Making participation inclusive and making it last are often treated as separate challenges. Efforts to reach marginalized communities often last only as long as the project behind them. And the participation that does become a permanent part of government tends to hear mostly from people who already have a voice.
On October 28, practitioners from the Czech Republic, Mexico and the Philippines will share how they took on both. They reached people who are usually left out, then built participation into how decisions are made, each by a different route: a national ministry strategy, a state law, and young people trained to run their own assemblies. All three are alumni of People Powered’s accelerator programs.
Date: October 28
Time: 13:00 to 14:30 UTC (check your time zone)
Meet the speakers
Klara Cizkova, Officer, Promotion of Patients’ Rights Unit, Ministry of Health, Czech Republic. For over a decade, Klara was often the only person inside the ministry pushing for citizen participation. She helped the ministry adopt an official participation strategy, training programs and frameworks for new policy processes.
Maverick Ayag, Executive Director, LUPAD, Philippines. Maverick brings young people from remote areas of Tagum City into a citizens’ assembly, with a guide in Cebuano so they can run assemblies in their own communities.
Roberto Ruz, Electoral Councilor, Institute of Electoral and Citizen Participation of Yucatán, Mexico. Roberto led the proposal to reform Yucatán’s Law of Citizen Participation, writing new participation mechanisms into state law. The proposal was shaped through consultations that prioritized youth and Indigenous communities.
Tim Hughes, Lead, Democracy & Participation, Open Government Partnership, on what OGP has learned from governments working to embed participation in decision-making.
Facilitated by Melissa Zisengwe, Program Manager, People Powered
Applications are open for our next programs: the Climate Democracy Accelerator, Democratic Innovations Accelerator, and Rising Stars Mentorship, through November 27. Apply now or join the event to get advice on crafting a strong application.
