Collective Advisory Assemblies

CAAs have primarily been implemented to address energy and fuel poverty, which often has a gendered dimension affecting women and the most vulnerable in society. Thus CAAs aim to empower and mobilise these affected communities through sharing their experiences and knowledge in a space without the presence of authorities or utility companies and instead receive support from activists and their peers.

CAAs are not usually commissioned by governments, but organised by intermediary organisations. It is essential that CAAs retain a horizontal approach, where authorities are not directly engaged with participants at the meetings. CAAs may be followed up with other vertical methods that connect affected communities and decisionmakers, but this should come later on and not be part of the CAA itself. 

The main participants involved in CAAs are the people most affected by the issue at hand. In addition, activists and others affected by the issue support the process to facilitate, provide signposting and advice. During the assembly, participants take on different roles such as timekeeper and introductions.

Because CAAs seek to bring together often marginalised communities, it is essential that the leading organisation is a trusted intermediary specialising in the topic and with strong community connections and trust. 

CAAs are open sessions, organised in the same venue each time, and held at regular intervals. The aim is that participants will return over time and build a collective intelligence approach from cumulative knowledge and learning to support each other. 

Assembly meetings typically last around two hours. Participants may take on the role of facilitator, timekeeper and so on, but are also supported by activists, and the intermediary organisation, in the structure and running of the meeting.  

During the meeting, participants hear about the organisations and points of contact where they can find information and further guidance on their situation. There is also dedicated time for sharing testimonies and experiences, and air grievances. Everyone is welcome to share their opinion. 

In the CAAs on energy poverty, the meeting was also used to fill in surveys to provide (anonymous) data on participants’ energy situations. This data serves a monitoring purpose and is reported to the local authority, strengthening accountability.  

Participants agree to try and take actions based on the advice given before the next assembly. Additional help and support may be needed from organisers to support people to take the necessary actions. This can take place outside of the assembly and might include an advocate or activist accompanying participants to appointments, for example.  

The core features of CAAs are that they are recurring at regular intervals, held in the same place, with the same participants. The CAA breaks the usual boundary of expert and citizen, the affected participants are the experts in their own experience and this is core to the CAA approach. They should also be focused on finding solutions together, through participants’ peer to peer learning.