Mainstreaming Participation Accelerator(MPA)
Embedding Participatory Democracy into Governance Systems
Participatory and deliberative democracy (PDD) methods such as participatory budgeting, participatory policymaking, citizens’ assemblies, and climate assemblies have expanded rapidly across the world. Yet many of these initiatives remain isolated pilots or one-time consultations that fail to influence how governments actually make decisions.
The Mainstreaming Participation Accelerator (MPA) is a global program designed to address this gap.
MPA supports democratic reformers working within governments and civil society to move participatory innovations from pilot initiatives to durable institutional practice. Through structured technical assistance, mentorship, and peer learning, the program helps reformers develop strategies to embed participation within laws, policies, administrative systems, and budgeting processes.
Rather than focusing solely on participation design, MPA focuses on the institutional adoption of participatory governance—the point at which participation becomes part of how governments routinely operate.
The program is implemented by IPF in collaboration with global partners working to strengthen democratic governance and public participation.
Why Mainstream Participation
Across many countries, public participation is formally recognized in constitutions, laws, and policy frameworks. Yet implementation often remains inconsistent or symbolic.
Common challenges include:
Political Resistance or Lack of Ownership
Exclusion of Marginalized Groups from Decision-making Processes
Limited Resources for Implementing and Sustaining Participatory Programs
Limited Integration of Participation into Planning Budgeting or Regulatory Systems
Weak Institutional Mandates for Participation
Tokenistic or Consultative Participation
Research from organizations such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, People Powered, and the Open Government Partnership shows that meaningful participation can:
- Increase public trust in government
- Improve policy implementation and service delivery
- Strengthen transparency and accountability
- Promote equity and inclusion in decision-making
Our Approach
The MPA combines technical assistance, mentorship, and peer learning to support reformers working to institutionalize participatory governance.
The program is built around five core pillars.
Readiness Diagnostics
Participants enter the program with an existing participatory initiative or a credible institutional reform pathway. The program assesses institutional readiness, including legal frameworks, political feasibility, and coalition strength.
Institutional Pathway Mapping
Reformers identify the pathways through which participation can become institutionalized, including legislation, administrative procedures, budgeting systems, or executive mandates.
Political Strategy and Advocacy
Institutional reform requires navigating complex political environments. The program supports reformers in stakeholder mapping, coalition-building, and developing persuasive narratives for decision-makers.
Sustained Mentorship and Accompaniment
MPA provides ongoing mentorship and troubleshooting rather than one-off training. Reformers receive strategic support as they navigate institutional negotiations and implementation challenges.
Knowledge and Replication
Each reform effort contributes to a growing body of knowledge on how participatory governance can be institutionalized, producing tools, frameworks, and case studies.
Phase I: Building a Global Cohort of Reformers
The first phase of the MPA focused on strengthening the capacity of reformers working to institutionalize participatory governance.
Key highlights include:
- 163 applications received from across the world
- 21 reformers selected for the program
- Participants representing government institutions, civil society organizations, and reform coalitions
Through the program, participants developed institutionalization strategies and advocacy plans aimed at embedding participatory governance within laws, policies, and administrative systems.
Examples of reform pathways explored include:
- Institutionalizing Citizens’ Climate Assemblies within climate governance systems
- Reforming local participation laws to ensure participatory processes have binding authority
- Standardizing participation procedures across government departments
- Strengthening inclusive participation models in county governance systems
These initiatives illustrate different pathways for mainstreaming participatory governance—from legal reform to administrative integration.
Lessons from Phase I
One of the most important lessons from Phase I is that democratic innovations often succeed in design, but stall during institutional adoption.
Many reformers successfully designed participatory programs and built coalitions of support. However, translating these initiatives into formal mandates, policies, and systems proved significantly more difficult.
Key lessons include:
Institutional Readiness Matters
Only 30 of the 163 applicants met minimum criteria for institutional mainstreaming. Many initiatives were still at the pilot stage, highlighting a gap in the democratic innovation ecosystem.
Political Navigation Is Essential
Institutionalizing participation requires navigating complex political environments, including bureaucratic resistance and shifting political leadership.
Technical Design Alone Is Not Enough
Reformers require sustained mentorship and strategic support to translate participatory initiatives into institutional reforms.
Phase II: Accelerating Institutional Adoption
Building on these lessons, Phase II of the MPA introduces a strengthened mentorship and learning architecture focused on accelerating institutional adoption.
Key features include:
- Selection of reformers with demonstrated institutional leverage
- A mentorship cascade model, where experienced reformers support additional practitioners
- Ongoing coaching and institutional troubleshooting
Structured tracking of institutional milestones such as:
- participation mandates adopted
- participation integrated into budgets or planning systems
- participation protocols formalized within institutions
A complementary Implementation Bridge pilot is also being developed to test whether targeted catalytic resources—combined with mentorship—can help reformers convert political support into formal institutional commitments.
Opportunities: Calls and Announcements
Current Opportunities
Learn more about open call for participation here
Resources and Learning Materials
MPA contributes to a growing body of knowledge on how to mainstream participatory governance.
Resources include:
- Institutional mainstreaming frameworks
- Reform action plans
- Policy briefs and case studies
- Learning materials from program workshops and mentorship sessions
Featured Materials
- Mainstreaming Participatory Democracy: Technical Framework
- Lessons from the Mainstreaming Participation Accelerator (Phase I)
- Case Studies on Institutionalizing Participation
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If you are working to institutionalize participatory governance in your country or organization, we encourage you to stay connected with the MPA community.
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