Civic Leadership and Democracy

An annual training programme designed to strengthen the leadership of young civil society actors. It builds their skills in participatory democracy, civic engagement, good governance and responsible leadership, while fostering dialogue between civil society and public authorities. In the Great Lakes region, young people’s participation in decisions affecting their communities remains limited, even though they are a powerful force for change. The decline of some democratic values, mistrust of institutions and the gap between citizens and decision-makers weaken local governance and social cohesion. The programme starts from a conviction: lasting peace cannot be built without effective citizen participation, transparency and accountability. Our ambition To foster a new generation of ethical, informed and committed civic leaders who can voice their communities’ concerns, defend fundamental rights and contribute to more inclusive and accountable institutions. Training content Participatory democracy: understanding citizen participation mechanisms, the role of elections and ways to influence public policy. Civic engagement: moving from intention to action through concrete initiatives, networking and community mobilization. Good governance: promoting transparency, accountability, monitoring of public action and respect for human rights. Responsible leadership: developing ethical, inclusive, community-serving leadership, with particular attention to the role of women and young people. Civil society–public authorities dialogue: creating constructive spaces for exchange between young leaders, authorities and decision-makers to co-create solutions. Our approach An annual, participatory and practical training that combines learning, hands-on exercises and post-training support. Participants in turn become relays in their organizations and communities, and join a regional network of change-makers. The programme is connected to innovative citizen dialogue spaces such as the Citizen Voice Lab. Expected impact Stronger civic leadership among young civil society actors Greater inclusion of young people and women in local and national governance Improved trust and dialogue between citizens and public authorities A growing network of change-makers committed to democracy and peace