Germany's First County-Level Citizens' Assembly Tackles Volunteer Challenges

Randomly selected residents—especially youth and migrants—will shape the future of local volunteering. Could this model redefine civic participation in Germany?

, and Administrator

2026 March 12 . 3:05 AM

1 min read

The image shows a circle with the words "community accountability" written in the center,... — The image shows a circle with the words "community accountability" written in the center, surrounded by three overlapping circles. The circles are connected by arrows, indicating the interconnectedness of the three components of community accountability. The text is written in a bold font, emphasizing the importance of the message. The colors used in the image are bright and vibrant, conveying a sense of hope and optimism.

Germany's First County-Level Citizens' Assembly Tackles Volunteer Challenges

The Marburg-Biedenkopf district is set to launch Germany's first citizens' assembly at the county level. Called Volunteer Forum – Engaged in Dialogue, the initiative will gather a diverse group of residents to tackle challenges facing volunteer organisations.

The assembly aims to boost volunteer engagement and encourage collaboration across generations. It will focus on issues like declining recruitment and the need to adapt to new social realities. Participants will be chosen at random to ensure a fair cross-section of the community, with no prior expertise needed.

Young people aged 16 to 30 and residents with migration backgrounds are especially invited to take part. Their input, alongside other voices, will help shape practical solutions for local volunteer groups. The forum's recommendations will be presented to the district council and its committees. These findings could lead to official policy changes, with the district administrator reviewing the results personally. All deliberations will be transparent, binding, and open to public scrutiny. This project reflects a broader commitment to open, dialogue-based governance. It seeks to strengthen social cohesion by involving citizens directly in decision-making processes.

The assembly's outcomes will be shared with local authorities for possible action. The district administrator will provide feedback to all participants after reviewing the proposals. This marks a new approach to civic participation in the region.