New Climate Democracy Funding, Video & Learning Event!

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Join our event with ADB: Engaging Communities for Effective Climate Solutions

Co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and People Powered, this special “CSO Takeover” spotlights civil society voices in climate action! It brings together ADB staff and partners from across Asia and the Pacific to explore how meaningful stakeholder and civil society engagement can make climate projects more effective, equitable, and sustainable. 

Through practical case studies by People Powered members from India and Indonesia, you will learn how participatory approaches strengthen climate action and deliver measurable impacts—and discover how support from People Powered and ADB can help strengthen your programs.

Register now!

We’re expanding the Climate Democracy Accelerator

Big news: the People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) is doubling in size — empowering more governments, civil society groups, and communities to design participatory climate action plans.

Since 2022, over 90 local programs in 33+ countries have used the CDA to engage residents in shaping renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and climate policy. Now, we’ll help launch 120 more community-led programs worldwide, in partnership with organizations in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa.

Together, we’re building a global movement for climate democracy — one that puts people at the center of solutions.

Learn more

New video: Citizens on stage – Legislative theatre & climate action in the Amazon

In the heart of the Amazon, citizens of Bujaru, Brazil, are showing how climate action can be both creative and democratic. Through a citizens’ assembly and legislative theater, residents came together to address urgent challenges—like biodiversity loss and low incomes—while building a shared vision for their city’s future.

Supported through People Powered’s Climate Democracy Accelerator, this story shows how citizens can balance environmental protection and a healthy economy, by mixing different participatory democracy methods. Watch how imagination, art, and participation are transforming local climate policy—and inspiring new community leaders.

Watch the video!

People Powered World Tour

Our staff recently traveled around the world for a series of big conferences and workshops to support global movements for participatory and deliberative democracy. We organized and contributed to sessions at Climate Week in New York, the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa in Namibia, the Open Government Partnership Summit in Spain, Nets4Dem and Democracy R&D conferences in Brussels, Digital Democracy in The Hague, The Lehman Foundation Summit in São Paulo, and democracy narratives workshops in The Hague, Oslo, and Bern. Whew!

Registration is now open for the People Powered 2026 Convening!

We’re coming together in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 2–5, 2026, for our next global gathering on participatory democracy. This year’s theme — Global Challenges, Participatory Solutions — explores how people-powered approaches can tackle urgent issues like the climate crisis, the need for more inclusive democracies, and narrative change.

Join civil society leaders, public officials, researchers, and funders from around the world to share insights, build skills, and co-create solutions that make democracy work for everyone.

👉 Early-bird registration is open until January 15, 2026.

Register now!

Call for Applications: Unlock funding & mentorship for your participatory program

Applications are still open for People Powered global Accelerators and mentorship — supporting changemakers who are building more inclusive, participatory democracies.

Whether you’re driving climate action, expanding youth participation, or designing new ways for communities to shape government decisions, these programs offer tailored support, expert mentorship, and funding to bring your ideas to life.

🔹 Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) — $10,000–$25,000 in grants to engage communities in climate solutions, with priority for Brazil, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
🔹 Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA) — for youth participation initiatives in EU and Horizon Europe countries.
🔹 Rising Stars Mentorship — personalized guidance for emerging leaders in participatory democracy.

Apply by November 30

We’re accelerating 37 participatory programs around the world

Change is happening everywhere! 37 teams of policymakers and civil society leaders joined new People Powered Accelerator and Mentorship cohorts to launch or expand participatory democracy programs in their communities.

From food security to youth inclusion, gender equity to institutional trust — these reformers are co-creating local solutions using participatory budgeting, participatory policymaking, and citizens’ assemblies. Over six months, they’ll receive hands-on training, expert mentorship, and peer learning through our global community of members.

Meet the changemakers driving democracy forward in over 30 countries.

Bujaru Citizens' Assembly: In this video from Delibera Brasil, participants in the Bujaru-PA Citizens’ Assembly in Brazil discuss their learnings and their experiences of participating in the program.

Citizen Assemblies: The Power of Social Participation in Climate Action: This report by Fundación CONAMA analyzes several climate assemblies and draws on over 1,200 environmental professionals to explore the potential of citizens' assemblies to influence climate action.

Youth political participation: literature and policy review: This comprehensive review from Youth Democracy Cohort maps four decades (1980–2023) of academic literature and policy regarding youth political participation in democratic contexts.

  • Register for our webinar on community-led climate action 

  • Apply for funding and mentorship to level up your participatory programs

  • Get tickets for the People Powered 2026 Convening