UCLG-MEWA participated in the 25th Conference of the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP 2026), held in Kraków, Poland, on 21–23 September 2026. Convened under the theme “Hope and Renewal in the Face of a Global Crisis of Democracy,” the conference brought together local governments, civil society organizations, academics, and international organizations, serving as a platform for exchanging experiences on participatory democracy, citizen participation, democratic resilience, and inclusive local governance.
United Cities and Local Governments Middle East and West Asia Section (UCLG-MEWA) was represented by Beyza Çetin, Research, Development and Projects (RDP) Coordinator, and Rumeysa Yılmaz, Project Assistant. The delegation followed selected sessions throughout the three-day program.
Day 1 – 21 September 2026
The opening day focused on democratic renewal, community empowerment, and participatory governance at the local level. Reşat Yücel from Bağlar Municipality, a member of UCLG-MEWA, shared a local government perspective at a panel on community empowerment and democratic innovation. Discussions addressed participatory budgeting practices and the contribution of local governments to community empowerment, as well as how meaningful civic participation can be sustained in contexts of crisis, conflict, and historical exclusion.
Day 2 – 22 September 2026
Throughout the day, discussions covered the civic engagement of new generations, with a contribution from Ege Dinç, Vice President of the Başkent Youth Council of Ankara City Council, as well as local participatory democracy under occupation, exile, and shrinking civic space, and the relationship between human rights, local governance, and public trust.
Day 3 – 23 September 2026
The final day highlighted youth participation in inclusive urban governance through digital tools, as well as civic education and participatory democracy in school settings. The UCLG-MEWA Research, Development and Projects Department attended the session on the Horizon Europe projects INSPIRE and PHOENIX, which shared experiences on strengthening inclusive participation through democratic capabilities. Following a workshop on democratic design practices with young people, the conference concluded with the OIDP General Assembly and the closing session.
Through its participation in OIDP 2026, UCLG-MEWA had the opportunity to follow international and local perspectives on participatory democracy and inclusive governance. The contacts established with local governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international networks during the conference laid the groundwork for potential future cooperation, while the experiences shared on Horizon Europe projects offered useful perspectives for UCLG-MEWA’s project development efforts.