Accelerators are launching 30 new participatory programs focused on climate & innovation
/People Powered and partners are launching 30 new programs through the Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) and Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA). People Powered accelerator programs provide comprehensive capacity-building support to governments and organizations to plan participatory programs. The support includes expert mentorship, training sessions, peer networking, and guided use of the Participation Playbook. By the end of each accelerator, participants have action plans for launching or improving participatory programs, focusing on more equitable and inclusive policies and solutions.
In this post we share the list of new accelerator participants, as well as top programs from the last round of the CDA.
Climate Democracy Accelerator
The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) helps governments engage community members in deciding how to respond to the climate crisis. People Powered and the Open Government Partnership, with funding from the Waverley Street Foundation, have supported changemakers, innovators, and policymakers from 39 countries across the first four cohorts.
“The CDA program has been transformative for our organization in Africa. The detailed guidance, practical examples, and continuous support from mentors have empowered us to engage our community and stakeholders effectively. The innovative participatory democracy methods we learned will serve as a model for other regions.” Tata Nelson Berinyuy, CeREPC, Cameroon
“When we really begin to understand the importance of democratic and deliberative participation, we realize that the world can go down better paths and make better decisions collectively. It has been a great and constant incentive to meet and form participation networks through the CDA. Each person can contribute differently and with a different perspective to the same cause.” Lucía Bogarin, Mar Chiquita Department of Environment, Argentina
We are now excited to welcome 15 new government and civil society teams to the fourth CDA cohort:
| Organization | Country | Partner |
|---|---|---|
| Osasco City Hall | Brazil | Delibera Brazil |
| Municipality of Valongo | Portugal | Casa da Participação Association |
| Centre for Sustainability and Environmental Action | Ghana | Upper West Akim District Assembly, Ministry of Agriculture |
| Fundlink Aid International | Nigeria | Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation |
| Pipal Tree | India | Annuru Panchayat |
| Icon Data Learning | Kenya | County Government of Kisumu |
| Tamkeen for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | Egypt | Ministry of Social Solidarity |
| Sote Pamoja | Democratic Republic of Congo | Bikoro Chiefdom |
| Codeando Mexico, AC | Mexico | Government of the State of Oaxaca, Ministry of Mobility |
| Development of Educational Action Network (DEAN Initiative) | Nigeria | Gwagwalada Area Council |
| Yayasan Arkom Indonesia | Indonesia | Surabaya City Public Housing, Settlement, and Land Department |
| Government Ministry of Youth Affairs | Sierra Leone | Focus1000 |
| Kenya Red Cross Society | Kenya | Nairobi City County Government |
| Municipality of General Pueyrredon | Argentina | Network Democracy |
| Municipality of Peñalolen | Chile | Ciudadanía Inteligente |
Democratic Innovations Accelerator
The Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA) helps governments engage community members using innovative participatory approaches in the European Union (EU) and Horizon Europe countries. People Powered and Coglobal are leading the DIA, which is part of the EU-funded Nets4Dem project.
During this first cohort of DIA, we will work with 25 organizations and institutions from 11 different countries to launch 15 programs dedicated to digital participation and AI, youth/child participation and engagement, participatory urban planning, participatory budgeting, inclusive participation, arts and culture as means for participation, and other issues.
