International Observatory on Participatory Democracy - OIDP

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United Cities and Local Governments consultation mechanism on local democracy Work groups.

The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP) is a space open to all cities in the world and all associations, organizations and research centers interested in learning about, exchanging impressions and applying experiences of participatory democracy on a local scale with the aim of deepening the roots of democracy in municipal government. The network was created in 2001 within the framework of the European Commission's URB-AL programme for decentralized cooperation. It was officially constituted in November 2001 during the 1st Annual Conference of the OIDP in Barcelona, where its internal operating regulations were approved. Since 2006 the OIDP has coordinated with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), at present the OIDP is contributing to provide local government's innovative knowledge in the specific area of citizens' participation. In November 2011 the OIDP decided to recover and place emphasis on its original goal of becoming a space for the production of knowledge and the exchange of useful experiences for the towns and cities that make up the network. Therefore the OIDP assumed the challenge of serving as a reflection in matters of participatory democracy at a worldwide level, in order to innovate and to recommend specific policies to public administrations, preferably local, throughout the world and to make the exchange of experiences its main working base. In order to fulfil that challenge OIDP provides incentives for knowledge in the field of participatory democracy at the local level thanks to the following activities and projects:

Every year since it was created a different local government has been hosting the Presidency of the network for a period of 12 months. Every one of these local governments, which assume the responsibility to move forward on participatory democracy discussion or share expertise in this field, are committed to organize an international conference. The OIDP encourages the "Best Practice in Citizens' Participation" Distinction to recognize those innovative experiences and ideas in the area of participative democracy that promote participation and involvement of citizens in processes of elaborating and implementing public policies. Through the debate we aim to promote instruments and strength the exercise of an active citizenship in the discussion, decision and implementation of public policies. Establishing relationships with other international organizations and seeking synergies with them. Diversifying the composition of the network's members to reach as much as possible to all the cities and regions in the world and decentralizing the network structure. Reactivating the network of Local Observatories for Participatory Democracy. The project was originally included within the framework of the European Commission's URB-AL programme for decentralized cooperation. Its main goal is to create local observatories in a number of European and Latin American cities to identify, evaluate and orient the development of different forms of participatory democracy and thereby to help direct the course of experiences that are under way. Improving the web and its environment in order to provide network members, in the quickest and most accessible way, with the latest updates in the production of knowledge.

26/10/2026

🏆 OIDP Award 2026 |

💻 Special Mention for Civic Tech

👏 Congratulations to Auckland, New Zealand, for its Buzzly youth engagement platform!

Launched in 2024, Buzzly offers an innovative approach to youth participation, addressing barriers that often prevent young people from engaging in traditional public consultations. Instead of relying exclusively on written submissions, surveys and public hearings, the platform enables young people aged 13–24 to express their views through videos, visual art, spoken word, storytelling and written contributions.

🤝 Through a co-design process involving youth ambassadors, Auckland Council departments develop accessible campaigns around public policies and planning issues. Fifty youth ambassadors support peer-to-peer outreach, while partnerships with schools and community organisations help reach diverse communities, including Māori, Pasifika and migrant youth.

📱 Buzzly also combines digital participation with AI-supported qualitative analysis and human review. The insights generated from young people's contributions help Council departments and Local Boards integrate youth perspectives into policymaking, planning and service design.

📊 According to Auckland Council, the platform has engaged 2,710 young participants, generating 2,050 submissions across 37 civic campaigns. 42% of participants identify as Māori or Pasifika, while 40% identify as migrants. More than NZD 60,000 has been distributed directly to participants through its reward system.

🌍 The initiative is already contributing to public policy processes, including Auckland's 30-year Water Resilience Strategy, and its insights are incorporated into all 21 Local Board Plans for 2025–2026.

✨ Buzzly demonstrates how civic technology can go beyond digital consultation to create sustained, creative and inclusive opportunities for young people to influence public decisions. By integrating their perspectives into municipal governance, Auckland is helping make youth participation an ongoing part of local democracy.

🔗 Discover the practice: https://oidp.net/award/en/20/record.php?t=5

21/10/2026

📸 One month since in Kraków!

From 21 to 23 September, cities, local and regional governments, civil society, academics and practitioners from around the world came together for the 25th OIDP Conference to reflect on the future of participatory democracy.

Across 40+ sessions, participants exchanged experiences and ideas on democratic renewal, human rights, youth participation, gender equality, civic education and democratic innovation. The OIDP Award also celebrated local governments developing innovative ways to put citizens at the heart of public decision-making. 🏆

📃 A key milestone was the adoption of the , reaffirming a shared commitment to more inclusive, meaningful and continuous citizen participation.

