Climate change is a global issue affecting every aspect of our modern society, from declining agricultural productivity to rising sea levels, drought, forest fires, and catastrophic flooding. To tackle the climate crisis, governments have a mandate to enable and encourage citizens, civil society, activists, and more to participate in shaping and implementing climate policies. By expanding public participation and bringing marginalized voices into decision-making, governments can create climate-focused policies that prioritize renewable energy and regenerative agriculture, ensuring solutions are equitable and responsive to community needs.
People Powered is seeking government and civil society leaders to join a new cohort of innovators who want to launch participatory programs that shape climate policy, with a focus on regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and just transitions:
Renewable energy: Projects focusing on clean energy power from nature, like solar, wind, water, to improve access to clean energy sources for communities while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Regenerative agriculture: Projects focusing on an holistic approach to farming that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, improves water cycles, and increases resilience to climate change while supporting socioeconomic systems such as food sustainability, local economies, and so on.
Applications are open to participants from governmental institutions, civil society organizations, or non-governmental organizations. The program prioritizes applicants from the four priority countries (Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Mexico), with additional spots available for participants from other countries worldwide, especially in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) is a six-month, practice-oriented training and support program that prepares members to plan and implement an inclusive and participatory process for a just climate transition. 30 participants will develop a project to implement a participatory program focused on regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and climate solutions that address the needs and voices of local communities. Selected applicants will have access to a dedicated mentor to guide the development of their program, along with:
Step-by-step resources, including the Participation Playbook, our interactive, online tool for designing participatory programs.
Practice-oriented live sessions, online courses, and workshops.
Participation in a country-based peer group, facilitated by the in-country lead partner, for guidance, feedback, and collaboration.
Localized case studies and resources relevant to participants’ country contexts.
A $10,000 USD implementation grant for all participants.
The top five action plans in each cohort will receive an additional $15,000 award.
Climate Action Impacts
The Climate Democracy Accelerator has launched over 50 climate action and citizen engagement programs around the world since its inception in 2023. Learn more about the success stories!
Learn about current and past CDA participants
What is the application process?
Read through the program requirements and selection criteria below.
Complete the application form and submit the required documents by June 26, 2026, 5:00 pm UTC (check your timezone here).
Program timeline:
May 5–June 26, 2026: Application period
July 2026: Selection process
August 2026: Selected participants are notified
August–September 2026: Due diligence process
September 2026: Onboarding and program begins
March 2027: Program ends
March–April 2027: Participants share learnings
March 2027–March 2028: Participants implement their action plan
Program timeline.
More application details
Government officials, staff members and policymakers who want to launch a participatory program for making just climate-related decisions. Please note: Government institutions applying must have a partnership with a civil society organization/non-governmental organization, as the grant recipient must be a non-governmental entity.
Civil society organization staff members and/or climate advocates who want to implement a participatory program focused on climate in partnership with a government institution. Please note: Civil society organizations applying must work in partnership with a government institution, as they must follow up with the implementation of the action plan.
Organizations should nominate a lead participant with professional proficiency in at least one of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. The program prioritizes applicants from the four priority countries: Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Mexico, with additional spots available for participants from other countries. especially from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. People Powered members or Open Government Partnership members will also be prioritized; however, this prioritization is not applied in isolation, and many other factors will be considered.
Please note that the CDA selection is highly competitive. We only accept programs focused on regenerative agriculture and renewable energy. We prioritize applicants who can clearly demonstrate that the program's training and support will concretely address their capacity-building needs. Multiple applications from the same organization are discouraged; we strongly encourage prospective applicants to submit a single strong application.
Note: Former CDA participants will not be prioritized; priority will be given to new organizations. Additionally, former CDA participants can apply as part of a coalition (not as lead applicants).
We can appreciate the use of AI in making the application process easier. To help aid your application for this program, here is what we consider acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in applying, according to our own AI Policy.
Acceptable AI Use
Enhancing written applications: AI can be used to improve the grammar, structure, and clarity of written content
Refining language and structure: AI can help applicants structure their responses, find synonyms, and improve the overall flow of their application.
Unacceptable AI Use
Fabricating experiences or skills: Using AI to invent information or claim expertise in areas where the applicant has no experience is unethical and can lead to disqualification.
Submitting AI-generated content without personalization: Applications that are entirely AI-generated and lack personal insights or examples will likely be unsuccessful.
Applicants who successfully complete this stage will be shortlisted. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon providing the due diligence documentation outlined below. Program participants will receive a $10,000 USD grant upon the completion of program requirements. To receive this grant, the conditions below apply.
Please review these requirements and make sure you will be able to provide this information. The following applies only to civil society organizations, as they will be the recipients of the funding. Government institutions applying for the CDA program must ensure that their civil society partner meets the following eligibility requirements. People Powered will not provide grants to government institutions.
Requirements to receive funding
People Powered cannot give funds to volunteer groups or recently incorporated civil society organizations through this program. To receive funding, your organization needs to:
Demonstrate at least one full year of operations and successful fundraising to support such operations before being short-listed for the program.
Have paid staff and a board of directors or advisory committee.
Be registered as a non-profit organization in the country of operations.
Please note that applicants in India must have a valid FCRA registration to be eligible for the grant.
