On 21 November, ZIP Institute was invited to the prestigious “Prix de la Participation 2025” ceremony at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris, organized by Décider Ensemble, where we were honored with a 3-star recognition for our Skopje Climate Assembly.
This acknowledgment carries deep significance—not only as an award, but as a powerful validation of citizen-driven dialogue, trust-building, and democratic innovation in our region. We are especially honored to receive this recognition at a moment when we are preparing to expand our work to six Citizens’ Assemblies across North Macedonia, further strengthening participatory democracy nationwide. The ceremony also provided an inspiring space to connect with other civil society organizations that share our values and to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration.
A highlight of the visit was the unique opportunity to observe the French Citizens’ Assembly on “Time for Children”—a remarkable national initiative that places citizens at the heart of policymaking on an issue central to the country’s future. Seeing this model in action offered invaluable insights for our ongoing mission to strengthen deliberative democracy in the Western Balkans.
