Climate Democracy Accelerator 2027

The Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA) 2027 is a six-month training and support program run by People Powered, the global hub for participatory democracy, for people who want to involve citizens in climate decisions. Every participant receives a US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) implementation grant, and the top six action plans get a further US$15,000 (about ₹14.25 lakh). Applications close on 27 November 2026 at 11:59 pm UTC (5:29 am IST on 28 November).

This is not a general startup grant. It is for government officials or civil society staff who will run a participatory climate project in partnership with each other, and the grant can only be paid to a registered non-profit. Indian applicants must also hold a valid FCRA registration. Only projects on regenerative agriculture or renewable energy are accepted in this cohort. India is one of four priority countries.

What the program offers

Thirty participants each build a participatory program, such as a citizens' assembly or a participatory budgeting process. Each participant receives a dedicated mentor, access to the online Participation Playbook, live sessions, online courses and workshops, localised case studies, and a peer group in their own country run by an in-country lead partner. For India, that partner is PRIA in New Delhi.

The money is a US$10,000 (about ₹9.5 lakh) implementation grant for all participants, and an additional US$15,000 (about ₹14.25 lakh) for the top six action plans in the cohort. The grant is paid once programme requirements are met. After the six months of training, participants have a 12-month window, from September 2027 to August 2028, to carry out their action plan.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are government officials, staff and policymakers, or staff of civil society organisations and climate advocates. Government applicants must partner with a civil society organisation, because only non-governmental entities can receive the grant. Civil society applicants must work with a government institution to carry out the plan. The lead participant needs professional proficiency in English, French, Portuguese or Spanish.

Priority countries are Brazil, Indonesia, India and Mexico, with extra places for other countries, especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America. People Powered members and Open Government Partnership members are prioritised, and former participants can only join as part of a coalition, not as lead applicants.

For an Indian applicant, this suits registered non-profits with FCRA approval, or government teams who have such a partner. It does not suit for-profit startups applying alone, volunteer groups or recently incorporated organisations. The funded organisation must have at least one full year of operations and successful fundraising before being shortlisted, paid staff, and a board of directors or advisory committee.

How to apply

Review the requirements, then complete the online application form and send the required documents by the deadline. The form asks for a short proposal for a participatory project (200 words maximum), the climate challenge it addresses, how it involves marginalised or excluded communities, an example of a partnership that delivered a participatory climate program, and what you hope to gain from the accelerator. Using AI to improve grammar and clarity is acceptable, but fabricating experience or submitting fully AI-generated answers is not. A practical tip: submit one strong application per organisation, since multiple applications from one organisation are discouraged.

How applications are judged and what happens next

Selection takes place in December 2026 and is described as highly competitive. Selected participants are told in January 2027, with due diligence and onboarding in February and March 2027. The program runs from March to August 2027, and participants share their learnings from August to September 2027. Shortlisted organisations go through due diligence, which asks for audited accounts (usually 12 to 24 months), recent audits or assessments, proof of non-profit status, a tax form People Powered will send, a bank account able to receive international US dollar wire transfers from the United States, and, for Indian applicants, the FCRA certificate and details of FCRA grants received.

About People Powered

People Powered describes itself as the global hub for participatory democracy. The CDA has supported over 50 climate action and citizen engagement programs since launching in 2023, and is made possible by the Waverley Street Foundation, with the Open Government Partnership and International IDEA as international partners.

Things to check before you apply

• Expect about two to three hours a week from March to August 2027, plus live online sessions and in-country workshops.
• Participants must write progress surveys and learning reports and support other cohort members.
• Organisations should check FCRA and tax treatment of foreign funds with an adviser before applying.
• The source does not mention an application fee.