One month later, the questions raised in Kraków remain as relevant as ever: how can we rebuild trust, ensure that more voices are heard and turn participation into lasting democratic practice?

Democracy doesn't end when a conference closes. It is built every day, in our cities and territories, through the opportunities people have to shape the decisions that affect their lives.

💜 Thank you to the City of Kraków and everyone who made possible.

📸 Take a look back at some of the moments that brought our global community together: https://flickr.com/photos/uclg/albums/

📖 Read the full news article for a recap of the discussions, experiences and key outcomes of : https://oidp.net/en/content.php?id=1999

20/10/2026

🏆 OIDP Award 2026 |

🗳️ Special Mention for the Most Supported Practice by the OIDP Community

👏 Congratulations to Gwanak-gu, South Korea, for its initiative Beyond Promises: Citizen-Led Manifesto Governance in Gwanak-gu!

Receiving 914 votes through the ParticipateOIDP platform, the practice was the preferred choice of the OIDP community, recognising its approach to strengthening citizen participation, transparency and accountability in local governance.

🤝 Launched in 2022, the initiative brings residents into the management of the municipality's electoral pledges, enabling them to contribute from the planning stage through implementation, monitoring and evaluation. A collaborative planning group helped develop the four-year pledge implementation plan, while permanent participatory bodies allow citizens to provide advice, review progress and deliberate on proposed adjustments to government commitments.

💻 The Online Gwanak Office complements these mechanisms by giving residents access to information on municipal pledges, opportunities to submit proposals and tools to monitor implementation. Digital participation is combined with neighbourhood meetings, public consultations and dedicated spaces for young people, children and local businesses.

📊 According to the municipality, by the end of 2025, the pledge fulfilment rate had reached 97.7%, with 35 of the 60 pledge initiatives completed. The practice illustrates how public commitments can become an ongoing process of dialogue, feedback and collaboration between residents and their local government.

✨ By embedding participation throughout the policy cycle, Gwanak-gu offers an example of how local governments can make decision-making more open and responsive, while strengthening public trust through transparent monitoring and continuous citizen engagement.

🔗 Discover the practice: https://oidp.net/award/en/20/record.php?t=7

19/10/2026

🌍 Democracy at a turning point: what is putting it under strain?

Declining public trust, growing polarisation, armed conflicts, geopolitical instability, widening inequalities and the climate crisis are placing increasing pressure on democratic institutions and social cohesion.

The of also highlights the opportunities and risks of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. While they can expand access to information and facilitate public dialogue, they can also contribute to disinformation, manipulation and exclusion.

The Declaration reaffirms that protecting human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law is a shared responsibility, and that meaningful citizen participation is essential to democratic renewal.

🏙️ Democracy starts with local and regional governments. Cities and territories are key spaces for democratic innovation, where people can address shared challenges, shape public priorities and contribute to decisions affecting their communities.

📄 Stay tuned for a deeper dive into what this all means, and read the Final Declaration of Conference, Kraków 2026:
tinyurl.com/OIDPKrakow

16/10/2026

📢 Les Rencontres européennes de la participation 2026 : rendez-vous du 23 au 27 novembre !

Comment renforcer la participation citoyenne et donner davantage de place aux citoyen·nes dans les décisions publiques ?

Pour leur 10ᵉ édition, les Rencontres européennes de la participation réuniront les acteur·rices de la démocratie participative autour de cinq jours d’échanges, de réflexions et de partage d’expériences.

🤝 Au programme : conférences, ateliers participatifs, rencontres et découvertes pour croiser les pratiques et imaginer ensemble de nouvelles façons de faire vivre la démocratie.

📍 23–25 novembre : Dijon
💻 26–27 novembre : en ligne

🔗 Découvrez le pré-programme et les informations pratiques : https://www.deciderensemble.com/rencontres-2/rencontres-2026

15/10/2026

🏆 OIDP Award 2026 |

🌿 Special Mention for Sustainability

👏 Congratulations to the Municipality of Ramallah, Palestine, for its initiative, the Ramallah Youth City Council (RYCC)!

Established in 2008, the initiative makes youth participation a permanent part of local governance, giving young people a structured role in shaping their city's future.

Through democratic elections held every three years, 22 representatives aged 14–17 are selected from diverse educational backgrounds to engage directly with municipal authorities and contribute to local decision-making.

Beyond consultation, the Council enables young people to participate in discussions on public spaces, municipal services, safety, social inclusion and children's rights. Members receive training in civic education, leadership and human rights, while regular meetings and initiatives such as Municipality Day offer opportunities to experience local governance first-hand.

