A learning session in Skive Municipality (Denmark) put the spotlight on how citizen engagement and co-creation can be actively applied in a regulatory, authority-driven context, and gave employees new perspectives on how dialogue with citizens can strengthen both solutions and ownership. Jens Ulrich, external lecturer at VIA University College, was invited to the Technical and Environmental Administration of Skive Municipality to highlight citizen engagement as part of the EU project Speak Up. The aim was to make co-creation more concrete and applicable in practice and to demonstrate how it can create value for both the municipality and its citizens.
“We want to make it more concrete and tangible what citizen engagement and co-creation mean in everyday work. It’s not only about large-scale processes—it’s also about the small actions where you invite citizens in,” says Signe Bak Jørgensen, project manager for Speak Up at Energy City Skive, Skive Municipality.
Three clear objectives
The presentation focused on making citizen engagement and co-creation less abstract and more applicable in daily work. At the same time, it aimed to motivate employees to involve citizens more actively in their work and to challenge the perception that co-creation is difficult, or perhaps even impossible, within authority-driven areas.
There was also a focus on the competencies required if an organization wants to work more collaboratively with citizens. Not to provide final answers, but to initiate reflection: do we have the right competencies today? And what will be required going forward? This reflection will form an important foundation for continued work to strengthen citizen engagement and co-creation.
“We know there is significant potential in working more collaboratively. But it also requires us to question our own practices and develop the competencies that come with it,” adds Signe Bak Jørgensen.
Co-creation—even in regulatory work
A central theme was how the public sector is evolving: from a traditional authority role towards a more collaborative approach with citizens.
At the same time, attention was given to the distinction between citizen engagement and co-creation. While citizen engagement often focuses on being heard, co-creation is about developing and implementing solutions together.
“There is still a perception that it is difficult to work with co-creation in regulatory areas. But the café meeting shows that there are many situations where it makes very good sense—if we dare to be more open,” estimates Signe Bak Jørgensen.
An important takeaway was that co-creation does not necessarily require large projects. Often, it is about identifying the “blind spots” in everyday work and involving citizens earlier in the process.
A foundation for future work
Participants did not leave with ready-made solutions, but with a stronger understanding and motivation to continue the work.
The café meeting marks an important step in the Speak Up project’s efforts to strengthen citizen engagement and local mobilization and to create even better solutions in close collaboration with citizens.
“If we are to succeed with the green transition and local development, it requires that we do it together with citizens. It is in collaboration that we find the best solutions—our experiences from the climate villages clearly demonstrate this,” states Signe Bak Jørgensen.