Designing participatory and inclusive democracy initiatives can be challenging — especially within current complex political and institutional environments. You don’t have to face those challenges alone. Applications for expert mentoring support are now open.
The Rising Stars Program provides democracy practitioners with dedicated, expert guidance to launch and improve participatory programs. Through a structured online mentorship, it connects advocates, policymakers, and program managers with experienced, on-the-ground experts who offer practical advice tailored to their projects and contexts.
We bring together the expertise of mentors worldwide, including Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and Latin America. Thanks to EU Horizon funding through the Nets4Dem program, Coglobal has partnered with People Powered to expand the Rising Stars mentorship opportunities across Europe and beyond.
Mentees will receive up to five 1-hour calls over six months, focusing on developing participatory programs in civil society and government.
Applications submitted after the deadline will be considered by the following application deadline. If you have an urgent deadline and need to receive mentoring assistance sooner, contact the People Powered at mentorship@peoplepowered.org.
Who is this support for?
For all government reforms, advocates and practitioners who need targeted support, exchange of ideas, or specific resources to your current challenge, especially:
- Activists in civil society organizations and governments trying to win approval for participatory programs.
- Government officials and community partners trying to improve or address planning challenges on participatory programs.
- Staff in government and civil society organizations responsible for figuring out solutions for implementing or sustaining participatory programs.
How does the mentorship support work?
- Apply for expert mentoring support.
- Prepare for the mentorship sessions. Participate in an online orientation session about the program’s goals and expectations, mentoring process and resources offered. We review your application and assign you a mentor or mentoring group. Matching criteria include the type of participatory program, language, location, and challenges you need support with.
- Meet your mentor or mentoring group. You and your mentor schedule a call to discuss your challenges and decide on the goals you want to achieve through your mentorship. You have up to five calls with your mentor or mentoring group over 6 months.
- Get the confidence, knowledge and skills to run a more successful participatory program!
Mentors
These are some of our mentors from the previous cohort. Please stay tuned for the new list of our carefully selected mentors from around the globe.
Learn about them
Seona Candy, Demos Helsinki, Finland
Achille Noupeou, ASSOAL, Cameroon
Alberto Ford, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Argentina
Aleksandra Zietek, Eurocities, Belgium
Alisa Aliti Vlasic, Coglobal, Croatia
Andrés Falck, Coglobal, Spain
Anne Gauthier, Montréal Urban Ecology Center, Canada
Bachir Kanoute, Enda ECOPOP Organization, Senegal
Charlie Martial Ngounou, Afro-leadership, Cameroon
Czarina Medina-Guce, Asian Development Bank, Philippines
Edwin Msewa, Jappa-NIGEL Consultancies, Malawi
Eliza Meriabe, Nalotuesha Indigenous Women Organisation, Kenya
Emiliano Arena, National Agency for Access to Public Information, Argentina
Fernanda Imperio, Delibera Brasil, Brazil
Francesca Lynch, Scottish Community Development Centre, Scotland
Gisela Signorelli, Conecta Iberoamérica, Argentina
Jeremy Apert, European Partnership for Democracy, Belgium
Juan López-Aranguren, Democratic Society, Spain
Kaisa Schmidt-Thomé, Demos Helsinki, Finland
Katarzyna Pawłowska, Shipyard Foundation, Poland
Katy Rubin, Legislative Theatre Practitioner, United Kingdom
Katya Petrikevich, Participation Factory, Czech Republic
Nikita Rakhyani, PRIA, India
Kudzaiishe Seti, RMBJ Consulting, Southern Africa
Rosella Nocoletti, Eurocities, Belgium
Saha Balaganesh, Democratic Society, Belgium
Madison Rock, Arizonans for a Clean Economy, United States
Oluchi Igili, University of Amsterdam, Nigeria
Paulo Francisco, Loures City Council, Portugal
Pier Paolo Fanesi, Municipality of Grottammare, Italy
