EAT EAT-LANCET  
 

CO-CREATE Dialogue Forum

An intergenerational tool designed to connect youth and decision-makers to co-create solutions for a healthier future.

The CO-CREATE Dialogue Forum is an inclusive space for discussion and co-creation across generations and sectors.

About the Dialogue Forum

The free canvas and a five-step process are designed to allow participants to connect with others, discuss an idea or intervention, and collaborate on action. The tool and process, developed for and with young people, promotes youth inclusion and leadership in decision-making.

The Dialogue Forum can be used digitally and as a physical canvas, which means you can host a Dialogue Forum anytime, anywhere. The Dialogue Forum is most useful when you have an idea, policy or intervention and you want to include different perspectives and insights from across generations to collectively take action to address it.

For further information about the Dialogue Forum, visit the CO-CREATE Dialogue Forum tool page on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s website.

The CO-CREATE Project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 774210.

Why was the Dialogue Forum created?

The Dialogue Forum was created to facilitate policy discussions among youth, policymakers, and business representatives in the CO-CREATE project. CO-CREATE is an EU Horizon 2020 project which aims to educate and empower youth to develop policy solutions to build healthy food and physical activity environments.

As part of the development process, young people were invited to plan and participate in Dialogue Forums to help refine their ideas and identify actions. Through CO-CREATE, 20 Dialogue Forums were held at local, national and international levels. The Dialogue Forum tool and Guidebook are based on the learning of these 20 Dialogues and participants’ experiences.

The Dialogue Forum tool is free and can be used by anyone, anywhere. You can download the digital and physical tools below.

To learn more about the CO-CREATE project, visit www.fhi.no/en/studies/co-create.

The design and development of the tool was led by EAT in close collaboration with Designit, a research, design and innovation agency.

Use the Dialogue Forum tool
Children & Youth
Page
Guidebook

The Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize a Dialogue Forum and details about the tool.
Page
Digital Dialogue Forum Tool

The digital Dialogue Forum tool allows you to bring participants from around the world together to discuss an idea and collaborate on actions.
Children & Youth
Page
Physical Dialogue Forum Tool

The physical Dialogue Forum tool allows people to come together in person to discuss an idea and collaborate on actions.

Curious what people have to say about the Dialogue Forum?

Frequently asked questions.

faq
What is a Dialogue Forum?
A Dialogue Forum is an inclusive space for discussion and co-creation across generations and sectors. Using a free canvas and a five-step process, participants are invited to connect with others, discuss an idea or intervention, and collaborate on action. The tool is available in digital and in physical formats, making it accessible across locations and time zones. To learn more about the tool, check out our concept videos and the Guidebook which provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize a Dialogue Forum.
Who is it for?
The Dialogue Forum tool was designed to connect participants across ages, sectors and geographies. While anyone can organize or attend a Dialogue Forum, the target audience is: Young people or youth organizations looking to engage decisionmakers to increase awareness and action on an idea. Decisionmakers (policy, private sector, experts) who are looking to engage and meaningfully involve young people in the design, implementation or evaluation of interventions. To ensure youth participation is meaningful, young people should make up at least 50% of the total participants. (The United Nations defines youth as persons between 15 and 24 years of age.)
Can I organize a Dialogue Forum?
Yes, anyone can organize a Dialogue Forum! The Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize a Dialogue Forum and the tools are available to download for free. The digital tool is available here and the physical tool is available here. It is available for download in more languages in the FAQs below.
Can I hold a Dialogue with just youth or just adults?
Yes, you can. It was designed to connect young people and adults, but it can be used with either group.
How do I organize a Dialogue Forum?
There are three stages to organizing a Dialogue Forum: Stage 1: Plan (idea to discuss, inviting participants, training moderators, setting up logistics) Stage 2: Discuss and hold the Dialogue Forum! Stage 3: Act (thank participants, share outcomes, take ideas forward)
Is the tool free?
Yes, the Dialogue Forum tool is free and can be used by anyone, anywhere. You can download the digital tool as free package here and the physical tool here! All Dialogue Forum methods and materials can be used free of charge, in a non-commercial way, and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution, ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). CO-CREATE and EAT must be credited and the “Dialogue Forum” title must be licensed using identical terms.
Can More than 6 People join a Dialogue Forum?
Yes, you can invite as many participants as you would like. Each canvas is designed to accommodate a maximum of six participants and one moderator. To engage more participants, you can use multiple tables (physical) or breakout rooms (digital).
Who is needed to hold a Dialogue Forum?
You will need an organizer to coordinate the planning, execution and follow-up of the Dialogue Forum, and participants to engage in the activities, ask questions, contribute to the discussion and commit to action. Moderators are needed to guide participants through the activities and discussion using moderator cards. Technical support to help the moderators with taking notes of the discussion is encouraged.
Can the Moderator also participate in the Dialogue?
Yes, a moderator can participate in the Dialogue at the same time.
Does the Dialogue need to last 2 hours?
The Dialogue Forum was designed to be 1.5 to 2 hours long to give all participants the opportunity to get to know each other, the space to contribute equally, and the time to explore the idea or issue in-depth. If you want to hold a shorter Dialogue Forum, you can invite participants to answer questions from the five-step process in advance so they are prepared to discuss during the Dialogue.

