Participation.net is a global, online space for sharing ideas about the participation of people in development, citizenship, governance and rights. It aims to give a voice to innovative ideas and views that will help to strengthen the involvement of marginalised people in decision-making, and to improve the performance and accountability of key institutions.

Based at the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex, UK, participation.net is a joint initiative of four partners:

  • Citizenship DRC – the Development Research Centre on Citizenship, Participation and Accountability
  • LogoLink – the Learning Initiative on Citizen Participation and Local Governance
  • Participation Resource Centre at IDS, a leading collection of materials on participatory methodology
  • Eldis – the gateway to development information

The website aims to provide overviews of key trends and debates, leading to further detail and resources. A series of Topic Guides provide briefings on major issues and link to selected materials. The guides aim to serve as a platform for greater debate and exchange, rather than being a one-way forum. Current topics include:

  • Thinking about rights
  • Thinking about citizenship
  • Thinking about participation

  • Learning and teaching for tranformation

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