The International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) invite local and regional governments from around the world to participate in the call for the 21st edition of the OIDP Award “Best Practice in Citizen Participation.”
The OIDP Award is an international recognition that celebrates innovative and transformative practices that strengthen participatory and deliberative democracy at the local and regional level.
The 21st OIDP Award includes five categories:
The Award is open to local, subnational and regional governments whose participatory and deliberative democracy practices have been active during 2026.
Non-profit organisations may also apply, provided that the practice has been developed and implemented in collaboration with a local or regional government. For those cases, applicants must submit a letter of endorsement from the local or regional government confirming its authorisation and support for the application.
For further information on eligibility and requirements, please consult the Terms of the 2027 Award.
Local, subnational and regional governments, as well as eligible organisations, must be members of the OIDP in order to submit an application.
If you are not yet an OIDP member, you must complete the membership form by 5 January 2027.
To submit your practice, please complete the Online Application Form by 12 January 2027.
The application form is available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
We strongly encourage applicants to follow the Application Guide when preparing their submission. Providing clear and detailed information will help the jury better understand and assess the practice.
The OIDP Award offers an opportunity to showcase local innovation internationally and contribute to strengthening participatory democracy around the world.
By submitting a practice, local and regional governments can:
Awarded practices may also contribute to academic research, publications and knowledge-sharing initiatives developed in collaboration with universities and research centres.
The 21st OIDP Award and Special Mentions will be presented during the 26th OIDP Conference, taking place in Niterói, Brazil, from 11 to 14 May 2027.
The winning local or regional government will receive a trophy, diploma and dedicated international dissemination of its practice. Travel and accommodation expenses for one representative of the winning government will be covered to attend the Award Ceremony.
For detailed requirements and to submit a proposal, please consult the following resources:
For any questions, please contact oidp@uclg.org.
Join the OIDP