Testimonials

For years, the Barcelona City Council advocated for the European Commission to launch funding programs for decentralized cooperation that would recognize the importance of subnational governments in European policies. In 1995, the URB-AL program was created to promote cooperation between these governments in Europe and Latin America.

The Participation Directorate of the Barcelona City Council, with the support of the International Relations Directorate, presented the OIDP project, which was approved by the Commission. In 2001, the Observatory began its journey and, due to the interest it generated, continued its work even after European funding ended.

I would like to recall that during those years there was a growing global demand for greater citizen involvement in global governance, with the launch of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre in 2001. From this emerged, among many other social movements, the Forum of Local Authorities (FAL).

In 2004, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) was established and began an important collaboration with OIDP, until in 2006 the Observatory was integrated into the global organization, contributing its experience and a highly valuable database on citizen participation. Today, this database gathers cases from all continents and constitutes an essential body of knowledge, which continues to expand year after year through the awards it organizes.

I feel very fortunate to have witnessed the creation and consolidation of OIDP, and in the final years of my professional career, to have contributed from UCLG to the promotion of its awards.

Thank you to all the people I have met along this remarkable journey, whose success proves that we were right to believe in it and work to make it happen.

I am convinced that OIDP still has a long road ahead, and I wish you a happy anniversary.

I have very positive memories of that period, and I am glad to have been part of a story that represents a successful example of cooperation: a project that has not only endured over time, but has also expanded to other regions of the world. This journey reflects the sustained commitment of local governments to international cooperation and to strengthening citizen participation.

Long live the IOPD.

In this context, cities become a key factor in reversing these trends. Cities and local governments have, for many years, deployed different means to address the needs of their populations and to facilitate channels for participation. The response to these needs is more and better democracy, along with stronger and more effective instruments for citizen participation that regularly involve citizens in the search for the most appropriate solutions.

OIDP has played an essential role in recognizing the role of cities in improving democracy. The Agenda for Local Democracy adopted at its 18th Assembly in Barcelona (2018) is an example of this.

The Agenda recognizes “that democracy is not simply a formal value, but must be constantly updated and reviewed to guarantee equality and the participation of all citizens.”

It insists “that towns and cities are necessary political actors to address the problems of human beings in the world, and that democracy is the most suitable way to fight for freedoms and against inequalities.”

It calls for the development of the three dimensions of democracy: representative, direct, and deliberative, giving significant weight to citizen initiative in influencing political decisions, as reflected in the study published by OIDP.

Nearly eight years have passed since the adoption of the Agenda, and it remains relevant and necessary. On this 25th anniversary of OIDP, it is important to recall it.

From those early days to this 25th anniversary celebration, many different individuals (from local and regional institutions, research centres, social organizations, and civic movements) have alternated as protagonists and significant actors in the life of the Observatory. Some are no longer with us, although they often left a strong legacy; several have remained involved, even while changing institutions; and new actors have emerged, bringing fresh ideas, different participatory methodologies, a broader diversity of goals, and new opportunities for exchange and cross-fertilization of experiences.

OIDP has played a role that goes far beyond that of a mere Observatory of participatory approaches in decision-making. It has produced publications and training events, organized impactful initiatives, and built strong regional hubs with a distinct identity (as is evident in the case of the African hub). It has intervened in important public debates and fostered alliances and partnerships for other projects. It has not limited itself to observing trends and dynamics; rather, it has acted as a protagonist in the landscape of global politics, with particular attention to strengthening the democratic capacity of local and regional governments—as clearly reflected in its strong links with UCLG and its Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights.

As a multilateral meeting space, OIDP has encouraged bilateral and trilateral relations, always upholding a clearly articulated set of values and methodological pillars in order to avoid ambiguities that could undermine the credibility and the authoritativeness of its outstanding international role—especially at a time of democratic backsliding worldwide. Among these principles, two are central: (1) the understanding that participation is a creative and transformative force, which can never be reduced to the mere negotiation of interests, nor to a tool for securing the “acceptability” of top-down, pre-formulated decisions; and (2) the preference for participatory frameworks that are genuinely citizen-centred, rather than organizer-driven (that is, shaped around the protocols, interests, and procedures of the institutions involved).

