Image from the People Powered 2024 Convening: Warsaw
With the theme of Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions, this year’s program brings together practical training, collaborative workshops, and site visits — creating space to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and co-develop shared global resources and programs.
March 2: Site visits to local participatory programs and cultural exchange — See participatory democracy in action through guided visits to local programs in Nairobi.
March 3–4: Workshops and networking — Join interactive sessions to exchange ideas, solve shared challenges, and develop resources and collaborations. Topics include inclusive participation, advocacy, program implementation, narratives and messaging, climate participation, scaling democratic innovations, and fundraising.
March 5: People Powered strategic planning (members only) — Members come together for strategic planning to shape People Powered’s shared priorities for the next phase of work.
Convening Schedule
Please note: We’re still shaping the program. More speakers, topics, and final timings will be released soon. Bookmark this page for updates!
Most sessions will be held at the Golden Tulip Westlands.
March 1, Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00am–7:00pm |
Closed-door sessions (Democracy Narratives Alliance)
|
| 3:00pm–6:00pm |
Registration desk opens for all participants
|
March 2, Monday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30am |
Welcome to the convening
|
| 8:45am |
Be ready for pick-up at Golden Tulip Westlands
|
| 9:00am |
Depart Golden Tulip Westlands
|
| 9:45am |
Participatory Democracy Project Site Visits
Pre-registration required by February 25; spots are limited
Pre-register for Site Visits
Route 1: Civic Voices (Charter Hall → City Park Market)
This site visit showcases Civic Voices Initiative's participatory climate democracy projects in Nairobi. Participants will engage with government officials, clean energy bus stakeholders, and market traders at the Nairobi City County Climate Change Department, then visit the City Park Market solar-powered cold storage facility—a direct result of Civic Voices' engagement under the Climate Democracy program supported by People Powered.
Route 2: Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI offices → Kibera)
KDI partners with under-resourced communities to advance equity and unlock neighborhood potential. Participants will learn about the Nairobi Cityzens' Assembly and the Climate Assembly in Embu, then visit two Kibera Public Space Projects designed as platforms for dialogue and collective action. The visit demonstrates how citizen-led processes can transform urban environments and ensure equitable, sustainable solutions.
Route 3: Pathways & Small Axe (Small Axe Riparian Park)
Visit a youth-led CBO where a former dumpsite has been transformed into a hub of environmental restoration and social innovation. Participants will see how young people reclaimed riparian land and built sustainable livelihoods through tree nurseries, bamboo rehabilitation, and circular economy practices. The visit demonstrates how youth-led organizing can reclaim public spaces and influence county-level environmental governance.
|
| 12:45pm |
Lunch (at respective site visit locations)
|
| 2:00pm |
Travel to Busara Foundation offices
|
| 3:00pm |
Busara Foundation Site Visit (all participants)
Busara has spent a decade building citizen engagement through research, evidence generation, and capacity-building initiatives. Participants will experience a mobile lab game exploring civic participation, learn key lessons from Busara's civic engagement research, and take part in a power walk exploring how power, access, and agency shape meaningful participation in governance.
|
| 5:15pm |
Dinner (all participants)
At Busara Foundation
|
| 7:45pm |
Travel back to Golden Tulip Westlands & Elite Residence
|
March 3, Tuesday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00am |
Breakfast (all participants)
Networking breakfast for Democracy Narratives Alliance members
Networking breakfast for Inclusive Democracy Accelerator participants
|
| 9:00am |
Opening Plenary: Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions
In this session, we will explore how participatory democracy can bring solid and long-term solutions to global challenges.
|
| 11:00am |
Coffee and tea break
|
| 11:30am |
Parallel workshops:
Translating Democracy Narrative Research into Practice
This session bridges research and practice by translating insights from narrative change research into practical, actionable recommendations for organizations working to strengthen democracy. Participants will develop a shared understanding of key concepts and a common language around narrative change, grounded in real-world examples. Through applied case studies, the session will highlight how research findings can be used in practice, equipping participants with concrete strategies to inform and strengthen their work and clarifying priorities for future research.
Facilitators & Speakers: Clara Bois (People Powered), Ryan Gem (People Powered)
Advocating & Working for Inclusion In a Changing World: Paths Forward
This opening session reflects on what it means to advocate for inclusion in today's changing political and social climate. Through short stories and mixed-group discussions, participants will share real experiences, compare perspectives across regions, and identify common challenges, opportunities, and collective strategies to strengthen inclusive democracy efforts under pressure.
