User Guide
User Guide
Welcome to the Qararouna Help Guide. This documentation is designed to help you navigate our participatory platform and ensure your voice is heard effectively and securely.
1. Getting Started: Account & Security
Creating Your Account
To begin participating, you must create a profile.
Click the Sign Up button on the top right.
Enter your name, email address, and a secure password.
You will receive a verification email. Click the link inside to activate your account.
Protecting Your Login
Security is our priority. To ensure the platform remains safe from automated attacks, we utilize Hashcash bot protection. This process works in the background to verify that you are a real user without requiring complex captchas.
2. Understanding the Dual-Layer Model
Qararouna is unique because it balances public transparency with private strategic deliberation.
The General Forum (Public)
The General Forum is open to all registered users. Here, you can:
Read public announcements.
Browse and endorse general proposals.
Participate in open debates about city-wide or organization-wide topics.
Secure Sections (Private)
Certain areas of the platform are "Invite-Only." These are used for sensitive strategic planning or expert committees.
Access: You will only see these spaces if you have been explicitly invited by an administrator via your verified email.
Confidentiality: Discussions and votes held within Secure Sections are not visible to the general public.
3. How to Participate
Proposals
Proposals are the heart of the platform. They allow you to suggest specific actions to the municipality or organization.
Creating a Proposal: Click "New Proposal," provide a clear title, and describe your idea.
Endorsing: If you support someone else's idea, click "Endorse." Proposals with high support are more likely to be officially reviewed.
Commenting: Use the comments section to suggest improvements to an existing proposal.
Debates
Debates are spaces for deliberation. Unlike proposals, which are action-oriented, debates are for discussing complex topics from different perspectives. You can post your opinion and vote "Agree" or "Disagree" on others' arguments.
Participatory Budgeting
In this module, the municipality or organization sets aside a specific budget, and you decide how it is spent.
Browse the list of proposed projects with their associated costs.
Select the projects you value most until you reach the budget limit.
Submit your "ballot" to finalize your choices.
4. The Verification Process
To ensure "One Person, One Vote" and maintain the integrity of our mandates, some actions (like official voting) require Verification.
Why verify? It prevents duplicate accounts and ensures that only residents or members can influence official results.
How to verify: Depending on the organization's settings, you may be asked to:
Upload a copy of your National ID.
Enter a code sent via SMS to a registered phone number.
Receive a "Double Referral" (vouching) from two already-verified members.
5. Privacy and Data
Qararouna is built on the Decidim framework, prioritizing user privacy.
Your personal data is encrypted and never sold to third parties.
You can choose how much of your profile is visible to other users in your Account Settings.
You have the right to delete your account and data at any time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: I can't see the specific committee I was told about.
A: Ensure you are logged in with the email address that received the invitation. If the committee is a "Secure Section," it remains hidden until your account is granted access.
Q: Can I change my vote?
A: In most modules, you can change your vote or endorsement until the deadline of the specific participatory phase is reached.
Q: Is the platform available in Arabic?
A: Yes. You can change the language settings at the bottom of the page or in your profile settings.