Enhancing Inclusive Participation: Challenges and Strategies Discussed

During the meeting on 5 March 2024, Team Europe Democracy Network's Working Group 2 discussed key findings on methodologies, tools and approaches to support meaningful and inclusive participation in partner countries. Strengthening inclusive participation is an important antidote in the fight against authoritarian trends and the decline of democracies that have been observed over the last 20 years in many countries. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 'leave no one behind' principle confirm that relevance. Key approaches highlighted in the draft report on "Tools, Methodologies, and Approaches to Support Meaningful and Inclusive Participation of Groups Vulnerable to Marginalisation (Women, Youth, Marginalised Communities and Persons with Disabilities)", include the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA), the Theory of Change, and grant-making mechanisms. The report underscores that by implementing the HRBA in inclusive participation projects, there is a better alignment with international human rights commitments. The Theory of Change is used as a strategic tool in project design and implementation, while grant-making mechanisms are recognised for their potential to increase inclusiveness by channelling funds to local civil society organisations.

The meeting discussed three cross-cutting challenges identified during the analysis, with the aim to jointly address them.

The first challenge is intersectionality in programming. It is important for initiatives designed to ensure the involvement of vulnerable groups, such as women, minorities, and persons with disabilities, to acknowledge that discrimination and marginalisation often result from a complex interplay of intersecting identities. Therefore, proactively addressing intersectionality is critical for empowering those most at risk of being left behind. It was agreed that there is a need for deeper reflection on how to concretely integrate an intersectional perspective into programming practices.

The second challenge is related to the search for a holistic approach that addresses capacity both among right holders and duty bearers. Evaluations of interventions supporting civil society organisations (CSOs) and other vulnerable groups showed significant progress; however, they also identified shortcomings in engaging both 'right holders' and 'duty bearers'. Therefore, the application of HRBA in supporting inclusive participation holistically must maintain a dual focus on rights holders and duty bearers. This means that, in addition to strengthening the capacity of those left behind and their organisations, initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive participation should also accompany public institutions in relevant efforts, such as reforming legal frameworks, transforming attitudes and establishing systems to ensure that all members of society can engage in public life without discrimination.

The third challenge is the search for relevant funding mechanisms to support transformative outcomes and sustainability. Projects focused on supporting meaningful and inclusive participation of marginalised groups, which direct funds to the micro level, have proven to be effective in directly addressing human rights abuses. However, overall results in terms of transformative, long-term and structural change are more mixed. Consequently, a reflection is needed on what elements are needed in the planning and implementation of initiatives on inclusive participation to ensure sustainable impact.