🌍 Supported by dedicated municipal staff, an annual budget and integration into long-term municipal strategies, the RYCC has continued its work for more than 15 years. Its inclusive approach also promotes the participation of young people from different educational and social backgrounds, including students with hearing disabilities.

✨ The initiative illustrates how youth participation can move beyond occasional consultations to become a lasting feature of democratic governance. By creating permanent spaces for young people to contribute to public decisions, Ramallah demonstrates how local governments can invest in civic engagement and ensure that younger generations have a voice in shaping their communities.

🔗 Discover the practice: https://oidp.net/award/en/20/record.php?t=6

📹 Watch the acceptance speech here: https://youtu.be/_QGOU9C2pTM

14/10/2026

📢 The Kraków Declaration: a shared commitment to democratic renewal

How can we rebuild trust in democratic institutions and ensure that citizens have a meaningful say in the decisions that shape their lives?

Adopted by the OIDP General Assembly on 23 September 2026, the is the Final Declaration of the 25th Conference of the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP), held in Kraków, Poland.

Marking 25 years of OIDP's work, the Declaration sets out a shared diagnosis of today’s challenges, eight commitments to strengthen participatory democracy, and a call to action addressed to governments and relevant stakeholders.

🏙️ As the level of governance closest to citizens, are essential to turning democratic principles into meaningful opportunities for people to shape public decisions.

📄 Stay tuned for a deeper dive into what this all means, and read the Final Declaration of Conference, Kraków 2026:
tinyurl.com/OIDPKrakow

13/10/2026

📢 VIII Encuentro Ibérico de Presupuestos Participativos | 9–11 de noviembre, Santiago de Compostela

Del 9 al 11 de noviembre, Santiago de Compostela acogerá el VIII Encuentro Ibérico de Presupuestos Participativos, reuniendo a gobiernos locales, profesionales, personas expertas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil de España y Portugal.

🤝 El encuentro será un espacio de intercambio, reflexión y aprendizaje entre pares sobre los retos y oportunidades actuales de la democracia participativa y el papel de los presupuestos participativos en el fortalecimiento de una gobernanza local más inclusiva, transparente y democrática.

💬 El programa abordará temas como la confianza democrática, la inclusión y la diversidad, las herramientas digitales, la rendición de cuentas y la evaluación del impacto, así como la participación de la infancia, la juventud y otros grupos tradicionalmente infrarrepresentados.

A través de debates, talleres e intercambio de experiencias, el encuentro explorará nuevas formas de fortalecer la participación ciudadana y la democracia local.

El evento está organizado por el Ayuntamiento de Santiago de Compostela, en colaboración con la Rede de Autarquias Participativas (Portugal Participa), el OIDP y Coglobal.

🔗 Lee la noticia: https://oidp.net/es/content.php?id=2001

08/10/2026

🏆 OIDP Award 2026 |

🌿 Special Mention for Ecological Transition and Environment

👏 Congratulations to the Municipality of Dhankuta, Nepal, for its project “Participatory Watershed Governance in the Nibuwa–Tankhuwa Catchment”!

Launched in 2021, the initiative strengthens water security and climate resilience through a participatory approach centred on the watershed as both an ecological and governance unit.

Faced with water scarcity, landslides, soil erosion and increasingly extreme rainfall, Dhankuta has brought together local governments, communities, technical experts and civil society to identify challenges and develop shared solutions.

🤝 Through participatory mapping, community consultations and multi-stakeholder planning, residents — including women, indigenous communities, smallholder farmers and other groups most affected by climate and water challenges — take an active role in planning, implementation and monitoring.

The initiative combines environmental restoration, water conservation, climate adaptation and inclusive local governance, while strengthening cooperation across municipal boundaries.

✨ The OIDP Jury highlighted its strong participatory methodology, inclusive engagement and innovative approach to inter-municipal environmental governance, noting how it places citizens at the centre of decision-making.

🔗 Discover the initiative: https://oidp.net/award/en/20/record.php?t=4

07/10/2026

From participation to trust: how can civic participation lead to institutional change?

On 1 October, we took part in the Global Democracy Coalition Global Forum 2026 in Athens, held in collaboration with the Athens Democracy Forum, under the theme “Democracy and Trust: From Diagnosis to Collective Action.”

The Forum brought together democracy organisations and partners from around the world to reflect on a central challenge: democratic participation is expanding, but trust in democratic institutions is not keeping pace.

The challenge is not simply to create more opportunities to participate, but to build institutions where participation is meaningful, consequential and capable of shaping decisions.

🔗 Read the full article: https://oidp.net/en/content.php?id=2000

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