Decidim.Barcelona was launched as part of the 2015–2019 Municipal Plan, “73 Neighbourhoods, One Barcelona. Towards a City of Rights and Opportunities,” engaging nearly 40,000 people. The platform fosters a community of users committed to improving and monitoring both the quality of participatory processes and the platform itself, in line with the democratic principles established in its social contract.
Governance is shared between the Decidim Free Software Association and the Barcelona City Council. The Association, an independent non-profit, oversees the core codebase, coordinates contributions, and ensures adherence to Decidim’s founding principles. Its online forum, Metadecidim, allows developers, researchers, public servants, and citizens to collaboratively shape the platform’s design, features, and governance. The City Council initiated and funded Decidim’s development, later transferring software governance to the Association to ensure sustainability and political independence, while remaining a key partner and user. Collaborating entities, including software companies, research institutions, and civil society organisations, contribute to continuous improvement.
Decidim.Barcelona supports territorial and sectoral participation bodies at city and district levels. These include the City Council as a consultative forum, neighbourhood councils to strengthen local community cohesion, and sector-specific working groups. These bodies enable regular dialogue between citizens and the municipality, providing channels to debate, comment, and influence public policies.
As an open-source e-participation ecosystem, Decidim ensures transparent access to information, promotes assembly and association, and supports online and hybrid deliberation spaces. It is built on equality and non-discrimination, offering multiple participation channels and reducing barriers. Citizens can propose, debate, vote, and monitor policies, participatory budgeting, and long-term planning, making democratic values tangible and reinforcing an inclusive civic space. Public and district meetings, consultations, and agenda-setting opportunities further ensure residents can actively engage in municipal decision-making.
