Can you believe it’s been six years since we first set out on this journey? What started as two people working out of a storage space has grown into a thriving social enterprise with a passionate team of eight—and we’re still growing!
Our mission remains the same: to integrate participation and data-driven approaches into governance and process design, improving the quality of life for communities worldwide. But we’ve come a long way in how we do it, expanding our impact, tackling new challenges, and continuing to innovate.
Reflecting on Our Journey
Over the years, we’ve completed 230+ projects across 14 countries on three continents, supporting local governments, organizations, and communities in designing participatory processes that truly engage people in decision-making. Whether it’s citizens shaping urban development plans, communities deciding on public budgets, or multi-stakeholder groups setting priorities for sustainability, we’ve been at the forefront of meaningful engagement.
At the same time, capacity building has always been a key pillar of our work. We’ve delivered over 500 hours of training to more than 100 individuals, equipping civil servants, community leaders, and participation coordinators with the skills they need to lead impactful participation processes. We’re proud to have trained 30+ participation coordinators, many of whom now drive participatory governance initiatives in their own communities.
Evaluating Our Impact
Our work isn’t limited to Europe. We’ve had the incredible opportunity to support participatory governance in places like Madagascar and the Seychelles—regions where participation isn’t often linked to governance in the way it is in Europe. Our collaboration with the local fisheries ministries to improve transparency and community engagement in the fishing industry was an eye-opening experience, showing that participatory approaches can have a real impact in unexpected sectors.
At the same time, we developed not just a passion but strong expertise in tackling the climate crisis through participatory decision-making. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, we’ve worked on renewable energy projects, helping communities engage in discussions about wind and solar power. In places like Anenská Studánka and Vojtěchov, we’ve facilitated negotiations between local residents and investors, ensuring that clean energy projects are developed in a way that respects community concerns and builds mutual trust.
We’re also thrilled to be kicking off a brand-new project in the city of Liberec! This initiative, aimed at helping the city reach carbon neutrality, is in its early stages. Our goal is to establish a participatory infrastructure that allows citizens and stakeholders to play a meaningful role in shaping the city’s sustainability strategies. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning!
Embracing Growth and New Horizons
With climate change at the forefront of global challenges, we’re expanding our work in participatory approaches to sustainable energy. By facilitating transparent and inclusive discussions around wind and solar power, we’re helping communities actively shape the transition to renewable energy sources. We believe that the green transition must be done with people, not just for them—and we’re making that vision a reality.
We also acknowledge that the digital engagement space and the civic tech field are growing fast, and we’re making sure our partners have the tools and insights they need to navigate it. Our Civic Tech Market Report 2025 provides a deep dive into the European civic tech landscape, helping cities, government agencies, and civic tech companies make informed decisions about digital participation tools. We’re committed to continuing monitoring the civic tech market, identifying trends, and helping the industry develop in a sustainable way that truly supports the needs of local governments and communities.
Lastly, we believe that participation should be accessible and practical—so we created “Participate Practically”, a 10-hour self-paced online course designed to teach participation in real-world terms such as project management as well as monitoring and evaluation standards. Right now, we’re now working on a Czech-language version with a special focus on climate response. As participation becomes a key tool in tackling climate challenges, we want to ensure that people across sectors have the knowledge they need to implement effective participatory processes.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate six incredible years, we’re more excited than ever for the future. We’re growing, we’re hiring, and we’re ready to take on new challenges. Our commitment to meaningful participation, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable impact is stronger than ever.
Here’s to many more years of innovation, collaboration, and positive change! 🥂
Interested in collaborating on participatory projects or joining our journey? Reach out via info@participationfactory.com to explore opportunities for cooperation.