Other due diligence requirements:
a. Provide audited accounts for your organization. We usually only ask for 12 to 24 months of audited financial statements (for example, your current fiscal year and your previous fiscal year). If audited accounts are not legally required in your country / jurisdiction, please submit any official financial or tax reports you usually submit to the authorities in your country / jurisdiction. Please note that we can not accept organizations that are not able to provide at least 12 months’ financial evidence as described above.
b. Additionally, if your organization has undergone any audits, reviews, or assessments (by funders, auditors, or regulatory authorities in the past 24 months? Please provide a copy and describe any significant findings, weaknesses, or recommendations, and how they were addressed.
c. Provide evidence of your organization’s charitable or non-profit status. For example, your legal registration form, constitution or articles of association (also called ‘bylaws’).
d. Complete a tax form that People Powered needs to provide for its own tax purposes as an organization making grants to others. We will send this to you for completion as part of due diligence. Please note that we cannot provide guidance on how to complete this form - you should seek independent legal or accounting/tax advice if you are unsure.
e. Have a valid organizational bank account and be able to provide your bank information to People Powered in order to receive the grant. Your organizational bank account must be set up to accept international wire transfers in USD from the United States.
f If you are a government body or organization, we will ask for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the civil society partner who will receive the grant.
Please submit the documents and information related to points a), b), c) e) and f) in any of the following languages: English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese alongside copies of the original documents in the language of your organization’s jurisdiction.
This CDA cohort will consist of 30 government and civil society leaders. It will start in September 2026 and end in March 2027. In this cohort:
Participants can expect to spend an average of two to three hours per week from September 2026 to March 2027 for the duration of the training program and mentoring support.
Participants will also be asked to set aside a few key dates on their calendars to participate in the program’s live Zoom sessions and workshops held by in-country lead partners.
After completing the program, participants will have 12 months to implement their action plan with the $10,000 USD funding received. The amount of time you spend on your project will depend on the action plan you have developed
Develop an action plan (project) to be implemented, with the support of the program resources.
Engage internal and external stakeholders to develop the action plan.
Attend and participate in dedicated training and mentorship/peer support activities and discussions.
Report on project progress through surveys and learning reports.
Engage with other cohort members to support each other’s work.
The application form contains the following questions:
In no more than 200 words, please describe your proposal for a participatory or deliberative project to address a climate challenge related to renewable energy or regenerative agriculture. [Your answer to this question should focus on the participatory or deliberative aspect/nature of your project].
In no more than 150 words, please describe the specific climate challenge you want to address in your community or country.
Renewable energy: projects focus on clean energy power from nature, like solar, wind, water, to improve access to clean energy sources for communities while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Regenerative agriculture: project focus on a holistic approach to farming that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, improves water cycles, and increases resilience to climate change while supporting socioeconomic systems such as food sustainability, local economies, and so on.
In no more than 250 words, how will your participatory or deliberative project engage marginalized or excluded communities? Please indicate why you are focusing on a specific group, including how they have been historically or contextually excluded from decision-making processes related to your project topic or regional context.
A just transition refers to a future in which the worst impacts of the climate crisis are mitigated, communities have adaptive capacity, and the effects of the climate crisis are more equitably distributed. Marginalized groups or communities can include climate-vulnerable populations, immigrants, refugees, disabled people, religious minorities, ethnic and racial minorities, youth and children, elderly people, women, and LGBTQ+ people, among others.
In 100 words, describe one key experience that demonstrates how you have worked in partnership to deliver a participatory or deliberative program to address a climate challenge. If you haven’t had experience with this, please provide one example of a climate program you have delivered and/or a partnership you have worked in successfully.
In 100 words, what will you try to accomplish by participating in the CDA program? Share how the program support and grant will help your organization to achieve your goals. Please be as specific as possible.
Is there any specific support you will need from the program or any additional information you would like to add?
Learn more about our CDA In-Country Lead Partners
Accionar.io
Mexico City, Mexico
Accionar.io is a democratic innovation laboratory for accelerating change processes. Through campaign design and technological tools, it strengthens the capacities of activists, groups, and movements seeking to expand the exercise of rights for historically excluded groups and promote participatory democracy in Mexico.
Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA)
New Delhi, India
Founded in 1982, PRIA is a global center for participatory research and training. For over four decades, it has empowered citizens—especially marginalized communities—through information and mobilization, while also sensitizing government agencies to citizen needs. PRIA works with governments, civil society, and the private sector to improve service delivery, strengthen democratic practices, and shape inclusive policies.
Kota Kita
Solo, Indonesia
Kota Kita is a non-profit organization based in the Indonesian city of Surakarta (Solo), Indonesia, with expertise in urban planning and citizen participation in shaping inclusive cities. Kota Kita bridges dialogue between governments and citizens by facilitating participation and collaboration, influencing urban policies, promoting open access to information, and providing civic education to empower communities toward building a City for All."]
Delibera Brasil
São Paulo, Brazil
Delibera Brasil is a non-profit and non-partisan organization that aims to contribute to the strengthening and deepening of Brazilian democracy, promoting citizen deliberation, an action methodology known as mini-publics or citizens' assemblies.
International Partners
The Climate Democracy Accelerator is made possible thanks to support from the Waverley Street Foundation.
Climate Democracy in Action