Facilitators & Speakers: Silvania Utami (Kota Kita), Marcella Nery (Delibera Brazil), Habiba Suleiman (OGP), Amanda Luz (People Powered), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Aidana Zhumabekova (People Powered)
How to Keep the Lights on to do Democracy Work - Organizational Resilience in Times of Change
This session, through Civic Strength Partners, will seek to provide interactive and concrete advice to organizations that face challenges due to funding cuts, closing civic space, mis/dis-information, the rise of AI and much more, and provide pathways for them to begin to think about how to make the necessary changes—including everything from consolidating backend office costs to larger transformations related to revenue streams or organizational form and partnerships.
Facilitators & Speakers: Blair Glencourse (Accountability Lab)
Build Your Own Participation Solution: An Introduction to Participatory Democracy
Come learn the basics about our main Participatory Democracy mechanisms: Participatory Budgeting, Participatory Planning, Participatory Policy-Making, Legislative Theater and Citizens' Assemblies!
Facilitators & Speakers: Nikhil Kumar (People Powered)
AI Mini-Hackathon: Prototype Testing and Peer Share
Participants will test a prototype of a generative AI-powered chatbot that draws on the People Powered online resource center to provide guidance to practitioners planning and implementing participatory programs.
Facilitators & Speakers: Maria Lucien (People Powered)
|
| 1:00pm |
Lunch
|
| 2:30pm |
Parallel workshops:
Popping the Bubble: How to Make New Audiences Care about Democracy
This session explores storytelling and other communications strategies to expand audiences, broaden reach, and strengthen engagement and support for democracy. Participants leave with concrete, actionable strategies and tools for communicating about their work beyond the usual audiences in the democracy sector.
Facilitators & Speakers: Clara Bois (People Powered), Ryan Gem (People Powered), Ryan Ong (People Powered), more TBA
The Implementation Lab: What Really Works In Inclusive Participation
This session immerses participants in "Implementation Labs" where they learn what truly works in inclusive implementation through real cases from youth participation and community accountability. Drawing on models from the Field of Dialogue Foundation and the CDA PAMOJA project, participants analyze success factors, enabling conditions, and replication potential. Through hands-on synthesis and guided reflection, participants identify concrete strategies they can apply to strengthen inclusion in their own implementation work.
Facilitators & Speakers: Eva Mackevica (The Field of Dialogue Foundation), Peter Ngure (Pathways Policy Institute), Sherry Njeri Muthaura (Pathways Policy Institute), Amanda Luz (People Powered), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Aidana Zhumabekova (People Powered)
Postcolonial and Anti-Colonial Visions for Participatory Democracy
This session explores how democracy, often framed as a universal ideal, is shaped by colonial histories and postcolonial identities.
Facilitators & Speakers: Reema Patel (Elgon Social)
Mainstreaming Participatory Democracy Case Clinic
Participants present practical challenges on mainstreaming or institutionalizing participation and teams of peers help them as consultants, using PP resources.
Facilitators & Speakers: Maria Lucien (People Powered)
How to Keep the Lights on to do Democracy Work - Organizational Resilience in Times of Change
This session, through Civic Strength Partners, will seek to provide interactive and concrete advice to organizations that face challenges due to funding cuts, closing civic space, mis/dis-information, the rise of AI and much more, and provide pathways for them to begin to think about how to make the necessary changes—including everything from consolidating backend office costs to larger transformations related to revenue streams or organizational form and partnerships.
Facilitators & Speakers: Blair Glencourse (Accountability Lab)
|
| 4:00pm |
Coffee and tea break
|
| 4:30pm |
Parallel workshops:
Reimagining Democracy: A Toolkit for Narrative Transformation
This hands-on workshop is designed to equip democracy practitioners with the concepts, tools, and real-world examples needed to shift public narratives around democracy. Participants share practical challenges in communicating about their work and transforming democracy narratives, and teams of peers help them as consultants, drawing on learning from the Democracy Narratives Alliance.
