Since the 1990s, several initiatives to improve citizen participation have been created by local authorities in Brazil. Councils that monitore and propose public policies, thematic conferences that make recommendations of public policies, participatory processes for the definition of part of a municipality´s budget and public hearings to consult the population on certain topics are the most widespread examples. However, getting people to participate is not a simple task. Several factors interfere in the decision of individuals and social groups to participate. Local authorities can strengthen citizen participation, but they need to better understand the obstacles as well as the possible boosters that exist in their localities. A good assessment is the first step. Using a specific tool can help analyze various dimensions of engagement, which contribute to selecting better strategies. As there are not any tools available in Brazil at the moment, foreign instruments may be a viable alternative. This dissertation aims to validate an analytical tool, which was developed by the Council of Europe to assess processes related to public participation at the local level: the CLEAR tool. Therefore, this study relied on: i) bibliographical and documental research; ii) cross-cultural adaptation, which was done by translating and developing a workshop with experts; iii) pilot project in Barueri, a city in the state of São Paulo. The pilot project focused on participatory initiatives of the municipality's environmental department: Secretaria de Recursos Naturais e Meio Ambiente. The study demonstrates that the self-assessment process requires qualified technical knowledge and takes an average time of six months. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity for collective reflection, regarding current practices. The CLEAR tool proved to be valid for the Brazilian context, but further experiments are needed to ensure fine adjustments to our sociocultural reality.