People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator 2026 for Government and Civil Society Leaders (Up To $10,000 Grant)

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Applications are open for People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator 2026. The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) is a six-month program that prepares governments and civil society organizations to plan and implement participatory processes for a just climate transition, with a focus on renewable energy and regenerative agriculture.

Participants work with a dedicated mentor to design action plans where decision-making power and solutions are driven by the communities most affected by climate change.

Climate change is a global issue affecting every aspect of our modern society, from declining agricultural productivity to rising sea levels, drought, forest fires, and catastrophic flooding. To tackle the climate crisis, governments have a mandate to enable and encourage citizens, civil society, activists, and more to participate in shaping and implementing climate policies. By expanding public participation and bringing marginalized voices into decision-making, governments can create climate-focused policies that prioritize renewable energy and regenerative agriculture, ensuring solutions are equitable and responsive to community needs.

People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator Focus Areas

People Powered is seeking government and civil society leaders to join a new cohort of innovators who want to launch participatory programs that shape climate policy, with a focus on regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and just transitions:

Renewable energy: Projects focusing on clean energy power from nature, like solar, wind, water, to improve access to clean energy sources for communities while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Regenerative agriculture: Projects focusing on an holistic approach to farming that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, improves water cycles, and increases resilience to climate change while supporting socioeconomic systems such as food sustainability, local economies, and so on.

The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) is a six-month, practice-oriented training and support program that prepares members to plan and implement an inclusive and participatory process for a just climate transition. 30 participants will develop a project to implement a participatory program focused on regenerative agriculture, renewable energy, and climate solutions that address the needs and voices of local communities.

People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator Benefits

Selected applicants will have access to a dedicated mentor to guide the development of their program, along with:

Step-by-step resources, including the Participation Playbook, our interactive, online tool for designing participatory programs.
Practice-oriented live sessions, online courses, and workshops.
Participation in a country-based peer group, facilitated by the in-country lead partner, for guidance, feedback, and collaboration.
Localized case studies and resources relevant to participants’ country contexts.
A $10,000 USD implementation grant for all participants.
The top five action plans in each cohort will receive an additional $15,000 award.

Eligibility Criteria

Government officials, staff members and policymakers who want to launch a participatory program for making just climate-related decisions. Please note: Government institutions applying must have a partnership with a civil society organization/non-governmental organization, as the grant recipient must be a non-governmental entity.
Civil society organization staff members and/or climate advocates who want to implement a participatory program focused on climate in partnership with a government institution. Please note: Civil society organizations applying must work in partnership with a government institution, as they must follow up with the implementation of the action plan.
Organizations should nominate a lead participant with professional proficiency in at least one of the following languages: English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.
The program prioritizes applicants from the four priority countries: Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Mexico, with additional spots available for participants from other countries. especially from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.