Facilitators & Speakers: Diana Dájer (Fundación Corona), Clara Bois (People Powered), Ryan Gem (People Powered)
Implementation-Focused Strategies for Inclusive Digital Participation
This session examines how to design and implement inclusive digital participation during real-world decision-making. Through global case studies from Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, participants explore strategies for overcoming barriers such as low connectivity, digital mistrust, and limited digital literacy. Working in small groups, they analyze concrete challenges, co-create practical solutions, and outline implementation steps tailored to specific contexts. The session equips participants with actionable models and tools to strengthen the inclusivity of their own digital engagement initiatives.
Facilitators & Speakers: Charlie Martial Ngounou (AfroLeadership), Carla de Paiva Bezerra (Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services), Katya Petrikevich (Participation Factory), Amanda Luz (People Powered), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Aidana Zhumabekova (People Powered)
Inclusive by Design: Embodied Learning, 'Unheard Emotions,' and Play in Participatory Democracy Processes
Even well-designed participatory processes can face polarization and barriers to inclusion! This 90-minute intensive session explores deliberation through an embodied and emotionally-resonant lens. Participants will experiment with hands-on techniques to surface 'unheard emotions,' encourage playful engagement, and shift power dynamics. You will leave with a practical framework to make your participatory spaces more authentic, inclusive, and joyful.
Ideal for those working with young people, polarized communities, and marginalized groups.
Facilitators & Speakers: Alberto Ford (Universidad de Rosario), Katy Rubin (The People Act)
Mixing Participatory Democracy Methods Case Clinic
Participants present practical challenges on combining different participatory methods and teams of peers help them as consultants, using PP resources.
Facilitators & Speakers: Nikhil Kumar (People Powered)
Mainstreaming Participatory Democracy Within Climate Action Across the Global South
The session will focus on the challenges, opportunities, and successes in mainstreaming participatory democracy within climate action across the Global South.
Facilitators & Speakers: Kudzaiishe Seti (Green Community Solutions), Marcela Piuzzi (Fundación Ciudadanía Inteligente)
|
| 7:00pm |
Reception dinner
|
March 4, Wednesday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00am |
Breakfast (all participants)
Networking breakfast for Climate Democracy Accelerator participants
|
| 9:30am |
Parallel workshops:
Making Democracy Go Viral
Interactive workshop designed to develop short videos that strengthen democratic participation. Participants will examine real cases of viral content that reshaped democratic narratives, learning what makes videos go viral. They will also learn practical storytelling techniques and engage in hands-on production to create authentic, shareable content that highlights civic engagement and the work of PP and its partners.
Facilitators & Speakers: Roberto Ruz (Instituto de Electoral y de Participación Ciudadana de Yucatán), Ana Clara Giovani (People Powered), Ryan Ong (People Powered)
No Money, No Progress? Confronting Funding Challenges Head-On
Securing resources for inclusion is not only about applying for grants. It is about making a compelling case for why inclusive democracy matters and deserves sustained support. This interactive session explores how practitioners and advocates can mobilize different kinds of resources, from government budgets and institutional partnerships to donor funding and community contributions. Participants will learn how to communicate the impact of inclusion persuasively, practice pitching their ideas, and receive peer feedback to strengthen their narratives and strategies for sustainability.
Facilitators & Speakers: Miklós Merényi (K-Monitor), Ewa Stokłuska (Shipyard Foundation), Amanda Luz (People Powered), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Lize Mogel (People Powered)
Mainstreaming Participatory Democracy Within Climate Action Across the Global South
The session will focus on the challenges, opportunities, and successes in mainstreaming participatory democracy within climate action across the Global South.
Facilitators & Speakers: Kudzaiishe Seti (Green Community Solutions), Marcela Piuzzi (Fundación Ciudadanía Inteligente)
AI Mini-Hackathon: Prototype Testing and Peer Share
Participants will test a prototype of a generative AI-powered chatbot that draws on the People Powered online resource center to provide guidance to practitioners planning and implementing participatory programs.
Facilitators & Speakers: Maria Lucien (People Powered)
Postcolonial and Anti-Colonial Visions for Participatory Democracy
This session explores how democracy, often framed as a universal ideal, is shaped by colonial histories and postcolonial identities.
Facilitators & Speakers: Reema Patel (Elgon Social)
|
| 11:00am |
Coffee and tea break
|
| 11:30am |
Parallel workshops:
Participation Pyramid
During this session, practitioners will experience - not just learn about - human-centred participation design.
