OECD GovNet 2025 in Paris: Narratives and Democracy at the Center of the Global Conversation
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
In May, Paris hosted the 37th Plenary Meeting of the OECD DAC Network on Governance (GovNet), bringing together governments, multilateral organizations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations from around the world to reflect on the current challenges facing governance and democracy.
Fundación Corona participated in this important gathering through Tatiana Forero, Cultural Transformation Lead, who joined discussions on the role of narratives in strengthening democracy. During her participation, she shared lessons learned from both the work advanced through the Democracy Narratives Alliance and practical experiences developed in Colombia.
A Conversation About the Power of Narratives
The event provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on how narratives shape the way people understand reality, make decisions, and engage—or choose not to engage—with public affairs.
Drawing from the experiences shared, participants highlighted that narratives go beyond communication; they are frameworks that shape behaviors and can become powerful tools for promoting democratic participation, particularly among young people.
Lessons from a Global Perspective
Several reflections emerged from the discussions that are particularly relevant for those working to strengthen democracy:
🎯 Behavior as the Starting Point: Rather than focusing solely on messages, it is essential to define the actions and behaviors we seek to inspire.
🌱 The Future Motivates: Aspirations such as access to employment and opportunities create stronger connections than appeals to civic duty alone.
🧩 The Diversity of Youth Experiences: There is no single youth reality, which means strategies must be adapted to different contexts and lived experiences.
🤝 Trust Is Critical: The source of a message is just as important as the content itself.
🧪 Experimentation Drives Learning: Testing, learning, and adapting strategies helps build more effective approaches before scaling them.
Connecting Global Insights with Local Action
Participation in this event provided an opportunity to bring lessons from Colombia to an international stage while also gathering insights to continue strengthening initiatives aimed at expanding participation and democratic inclusion.
This is where we see an important opportunity: when, as a system, we align efforts, transform beliefs, and work more collaboratively, we create pathways to generate more and better opportunities for young people in Colombia. We are grateful to the OECD for the invitation to take part in this important forum.
As Fundación Corona, we are part of the Democracy Narratives Alliance, a global initiative that brings together more than 35 organizations, research centers, and funders working to advance narratives that strengthen public support for and participation in democracy.
👉 Learn more about our participation in the Democracy Narratives Alliance here: