At the Edge of Participation

UNDP report cover: 'At the Edge of Participation' with a person in a colorful dress.

At the Edge of Participation

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At the Edge of Participation

October 23, 2025

How Research and Development is promoting civic engagement and enabling collective intelligence in the Global Majority

This report presents how the UNDP Accelerator Labs Network uses research and development to foster civic engagement and collective intelligence through innovative participatory approaches across diverse contexts across the globe. It examines 15 cases of innovation around civic engagement, finds that they cluster around three patterns—enabling voice, collaborative design, and spurring community organizing– and discusses the impact of inclusive, community-driven solutions on sustainable development challenges. The conclusions identify ongoing questions for future research.