Facilitators & Speakers: Louise Caldwell
What Comes After Design: Revising and Expanding Action Plans
[Closed session for IDA participants] Participants integrate new ideas, funding insights, and peer feedback to refine their action plans. IDA 1 alumni consider ways to expand or sustain their current work, while IDA 2 participants finalize realistic and well-resourced plans for the next phase of implementation.
Facilitators & Speakers: Fernanda Uro (Ollin A.C.), Silvia Remolina Diaz (Extituto), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Aidana Zhumabekova (People Powered)
Participation for Peace: Using Participatory Democracy for Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
At this first workshop, we will present the results of the literature review on how participatory practices can make peace agreements more easily implemented. We will then work together on building the essential elements for a pilot program on integrating PD practices to peacebuilding efforts.
Facilitators & Speakers: Nick Ross (Inclusive Peace), Thania Paffenholz (Inclusive Peace), Greta Ríos (People Powered), Amanda Luz (People Powered)
Building Pooled Funding for Democracy Support
Build support for pooled democracy funding by collaboratively exploring what a Global Pooled Fund for Democracy could look like, aligning on shared goals and governance structures while testing how participatory platforms could support these efforts. Rather than traditional presentations, we'll co-design a fund together, surface shared goals, explore governance models, and identify the infrastructure needed to make it real.
Facilitators & Speakers: Meg Ammons (One Project), Josh Lerner (People Powered), Lize Mogel (People Powered)
Build Your Own Participation Solution: An Introduction to Participatory Democracy
Come learn the basics about our main Participatory Democracy mechanisms: Participatory Budgeting, Participatory Planning, Participatory Policy-Making, Legislative Theater and Citizens' Assemblies!
Facilitators & Speakers: Nikhil Kumar (People Powered), more TBA
|
| 1:00pm |
Lunch
|
| 2:30pm |
Parallel workshops:
New Ways, New World - Gatewaying into the Future Together
This session is creating a collective sensing space where participants explore how democracy begins with how we show up, relate, listen, and share power in everyday interactions.
Facilitators & Speakers: Gateway Zimbabwe Collective
Let's Celebrate! Our Inclusive Democracy Journey and Next Steps
[Closed session for IDA participants] This session will wrap up the convening and IDA program by celebrating everyone's achievements. Both cohorts will share what they're proud of, reflect on their journeys, and look ahead to what's next.
Facilitators & Speakers: Amanda Luz (People Powered), Melissa Zisengwe (People Powered), Aidana Zhumabekova (People Powered)
Evaluating Participatory Democracy
The aim of this session is to understand how PD practitioners/researchers/other audiences, including organizations or governments who are looking to conduct evaluations of PD programs actually do so, what their capacity is, and what the evaluation priorities, challenges and blind spots are.
Facilitators & Speakers: Miklós Merényi (K-Monitor), Charlie Martial Ngounou (AfroLeadership), Ryan Gem (People Powered), Maria Lucien (People Powered), Nikhil Kumar (People Powered)
Participatory Democracy Case Presentations from Around the World
More information TBA
Inclusive by Design: Embodied Learning, 'Unheard Emotions,' and Play in Participatory Democracy Processes
Even well-designed participatory processes can face polarization and barriers to inclusion! This 90-minute intensive session explores deliberation through an embodied and emotionally-resonant lens. Participants will experiment with hands-on techniques to surface 'unheard emotions,' encourage playful engagement, and shift power dynamics. You will leave with a practical framework to make your participatory spaces more authentic, inclusive, and joyful.
Ideal for those working with young people, polarized communities, and marginalized groups.
Facilitators & Speakers: Alberto Ford (Universidad de Rosario), Katy Rubin (The People Act)
|
| 4:00pm |
Coffee and tea break
|
| 4:30pm |
Regional Meetups and Networking
We will use this time to identify and brainstorm about the biggest challenges and collaboration opportunities for our community at the regional level.
|
| 7:00pm |
Closing and Reception (Golden Tulip rooftop)
|
March 5, Thursday — ⭐️ Members only
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00am |
Breakfast
|
| 9:30am |
People Powered strategic planning
|
| 1:00pm |
Lunch
|
| 2:30pm |
People Powered strategic planning
|
| 6:00pm |
Closing
|