LocationsHow UNDP is turning participation into lasting change
Opening civic spaces, together
February 18, 2026
Senegal’s breakthroughs in expanding civic spaces are anchored in community action.
Photo: UNDP Senegal
Across the world, people are asking to be part of decisions that shape their lives—but trust gaps, weak protections and shrinking civic space often make meaningful participation feel out of reach. UNDP’s Funding Windows flagship initiative “Promoting Participation Pathways for Human Development (3P4D)” helps close that gap by connecting legal and policy reforms, inclusive participation models and stronger civil society. The goal is simple; ensuring that participation is not a one-off consultation, but a sustained pathway to better governance and human development.
Photo: UNDP Kenya
As Vivian Kanini, a member of the Women Empowerment Link in Kitui County, Kenya, explains, the shift is both structural and deeply personal:
“Before the 3P4D Project, women’s groups in Kitui were working in isolation—there was no shared platform, no collective voice. Through this network, we now have a stronger voice and a shared space to influence change for women in Kitui County.”
Over the past year, more than 436,000 women and 185,000 young people engaged more directly in civic life, taking part in community dialogues, policy consultations and local decision-making processes. The initiative has reached an estimated 1.3 million people.
In Kenya, Mongolia, Senegal, Somalia and Sri Lanka, the initiative advances civic engagement by supporting legal and policy reforms, promoting innovative models of citizen participation and strengthening civil society organizations, especially for those led by women, young people and marginalized groups.
Senegal — legal breakthroughs anchored in community action
Senegal’s progress demonstrates how legal advances and community-driven participation can reinforce one another. This year, as a result of advocacy and policy dialogue led by UNDP, in collaboration with civil society organizations, Senegal adopted a new Access to Information Law—marking one of the most significant transparency reforms in the region. It was noted by The International Center of Non-for-Profit Law “as a high-quality regulation aligned with global standards.”
Senegal created a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security with 20 youth organizations, embedding young people’s perspectives directly into national peace architecture. The process called on youth to be active agents of peace and positive change, underscoring their role as a united and innovative force for stability and development.
In Casamance, where a four-decade long conflict has only recently ended, women-led civil society organizations convened more than 1,200 community members to resolve local disputes and establish dialogues that support long-term peace. Complementing these efforts, over 20 women’s groups completed a regional academy on crowdfunding and social entrepreneurship, expanding women’s influence in civic and economic spheres.
Senegal has created a National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security with 20 youth organizations, embedding young people’s perspectives directly into national peace architecture.
Photo: UNDP Senegal
Kenya — making participation a right people can feel
Kenya, with UNDP’s assistance, has made important strides turning constitutional guarantees into lived practice. The Public Participation Bill, now before parliament, aims to ensure citizen engagement in law making is meaningful and consistent. At the same time, nationwide consultations have informed harmonized regulations for the Public Benefit Organizations Act—widely recognized as a regional model for civil-society regulation.
Dr Laxmana Kiptoo, Director-General of the Public Benefit Organizations Regulatory Authority, said:
“The Authority greatly values UNDP’s strategic partnership in supporting the development of the PBO Regulations. UNDP’s facilitation of public participation inputs ensured stakeholder perspectives were meaningfully reflected in the final draft—marking a critical milestone in strengthening Kenya’s regulatory framework for civil society.”
Kenya's Public Participation Bill, now before parliament, aims to ensure citizen engagement in law making is meaningful and consistent.
Photo: UNDP Kenya
Mongolia — innovation that elevates everyday voices
In Mongolia, UNDP has supported 15 civil society organizations carrying out initiatives ranging from digital budget oversight tools to deliberative polling in mining-affected areas.
One standout effort was an electronic system for political finance transparency. What began as a locally driven innovation quickly gained national and international attention and has now attracted funding for full scale implementation.
Spaces of dialogue opened by the project shone a light on barriers faced by persons with disabilities. Zoljargal from Baganuur District reflected on the personal impact of these changes:
“For 20 years, I cared for my child, but no one called it work. Now I believe my voice can reach policy-level decision-making.”
In Mongolia, UNDP supports civil society organizations carrying out initiatives that elevate everyday voices, particularly focussing on the barriers faced by persons with disabilities.
Photo: UNDP Mongolia
What began as a locally driven innovation quickly gained national and international attention and has now attracted funding for full scale implementation.
Photo: UNDP Mongolia
Sri Lanka - accountability that starts with listening
In Sri Lanka democratic oversight was strengthened through a combination of state reform and advancements in social accountability. With assistance from the project, parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committees were restructured, and the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus was strengthened. A digital platform enabling citizens to engage directly with legislators was launched by UNDP and the Prime Minister’s Office, enhancing transparency and responsiveness.
Civic leadership flourished. Prior mapping of community based organizations (CBOs) and targeted training of civil society networks in four districts helped organizations sharpen their advocacy, planning and coordination skills. As Shama Kumari, a representatitve from Uhana consortium said:
“The orientation session was an eye-opener… It showed us step by step how to set priorities and plan actions.”
In Sri Lanka civic leadership has flourished through a combination of state reform and advancements in social accountability.
Photo: UNDP Sri Lanka
Somalia — bringing the constitution to the people
In Somalia, the project helped citizens play a more central role in shaping the country’s governance framework. Broad-based constitutional consultations carried out with UNDP’s support brought together voices from towns, districts and universities to discuss amendments to key constitutional chapters. Reflecting on the experience, Said Abdi from Barawe town noted:
“For the first time, I clearly understood how constitutional provisions relate to my daily life and rights as a citizen.”
These efforts helped ensure that the perspectives of women, young people and marginalized communities would directly inform constitutional reform. Review bodies supported by UNDP launched nationwide media campaigns on television, radio, social media and billboards, encouraging civic engagement.
Halimo Mohamud Abdi Gele, Director of the Burtinle Women's Training Centre, in Burtinle, Puntland, Somalia provides essential services to women and girls through education and vocational training.
Photo: UNDP Somalia
When participation travels, change accelerates
A defining feature of 3P4D is learning by doing, and sharing what works. Leveraging UNDP’s extensive country presence, local solutions developed with communities in one country are informing reforms elsewhere, from freedom of information legislation in Papua New Guinea, to community-led planning in Nepal.
By connecting experiences across countries and regions, 3P4D turns innovation into shared momentum, showing that civic-space reform grows faster when ideas, trust and leadership travel together.
It rests on a simple yet powerful idea; participation must be meaningful, inclusive and sustainable. That means creating reforms with communities and institutions, adapting approaches over time and building civic ecosystems rooted in trusted local networks.
In doing so, the 3P4D initiative is fostering stronger collaboration between citizens and institutions and helping translate political will into systemic change. Some of the key reforms in Senegal, Kenya and Mongolia were directly linked to commitments under their respective Open Government Partnership National Action Plans.
This work has been further strengthened through strategic alliances—not only with national authorities and grassroots networks, but also with international civil society organizations such as the International Center for Not‑for‑Profit Law and Article 19—demonstrating the collective power of connecting communities, global actors and committed organizations to seize opportunities to protect and expand civic space.
Looking ahead, 3P4D will grow a global community of practice as it continues to expand legal guarantees, develop inclusive digital platforms and strengthen trust building and leadership, particularly for women and young people.
This work is made possible thanks to the support of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea, through UNDP’s Governance, Peacebuilding, Crisis and Resilience Funding Window.
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