Climate change is an urgent global issue impacting every facet of modern society, from declining agricultural productivity and rising sea levels to drought, forest fires, and catastrophic flooding. To effectively address this crisis, governments must empower and encourage citizens, civil society, activists, and various stakeholders to actively participate in shaping and implementing climate policies. By fostering public participation and incorporating marginalized voices into decision-making processes, governments can craft climate-focused policies that are both equitable and responsive to community needs.
People Powered is seeking government and civil society leaders to join a new cohort of innovators dedicated to launching participatory programs that influence climate policy. These initiatives will cover areas such as clean transportation, renewable energy, decarbonization, energy-efficient homes, air pollution, agroecology, and more. This program is open to governmental institutions, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations from around the world, with each cohort accommodating 15 participants.
The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) is a six-month, hands-on training and support program designed to help members plan and implement inclusive, participatory processes for a just climate transition. Participants will develop projects that address the needs and voices of local communities. Selected applicants will receive guidance from dedicated mentors and have access to resources like the Participation Playbook, practice-oriented live sessions, online courses, and a $10,000 implementation grant. Additionally, participants can compete for an extra $20,000 award for the best-developed project.
To qualify for the CDA program, applicants must be government officials, civil society organization staff members, or climate advocates working in partnership with governmental institutions. Applicants need professional proficiency in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Preference will be given to applicants from G20 countries, especially Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Indonesia, as well as People Powered or Open Government Partnership members. Applicants should be from established organizations with at least one year of operations and successful fundraising experience.
Key dates include the application period from May 8 to June 27, 2024, with selected participants notified in July 2024. The program begins in October 2024 and concludes in March 2025, followed by a 12-month implementation period for participants to execute their action plans. Interested applicants should visit People Powered on docs.google.com to apply and submit the required documents by June 27, 2024, 11:59 pm UTC. For more details, please review the program requirements and selection criteria.
