Sustainable development is driven by local governments that are responsive to the needs of their citizens and willing to involve them in their decision-making processes. To make that work, citizens need to feel empowered to make their voices heard and cooperate effectively with the authorities.
This course is based on four pillars: participation, inclusion, social accountability and innovation. It discusses concrete examples of innovative strategies to promote transparent, participatory, inclusive and accountable governance. We will examine different communication tools and consider the importance of managing the expectations of citizens, community organisations and other stakeholders. Special attention is given to ensuring all voices are heard, including women, youth and people with disabilities. Furthermore, we will explore how information technologies can ensure greater accountability and transparency within government and facilitate meaningful participation.
Through a blend of classroom insights and hands-on site visits, I witnessed the power of engagement firsthand. Now, equipped with the tools of community led public place making, gender inclusive governance and open data collection, I proudly apply this knowledge in my daily endeavours” Grateful for the enriching experience, I stand as a testament to the Academy’s commitment to shaping leaders for a more inclusive future.
Martha Sharon Opilli, participant 2024, Program Manager at Keeping Alive Societies Hope, Kenya.
Key Information
The Citizen Participation and Inclusive Governance course is designed for professionals working on participation, inclusion and social accountability processes. We encourage participants from national, regional and local governments, NGOs and donor and development organisations to apply.
The course will take place in The Hague from 07 April 2025 to 18 April 2025.
The course fee is € 3,895*. This includes all training related costs as well as drinks and warm lunches during the training days. Group discounts are available if you participate with three or more colleagues.
This training takes place in The Hague, Netherlands.
After this course, you will receive a professional certificate of completion from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.
*Professionals working in local government or for local NGOs on the DAC list of ODA-recipient countries (OECD) may qualify for a reduced course fee. Contact us for details.
Learning objectives
This course will help you:
Specify conditions and do’s and don’ts for successful citizen participation projects;
Define the conditions necessary to facilitate an open government, including open data initiatives;
Adopt an innovation mindset and learn from innovative participation and inclusion practices from different countries.
Develop actions to strengthen the inclusion of marginalised groups – such as women and youth – in decision-making processes;
Identify instruments for increasing social accountability.
Experts
Experts that are involved in this course:
Shakira van Steenis
A citizen participation expert and the director of Love and Sorrow Streets and the Grassroots office, foundations that aim to get participation off the ground, for instance, by designing urban spaces together with citizens.
Annemieke Bijker
Annemieke is a consultant in participation and citizens’ councils at EMMA, an organisation known for its expertise in communication at the intersection of governance, policy and society. At EMMA (Experts in Media and Society), Annemieke plays a pivotal role in organising and facilitating participatory processes on critical themes such as climate, nature, energy, waste management, […]
Lindsay Vogelzang
Lindsay is an anthropologist, facilitator, and program lead focused on driving social impact. Since 2021, she works at Fuge in Utrecht, which develops participatory approaches for local, public, private governance, taken into consideration future generations. She has collaborated with Dutch Youth Institute and Erasmus+ Jeugd to promote youth engagement and participatory governance. She also works […]
Sofka Trajcevska
Sofka Trajcevska is a policy analyst and researcher specializing in disability rights and inclusion, community-based rehabilitation, personal resilience, and development. With over a decade of experience, she has coordinated policy development, led action research projects, and organized conferences and workshops. Sofka’s has previously worked for Women Engage for a Common Future and the Women’s Global […]
Experience
Participants will be introduced to a diversity of practical and innovative tools to advance citizen participation at the local level. Exchanges of experiences and case-studies will test the applicability of tools to their own context during interactive exercises and debates.
A visit to the Schilderswijk in The Hague invites participants to think about the interaction between local government and citizens in public placemaking initiatives, and the collaboration towards joint solutions.
During a study visits to the Municipal Office of The Hague, participants are introduced to a variety of participatory methods used by the Municipality to involve citizens and partners in their activities, and what citizen participation looks like at a neighbourhood level. Participants also visit two community initiatives in Utrecht, focused on self-governance and open data.
Practical information
Find the practical information for the course here.
After submitting your completed application, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. Once we have assessed your application and admitted you to the course, we will send you an invoice with payment details.
Payments can be made by bank transfer or by PayPal request. We also offer the option of paying in one or two instalments. An advance payment of 50% secures the reservation of a seat at the training until the payment deadline. However, your participation in the course is guaranteed only after receipt of full payment.
Please note that The Hague Academy accepts registrations on a first-paid, first-served policy.
Some countries require a visa to enter the Netherlands. Please check with The Netherlands or the embassy for the visa requirements related to your country. Because of the length of time needed for the visa procedure, we advise you to start this process as soon as possible. Once we have received your payment for the course, The Hague Academy will send you an acceptance letter which will assist you in arranging your visa to The Netherlands.
Under certain circumstances, participants may need to cancel their participation in the course. For cancellations before the payment deadline, we will reimburse the paid amounts minus an administration fee of €350.
To prevent late cancellation, we strongly encourage you to start with your visa application procedure at least six weeks before the start of the training programme.
We will charge a cancellation fee of 50% of the course fee for participants cancelling between four and two weeks prior to the start of the training. If you cancel your participation within the two-week period before the start of the course, then you have to pay 80% of the course fee.
No-show will result in paying 100% of the course fee.
It is always possible to nominate a suitably qualified candidate to replace you without extra charge, in the event that you cannot attend the course.
The Hague Academy for Local Governance reserves the right to cancel a course if the number of participants is insufficient or due to any other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, your payment will be 100% reimbursed. Other costs such as transportation or hotel cannot be reimbursed.
Scholarships
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers MSP scholarships for training courses in the Netherlands. The MENA Scholarship Programme (MSP) aims to enhance the skills, instincts, and abilities of professionals, empowering their organizations and communities to thrive in an ever-changing world.
For more information and eligibility criteria, please visit our Scholarships page. Note that scholarships have a separate application process.
At the Hague Academy, we specialise in developing training programmes that fit your specific needs. Contact us if you are interested in a customised training!