Below, you can find information about the first cohort of DIA participants:
| Organization | Country | Partner | Participatory Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundación CIEDES | Spain | - | Participatory Planning Topic: Urban Planning |
| Hungarian Psychodrama Association | Hungary | HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences BMSZKI - Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Housing |
| London Borough of Newham | United Kingdom | Compost London | Participatory Budgeting Topic: Community Engagement |
| Post-X Society | Netherlands | Ministry of Internal Affairs | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Democracy Monitoring |
| Armenian Caritas | Armenia | - | Citizens Assemblies Topic: Displaced People |
| Public Administration Department - Participation Hub | Italy | Period Think Tank | Participatory Policymaking Topic: AI and Participation |
| Citoyenneté & Participation | Belgium | Démocratie Ouverte | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Digital Participation |
| Sternbrücke, aber richtig! e.V. | Germany | - | Participatory Planning Topic: Participatory Urban Planning |
| Trans Europe Halles | Sweden | - | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Arts and Culture |
| Africapolis | United Kingdom | - | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Migrants Participation |
| Europiamo ETS | Italy | Municipio III - Roma Capitale | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Youth Participation |
| ProNous | Greece | Youth Lead the Change - Greece | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Youth Participation |
| Bolton CVS | United Kingdom | Bolton Council - Public Health | Participatory Policymaking Topic: Inclusion |
| The Small Steps Foundation | Bulgaria | Lozenec District, Sofia | Participatory Budgeting Topic: School PB |
| Resilience Earth SCCL | Spain | Catalan Network of Small Municipal Governments (Associació de Micropobles de Catalunya) | Citizens Assemblies Topic: Inclusion and Just Transition |
Accelerator Alumni Are Launching Innovative Programs
The accelerators have already helped launch innovative new local programs. In the third CDA cohort, 15 participants received $10,000 to implement their action plans. In Cameroon, the Mbororo people, a semi-nomadic Indigenous group, face existential challenges to their agricultural practices as the climate crisis has caused extreme drought across the region. To make matters worse, the Mbororo people are under-represented in decision-making across the municipal councils, leaving their voices out of decisions that affect their lives.
The Centre for Research, Environmental Protection and Conservation (CeREPC) is working with the Mbororo—especially women, who bear the brunt of climate impacts—to engage them in active policymaking with regional governments. Through workshops and participatory processes, Mbororo women are helping to shape climate adaptation strategies that ensure resilience, protect their livelihoods, and strengthen their role in regional decision-making.
Images provided by CeREPC
The Best Action Plan Award
In the third cohort, 15 participants received $10,000 to implement their action plans, with Bujaru’s innovative mixed-methods approach to climate democracy winning an additional $20,000 for the best action plan.
What sets the Bujaru Citizens' Assembly apart is its unique combination of public consultations and legislative theater. Facilitated by Delibera Brasil, these methods engage the community in tackling critical local issues like deforestation and monoculture, making complex problems more accessible and fostering collective action. Through workshops and training, citizens are empowered to advocate for sustainable agricultural practices and bioeconomy initiatives, promoting long-term resilience.
This innovative approach earned Bujaru the additional $20,000 award to support the implementation of the assembly’s recommendations. The focus is on integrating sustainable practices into municipal planning and strengthening local cooperatives to reduce reliance on monoculture.
Delibera Brasil’s project gives Bujaru’s citizens ownership of climate solutions by involving the local government, civil society, and traditional communities. As a member of the People Powered network, Delibera Brasil is demonstrating how participatory democracy can drive both environmental sustainability and local economic transformation.
Are you interested in learning more about Delibera’s innovative approach to the Bujaru Citizens' Assembly? They will be speaking alongside other innovators at our November 12 webinar on Remixing Democracy: How to connect democratic practices into stronger ecosystems! Register Now.
You can read more about the third cohort of the CDA on the participants' page to hear about the projects and accomplishments so far.
Apply for the Accelerators!
Have these stories inspired you to launch, improve, or expand a participatory program?
We are accepting applications for four new Accelerators focused on participatory climate action, European democratic innovations, engaging marginalized communities in participatory decision-making, and mainstreaming high-quality and inclusive public participation practices in government!
You will be a part of a global network of civil society organizations and governments that are accelerating participatory democracy initiatives around the world with the support of People Powered and partners! All participants receive free access to online training, expert mentoring and advice, and international peer-learning opportunities.
Additionally, Climate Democracy Accelerator participants will receive up to $30,000 in funding support for implementing their programs! Selected participants for the Inclusive Democracy Accelerator and Mainstreaming Participation Accelerator will join an in-person workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2025. Take advantage of this opportunity!