On 1–2 December 2025, PAP/RAC took part in a two-day preparatory workshop held both in Kaštela and in PAP/RAC’s premises in Split, laying the groundwork for the upcoming Democracy Labs workshop in Kaštela, Croatia, in February 2026. As part of the INCORE-MED project on inclusive coastal resilience in the Euro-Med — funded through the Interreg Euro-MED programme — the event brought together 12 participants from partner institutions (RERA S.D., PAP/RAC, University of Split, Tallinn University) and the City of Kaštela as the key stakeholder.
The workshop aimed to discuss the adaptation of the D-Labs methodology to the Kaštela pilot site and to conduct a mock run of the D-Labs workshop. This participatory approach brings together citizens, civil society organisations, and public authorities to rethink how public participation can be enhanced, particularly in the context of climate risk prevention in coastal towns.
Learning from best practices
On the first day, participants explored the scope of the Democracy Labs methodology, reviewing tools, goals, and the best ways to adapt it to the local context and priorities of the City of Kaštela.
Examples from previous D-Labs workshops, showcased by partners from Tallinn University, helped address challenges such as stakeholder recruitment and team role assignments. Discussions also helped to define clear priorities and narrow down the workshop’s main topic - the role of Nature-based Solutions in enhancing coastal resilience to climate change in Kaštela.
D-Labs - a hands-on, insight-driven approach
The second day focused on a full run-through of the D-Labs methodology, guided by Tallinn University experts who acted as facilitators. Participants learned the key aspects of the sensemaking, provotyping, and collective dreaming phases that help communities reimagine democratic processes, as well as the requirements of the analysis phase.
Working individually with sensitizing booklets and in groups, participants discussed core democracy principles and applied them in mind-mapping and storyboarding exercises to imagine how communities can envision pathways toward more inclusive and equitable governance. Creative discussions and group debates sparked new ideas and deepened understanding of the D-Labs process, which emphasizes inclusion, transparency, and trust.
This preparatory workshop was a crucial step toward a successful Democracy Labs event in February 2026, putting the local community at the centre of local decision-making to address growing environmental pressures in the coastal area of the city of Kaštela.
To learn more about the project, visit the official website and follow INCORE-MED on social media.
