Call for Applications: 3 ways to strengthen your participatory program

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Apply to the People Powered Accelerator and Mentorship programs today for hands-on capacity-building support to solve pressing challenges and deliver high-quality, inclusive public participation and democratic practices!

Our global members provide expert support using our shared state of the art resources. See how recent cohorts have run powerful participatory programs after leveraging this support, including

  • Supporting a Citizens’ Assembly in Georgia and a youth-designed digital platform in Berlin—projects transforming public participation through local innovation in Europe (impact stories launching May 21).

  • Participatory policymaking that led to a new climate adaptation policy in Zimbabwe, new regenerative agriculture practices, reduced deforestation, and more inclusive community participation.

  • Winning access to clean water for 44,000 people in Kenya through government partnerships.

Want to be next to lead change? Learn more about each program, choose the best one for you, and apply by July 1, 2025

Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA)
For governments and civil society organizations that want to bring youth participation to policymaking and governance. Eligibility: applicants in the European Union and Horizon Europe* countries only.

*Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom

Inclusive Democracy Accelerator (IDA)
For governments and civil society organizations that want to improve participatory programs by engaging youth, women, and displaced people. Eligibility: applicants in Latin America, Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe only.

Rising Stars Mentorship
For governments and civil society organizations that want to solve specific problems through focused mentorship sessions. This cohort selection will be focused on EU and Horizon Europe* applications.

Deciding which programs you should apply to?

Apply for the Accelerators if:

  • You want a structured 6-month program and to gain free access to online training, expert mentoring and advice, and international peer-learning opportunities to launch or improve a participatory program.

  • Specifically,

    • Apply for the Democratic Innovations Accelerator If you are based in the EU or Horizon Europe countries* and are focused on bringing youth participation to policymaking and governance, including schools, local communities and local governments.

    • Apply for the Inclusive Democracy Accelerator if you are based in Latin America, Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe and are focused on the inclusion of marginalized communities (youth, women, and displaced people) in participatory decision-making.

Apply for Rising Stars mentorship if:

  • You have a specific challenge that you want to address and don’t require comprehensive support. Applicants from the EU and Horizone Europe* are encouraged.

  • You want to be matched with an expert mentor and have 1-on-1 sessions that are flexibly scheduled over the course of six months.

What are the timelines?

Accelerators timeline:

  • July 1, 2025: Accelerators application deadline.

  • July 30, 2025: Selected participants get notified.

  • September 2025: Program begins

  • March 2026: Program ends

  • April 2026–April 2027:  Participants share learnings and implement their action plan developed during the program

Mentorships timeline:

  • July 1, 2025: Mentorship application deadline

  • July 30, 2025: Selected mentees get notified

  • August 2025: Mentees get matched with mentors and mentorship begins

  • February 2026: Mentorship ends

Want a preview of the programs? Still have questions? Join our info session!

Register for the info session to receive personalized advice on how to craft a strong application for the Accelerators and Rising Stars Mentorship.

Date: May 27
Time: 8–9 AM ET  / 2–3 PM CEST 
Speakers:

  • Alisa Aliti Vlasic, Program Manager, People Powered/Coglobal

  • Juan Francisco Suarez Ruiz, Project Assistant, People Powered/Coglobal

  • Luiza Jardim, Program Coordinator, People Powered

  • Other speakers TBC

Partners and supporters of the Accelerators and Rising Stars Mentorship