What is a Dialogue Forum?
×

A Dialogue Forum is an inclusive space for discussion and co-creation across generations and sectors. Using a free canvas and a five-step process, participants are invited to connect with others, discuss an idea or intervention, and collaborate on action. The tool is available in digital and in physical formats, making it accessible across locations and time zones. To learn more about the tool, check out our concept videos and the Guidebook which provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize a Dialogue Forum.

Who is it for?
×

The Dialogue Forum tool was designed to connect participants across ages, sectors and geographies. While anyone can organize or attend a Dialogue Forum, the target audience is: Young people or youth organizations looking to engage decisionmakers to increase awareness and action on an idea. Decisionmakers (policy, private sector, experts) who are looking to engage and meaningfully involve young people in the design, implementation or evaluation of interventions. To ensure youth participation is meaningful, young people should make up at least 50% of the total participants. (The United Nations defines youth as persons between 15 and 24 years of age.)

Can I organize a Dialogue Forum?
×

Yes, anyone can organize a Dialogue Forum! The Guidebook provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize a Dialogue Forum and the tools are available to download for free. The digital tool is available here and the physical tool is available here. It is available for download in more languages in the FAQs below.

Can I hold a Dialogue with just youth or just adults?
×

Yes, you can. It was designed to connect young people and adults, but it can be used with either group.

How do I organize a Dialogue Forum?
×

There are three stages to organizing a Dialogue Forum: Stage 1: Plan (idea to discuss, inviting participants, training moderators, setting up logistics) Stage 2: Discuss and hold the Dialogue Forum! Stage 3: Act (thank participants, share outcomes, take ideas forward)

Is the tool free?
×

Yes, the Dialogue Forum tool is free and can be used by anyone, anywhere. You can download the digital tool as free package here and the physical tool here! All Dialogue Forum methods and materials can be used free of charge, in a non-commercial way, and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution, ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). CO-CREATE and EAT must be credited and the “Dialogue Forum” title must be licensed using identical terms.

Can More than 6 People join a Dialogue Forum?
×

Yes, you can invite as many participants as you would like. Each canvas is designed to accommodate a maximum of six participants and one moderator. To engage more participants, you can use multiple tables (physical) or breakout rooms (digital).

Who is needed to hold a Dialogue Forum?
×

You will need an organizer to coordinate the planning, execution and follow-up of the Dialogue Forum, and participants to engage in the activities, ask questions, contribute to the discussion and commit to action. Moderators are needed to guide participants through the activities and discussion using moderator cards. Technical support to help the moderators with taking notes of the discussion is encouraged.

Can the Moderator also participate in the Dialogue?
×

Yes, a moderator can participate in the Dialogue at the same time.

Does the Dialogue need to last 2 hours?
×

The Dialogue Forum was designed to be 1.5 to 2 hours long to give all participants the opportunity to get to know each other, the space to contribute equally, and the time to explore the idea or issue in-depth. If you want to hold a shorter Dialogue Forum, you can invite participants to answer questions from the five-step process in advance so they are prepared to discuss during the Dialogue.

Related news & insights
Health & Nutrition
Insight
EAT Takes Part in EU Project Tackling Adolescent Obesity

The initiative will engage with youth to develop policies and promote action to tackle the increasing prevalence of adolescent overweight and obesity.

Children & Youth
Insight
Learning From the Youth

The youth is asking for rapid change and whilst waiting for politicians, businesses, and leaders to walk the talk – they are on the ground taking action.
Policy & Governance
Insight
Reflecting on five years of policy co-creation with youth: the CO-CREATE project

After five years, the CO-CREATE research project “Confronting Obesity: Co-creating policy with youth” has come to end. Reflections on the project’s achievements and sustained impact are shared.
Children & Youth
Update
CO-CREATE: Young people have ideas to tackle obesity – but are we listening?

A youth participatory study on adolescent obesity suggests addressing socio-psychological aspects, and promoting an environment that supports healthy diets and active lifestyles.
Children & Youth
Update
CO-CREATE: novel methods for youth engagement and benchmarking of national obesity prevention policies

EU Research project pioneers new methods for youth engagement in policy research and development, aiming to give young people a voice in decisions that affect their health.
Children & Youth
Press Release
Six considerations for organizing a multi-actor Dialogue Forum

Intended to guide youth organizations, policymakers, civil society organisations, municipalities, and other actors interested in organizing a multi-actor and intergenerational Dialogue Forum.