Welcome

Welcome to the Civic Tech Playbook. This resource is designed to help you create, develop, and implement impactful civic technology projects. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to the field, this playbook offers best practices, and practical advice to help you navigate the exciting world of civic tech.

Our playbook is organized into three key sections:

1. Principles – Discover the core values and principles that drive effective civic tech projects. Learn how to center your work on user needs, embrace openness and transparency, iterate responsively, and build sustainable solutions.
2. Ways of Working – Explore the activities that support and enhance your project throughout its lifecycle. From setting a clear vision to building strong relationships, these practices will help you navigate challenges and drive meaningful change.
3. Project Lifecycle – Follow a double diamond approach to guide your project from initial concept to real-world impact. Learn key activities and considerations for each phase: Explore, Reframe, Create, and Catalyze.

Remember, civic tech is about more than just building software—it's about creating positive change in our communities through collaborative, user-centered, and impactful solutions.

We encourage you to explore each section, adapt the guidance to your specific context, and contribute your own experiences and insights to the ever-growing field of civic technology.

And as you begin your project, remember that success can take many forms. Projects that don’t create a finished product can still be successful if they lead to new insights, learnings, skills, relationships, friendships, or joy.

Let's build a better future for our communities, together!

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