This coherence has been possible because OIDP has also played a remarkable global role as an example of self-critical networking among peers. Its structure has continuously evolved in response to changing external conditions, through participatory spaces of self-assessment. These spaces have consistently revisited and refined its mandate, its funding mechanisms, its membership structure, and the ways in which it recognizes, acknowledges, and rewards all the different actors who—through their specific knowledge(s) and practices—have enabled OIDP to grow and consolidate its international leadership.

Participation has evolved considerably over these 25 years, from single pilot experiments at the local level to ecosystemic approaches that coordinate multiple channels of dialogue between citizens and institutions across different political-administrative levels and areas. Yet, participation has not been merely an object or focus of OIDP’s observational efforts: it is also the main organizing principle of its own evolving nature. This has allowed OIDP to remain a resilient and pivotal actor in the face of ongoing transformations in democratic landscapes, as well as of the forces that seek to hijack or manipulate participatory approaches to serve individual or group interests rather than the common good.

This is why I am happy and proud to continue my journey with OIDP, experimenting with new roles within its multiple and diverse strands of action.

Happy 25th birthday, OIDP! I wish you hundreds of years of active life, maintaining your ability to attract new defenders and innovators of participation—and to keep them loyal to your ever-evolving yet coherent nature.

Very early on, the OCPM recognized the value of learning, exchanging, and sharing with counterparts from other cities regarding best practices in participatory democracy. The Office first participated in the Buenos Aires Conference in 2004. Over the years, contacts multiplied, and the relevance of an organization like the OIDP became increasingly clear to us—not only through conference participation but also through the networking opportunities the OIDP provided across the globe.

From the early 2010s onward, our involvement deepened as we began participating in the governance of the Observatory. The highlight of our engagement came with the great honor and pleasure of presiding over the Observatory and hosting the 17th Conference in June 2017. This was a defining experience for the OCPM: four days of rich exchanges and sharing of innovative practices during a gathering of 400 participants from 38 countries. A wonderful way to celebrate our 15th anniversary! The Montréal Conference also marked a turning point in the revision of the Observatory’s governance. Indeed, it is this continuous evolution in collective deliberation that makes the OIDP’s relevance even more meaningful today.

After all these years, the importance of the OIDP’s role remains intact—indeed, more relevant than ever in a complex and unstable world where cities play an increasingly prominent role. It would be a mistake to deprive ourselves of the vast network of expertise and experience that the OIDP represents.

Over the course of this quarter-century, the OIDP has established itself as a global reference in promoting participatory democracy, building bridges between cities, organizations, and people from different geographies, cultures, and contexts. More than just a network, it has become a community of practice and values, where solutions are experimented with, experiences are shared, and knowledge is built with a real impact on people's lives.

In a time marked by profound challenges for democracies—from disinformation to distrust, from inequalities to global crises—the role of the OIDP is even more essential to strengthening citizen participation as a central pillar of more just, resilient, and sustainable societies.

As a member of the Advisory Committee, it is an honor for me to be part of this journey and contribute, even if modestly, to this collective project that continues to inspire the world.

May the next 25 years be filled with ambition, innovation, and commitment to democratic strengthening.

Congratulations to the OIDP and all the people and institutions that make this journey possible.

I have served on numerous occasions as a jury member for the “Best Practice in Citizen Participation” Award, represented the National University of Rosario (Argentina) within the organization, and participated as a panelist and/or speaker at annual conferences in different parts of the world.

Being part of this network has allowed me to engage in meaningful exchanges with colleagues from different continents and cities, and to take part in a space for dialogue on participatory democracy. This has reaffirmed its importance in a conflict-ridden world marked by inequalities, fragmentation, and political dispute, while at the same time being deeply interconnected through digital technology.

In this sense, OIDP has played a fundamental role globally over the years: creating spaces to share experiences and innovative initiatives that can be replicated; connecting academics, practitioners, and policymakers; contributing to citizen involvement in decision-making and thus fostering inclusion; and reinforcing the value of the many expressions of participatory democracy which, without following universal models, promote greater transparency and accountability at local, regional, and global levels.

I therefore celebrate the 25th Anniversary of OIDP.