of inclusion. Many participants across the dialogues suggested that festivals and celebrations help to bring this sense of togetherness and should be encouraged.
• On the environment: Participants from different dialogues highlighted the climate emergency. The decisions taken in the coming years should strengthen the measures taken to protect the planet, particularly concerning the radical changes needed in energy sources to adopt a more sustainable approach. Participants in one of the Indian dialogues highlighted the interconnectedness between humanity and the environment and how important it is to care for the environment through economically supportive ecological solutions, chemical-free natural farming and tree-based agriculture.

I look forward to seeing stakeholders respond to this report and I hope that this experience is an accepted invitation to scale up and to leverage this deliberative approach at local and global levels. This year, as COVID-19 gives us a decisive opening to shape the world differently, is the time to give a bold demonstration of how the leaders of this world can upskill global cooperation to give consideration to the human beings who make up this world.

And congratulations West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Civis, Isha Foundation & Confkid for the shared achievement! 

Click on the link bellow to view the full report!