Our 2024 Impact Report: How we tackled 4 global challenges
/In 2024, democratic backsliding continued to rise, even as half the world participated in national elections. Amid these challenges, People Powered and our 200+ members worked to ensure that democracy isn’t limited to the ballot box. Together, we’ve supported communities to shape decisions that matter most, proving that participatory democracy can tackle even the world’s toughest challenges.
Our 2024 Impact Report captures these achievements—showing how participatory democracy is expanding opportunities, even in politically closed contexts, and building more equitable futures for all. Here’s a closer look at what we accomplished together.
Key impacts of 2024
🌿 Climate Action: Communities leading change
From protecting forests in Zimbabwe to preventing landslides in India, we supported local communities in developing climate policies rooted in their knowledge and leadership. These efforts are creating solutions that are sustainable and impactful including:
Impact in numbers: 49 participatory climate action programs are changing lives across 39 countries.
Story highlight: In Zimbabwe, participatory processes strengthened anti-deforestation laws, bringing together traditional leaders and community members to protect vulnerable ecosystems.
📱 Digital Governance: Shaping technology together
As technology advances, we’ve convened civil society leaders to tackle pressing issues like AI ethics, misinformation, and data privacy. Through participatory policymaking, they’re ensuring technology policies serve the communities they impact most.
Impact in numbers: 10 digital democracy programs are tackling these critical issues, enabling communities to co-create fair and inclusive tech policies.
Why it matters: Digital tools shape every part of our lives. By putting communities at the center of these conversations, we ensure technology works for everyone—not just a privileged few.
🌈 Inclusive Democracy: Amplifying marginalized voices
From women leading local councils to youth driving policy changes, we helped marginalized groups shape decisions that matter most across dozens of countries.
Impact in numbers: Over 1,000 practitioners were trained to make participatory programs more inclusive, empowering women, youth, and displaced people. This sparked local change, such as a 30% increase in women in leadership positions.
Story highlight: In Cameroon, participatory processes brought together displaced communities and local governments to co-create policies that foster inclusion and equity.
☀️ Renewing Democracy: Transforming ideas into action
Renewing Democracy: With partners, we built global programs to make long-term structural changes that strengthen democracy.
Impact in numbers: We helped convene 13 international organizations to launch a Mainstreaming Participation Accelerator and expand the Nets4Dem network of democracy networks.
Our 2024 Impact Report tells the story of these achievements—and more. It’s a celebration of what we’ve accomplished together and a peek into the even more participatory, inclusive future we’re building.
Discover the stories and results that shaped 2024.
Together, we’ve shown that participatory democracy delivers real, lasting change. With your continued support, 2025 will bring even greater progress as we empower more communities and voices.