UNDP supports governments to create mechanisms for citizens engagement in policy processes, including vulnerable and marginalized sections of the population. It also focuses on increasing the capacities and skills of civil society organizations and citizens to effectively participate and engage in decision making processes and hold state to account on service delivery and promotion of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

UNDP works with CSOs to enhance civic engagement in all the focus areas of democratic governance. Increasingly, UNDP is focusing on fostering social accountability mechanisms. Social Accountability mechanisms refer to a range of mechanisms through which citizens and CSOs can engage with state officials at various levels and hold state to account.

The social accountability approach enables UNDP to create linkages and synergies between the two aspects of its democratic governance work i.e. fostering inclusive participation and strengthening responsive institutions. In addition, UNDP prioritizes various communication approaches like Communication for Development and Communication for Empowerment to promote inclusive participation and voice; including UNDP Oslo Governance Centre's work on Civil Society and Communication.