Deadline: November 30, 2025
Are you passionate about participatory democracy, climate action, or youth engagement? Here’s your chance to unlock funding and mentorship for your participatory program through the People Powered Call for Applications 2025!
People Powered, a leading global network supporting participatory and deliberative democracy, invites applications for its flagship accelerator and mentorship opportunities. This initiative offers financial support, expert guidance, and valuable networking for organisations or government institutions seeking to scale impactful participatory programs around the world.
About the Call for Applications
The Call for Applications: Unlock Funding & Mentorship for Your Participatory Program is designed to empower changemakers advancing civic participation and democratic innovation. Through three dedicated programmes, People Powered will provide training, funding, and personalised mentorship to selected applicants working on participatory governance projects.
Eligible applicants include civil society organisations, government institutions, and public officials developing or implementing participatory programs in their communities.
Application Deadline: 30 November 2025, 11:59 PM (UTC)
Available Programmes
1. Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA)
The Climate Democracy Accelerator offers direct funding and expert guidance to help governments and civil society organisations design and implement ambitious climate action projects with strong community participation.
What’s Offered:
- A US $10,000 grant for selected participants
- Among the participants, five action plans will each receive an additional US $15,000
- Access to global mentors, training sessions, and peer learning opportunities
Who Can Apply:
The programme is open globally, with priority given to organisations from Brazil, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Applicants from other countries (including Nigeria and other African nations) are encouraged to apply if their projects align with the programme’s focus areas.
Focus Areas:
- Renewable energy transitions
- Regenerative agriculture
- Climate resilience and adaptation
- Local community participation in environmental policy
2. Democratic Innovations Accelerator (DIA)
The Democratic Innovations Accelerator supports the development and testing of new participatory democracy models—especially those engaging youth in decision-making.
What’s Offered:
- Intensive mentorship from global experts in participatory governance
- Peer-to-peer learning and collaboration opportunities
- Access to innovative tools and research to strengthen democratic practices
Who Can Apply:
This track is open to organisations and institutions based in EU and Horizon Europe countries only.
3. Rising Stars Mentorship Program
The Rising Stars Mentorship Program offers personalised, one-on-one guidance from experienced mentors to help refine and implement participatory democracy projects.
What’s Offered:
- Tailored mentorship and capacity-building support
- Strategic advice on programme design, stakeholder engagement, and impact measurement
- Access to People Powered’s international network of practitioners
Who Can Apply:
This programme is open globally, making it an excellent opportunity for applicants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America to connect with global leaders in democratic innovation.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Represent a civil society organisation, government agency, or public institution
- Demonstrate a clear participatory project or initiative in design or implementation
- Be committed to advancing inclusive and transparent governance
- Have the capacity to complete proposed activities within the programme timeline
How to Prepare Your Application
To increase your chances of selection, ensure you prepare the following:
- Clear Project Idea
Define your participatory programme—its goals, target audience, and measurable impact. Ensure alignment with climate action or democratic participation. - Strong Implementation Plan
Develop a feasible timeline, realistic activities, and clear milestones for delivery. - Detailed Budget
Present a transparent and justified financial plan, outlining how grant funds will be used. - Partnerships and Stakeholders
Highlight collaboration with community groups, local authorities, or other partners. - Sustainability Plan
Explain how your initiative will continue or scale after the programme funding ends. - Supporting Documents
Prepare organisational credentials, previous experience, financial statements, and letters of support where relevant.
Why Apply?
Participating in the People Powered programmes offers far more than financial aid. Grantees and mentees gain:
- Access to global networks of practitioners and experts
- Exposure to innovative democratic models
- Enhanced capacity for evidence-based governance
- Opportunities for international collaboration
Even if your project is not among those awarded the highest grants, the mentorship, knowledge exchange, and visibility you gain can significantly strengthen your long-term impact.
Application Timeline
- Applications open: Now
- Deadline: 30 November 2025, 11:59 PM (UTC)
- Programme start: Early 2026
Ready to Apply?
If you’re ready to make your participatory idea a reality, don’t miss this chance to unlock funding and mentorship for your participatory program!
👉 Read More About the Programme
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