Wanja Maina

What happens when people participate, but cannot see their participation shaping what comes next? Our Partner @oidp_org has published a new reflection on the GDC Global Forum 2026, taking us back inside the Trust and Participation conversations in Athens. Representing @uclg_org, Adrià Duarte and Julia Guimarães joined the working group, alongside OIDP Advisory Committee member Silvia Cervellini, exploring one of the Forum’s central tensions: civic energy remains strong, but participation does not automatically translate into influence, institutional change or greater democratic trust. From the #RenunciaYa movement in Guatemala to the role of local and territorial democracy, the article reflects on what it takes to bridge that gap: stronger civic ecosystems, transparency, continuity, inclusive participation and institutions capable of turning public demands into meaningful response. The bigger challenge emerging from Athens is therefore not simply how we create more participation, but how we make participation matter. Thank you to our partners at OIDP for bringing their expertise to the GDC Global Forum and for carrying this important conversation forward. Read their full reflection at the link in the comments. #GDCGlobalForum #GlobalDemocracyCoalition #ParticipatoryDemocracy #DemocraticTrust #CivicParticipation #KeepDemocracyAlive