Citizen Engagement Program

About this program

Purpose: To accompany citizens and communities to achieve their full human potential through creating, facilitating and fostering spaces for critical dialogue and change.

Why?

To activate, educate and mobilise citizens in order to become active co-participants in the creation and accomplishment of their own development agenda.

How?

  • Hosting public dialogues around critical issues of governance, accountability, social and economic justice, and nation building
  • Empowering and accompanying communities through capacity building workshops to support, capacitate and mentor those we work with
  • Producing educational materials that can be distributed to communities to inform and educate them about critical issues of active citizenship
  • Building partnerships with community radio stations in order to increase the reach of our educational programmes to remote and marginalised areas
July 19, 2022

Young and presidential: Youth as catalyst for change

DDP in partnership with the Mail and Guardian hosted a Webinar to unpack Youths’ political participation and access to opportunities for socio-economic development which remains an […]
July 18, 2022

DDP 4th Annual political summit: Crisis in political participation

Concerns over declining levels of political participation, particularly in traditional activities such as voting and political party membership, have led many to argue that political apathy […]
July 14, 2022

DDP &IEC Youth Summit: Exploring #YouthVoteMatters

In celebrating Youth Month 2022, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) took up the slogan #YouthVoteMatters to anchor its resolve to bring in young people […]
June 17, 2022

DDP 6TH Annual Youth Indaba

On 15 June 2022, the Democracy Development Program was proud to host its 6th Youth Indaba. Youth Indaba is  an annual gathering of young people from […]
May 25, 2022

DDP & IEC Thought leadership session- Ugu District Municipality

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in partnership with the  Democracy Development Program (DDP) and the Outreach Unit of the IEC, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) hosted […]
May 23, 2022

Women, Democracy and Leadership Dialogue- Msunduzi Municipality

The Democracy Development Program convened a dialogue with women at Msunduzi Municipality and surrounding areas. This dialogue was guided by the theme: Enhancing Active Participation and Gender […]
April 29, 2022

Thought Leadership session

The socio-Political environment in the uMkhanyakude District and the general understanding of the politics of coalitions: #THOUGHT #LEADERSHIP Session, hosted by the Electoral Commission of South […]
March 18, 2022

Women, Democracy and Leadership Dialogue

The Democracy Development Program convened a dialogue with women in Kwamashu and surrounding areas. This dialogue was guided by the theme: Enhancing Active Participation and Gender […]
March 14, 2022

Thought Leadership session: Abaqulusi Municipality

DDP attended and presented at a thought leadership session hosted by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and the Abaqulusi local municipality in Vryheid on […]
March 14, 2022

Women, Democracy and Leadership Dialogue: Ulundi

DDP in partnership with ULundi Municipality hosted a women’s dialogue to unpack Active Participation and Gender Equality Practices for Women. This dialogue was held at PZ […]
March 14, 2022

uMsunduzi Youth Mayoral Engagement

DDP in partnership with Empowering Youth hosted a youth mayoral engagement at the Eastwood Community Hall in Pietermaritzburg. This event was held on the 11th of […]
February 24, 2022

DDP #SONA2022 Forum

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address (SONA) to the Joint Sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces on […]
February 8, 2022

UMngeni Youth Mayoral Engagement

The Democracy Development Program in partnership with the uMngeni Unemployed Graduates Forum (MUGF) and Africa Unite hosted a Mayoral engagement at the Howick West Community Hall […]
October 22, 2021

Civic Education Conference: Practitioners’ Conference

On 21 October, DDP hosted the Civic Education Conference with the theme: “Towards a national understanding of civic education”. The purpose of the conference was to […]
September 30, 2021

Unpacking the sociopolitical landscape ahead of the municipal elections – DDP

The Mail & Guardian and Democracy Development Program (DDP) hosted this webinar to unpack the sociopolitical landscape; discuss the possible outcomes based on available data and voting behaviour; […]
September 16, 2021

Conversation on CSO Collaboration: LG Elections- DDP Public Forum

On 15 September, DDP hosted the Civil Society Collaboration Forum. Our guest speakers included Mr Eric Apelgren, Ms Bonolo Makgale and Ms Evashnee Naidu. The Forum […]
August 30, 2021

Women, politics and leadership: Empowering towards an equitable future – webinar

This Mail & Guardian webinar was hosted by the Mail & Guardian and sponsored by the Democracy Development Program (DDP). It featured as its speakers: Professor Mpilo Pearl Sithole, a […]
August 20, 2021

Women, Democracy and Leadership Conference 2021

  Democracy Development Program was proud to host the Women, Democracy and Leadership Conference on 18 August 2021. The Conference aimed at identifying challenges impending effective […]
August 10, 2021

Pongola Youth Dialogue

The Democracy Development Program organized a dialogue with young people in Pongola Municipality and surrounding areas, this was held on 06 August 2021. This dialogue was […]
July 30, 2021

The Aftermath of the Unrest in Parts of South Africa

By: Paul Mabote, 2015 Activator ACTIVATE! Change Drivers and Democracy Development Program hosted a Zoom engagement of the aftermath of the Mid-July unrest in parts of […]