This principle implies the active and equal participation of civil society at the local level in the work of its community. Through the participation of civil society in decision-making, agreement is reached on mutual understanding of the most important challenges which local community faces. The quality and effectiveness of a policy depends on the involvement of all stakeholders in decision-making (from their creation to implementation). This will result in greater confidence in the end result and in institutions that make political decisions. The participation of civil society is achieved through prior observance of the principle of transparency and accountability. 

The principle of participation is contained, as a democratic principle, in Article 8 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Also, the principle of participation is one of the basic principles contained in the White Paper on Governance at the European level. According to the Guidelines for the Inclusion of Civil Society Organizations in the process of passing regulations, the following four levels of citizen participation are recognized as recommendations of the official Government of the Republic of Serbia: 1) informing (one-way procedure for informing of citizens); 2) counseling (two-way procedure for requesting and receiving information from citizens); 3) inclusion (active participation of citizens in the process of drafting regulations); And 4) partnership (the highest level of cooperation where citizens actively participate in the drafting, but also the implementation of regulations).

During its existence, the Belgrade Open School aims to encourage and promote the participation of stakeholders and other citizens in the drafting, implementation, monitoring of implementation, but also in evaluating the impact of a public policy. Also, Belgrade Open School is engaged in research, monitoring and advocacy of the stated levels of citizen participation articulated and contained in the legal and planning system of Serbia, in the form of public discussion, consultation, referendum, assembly of citizens and people, that is, civic initiative. Also, employees of Belgrade Open School, are also engaged in advocating other ways of citizen participation, which are examples of good practice, such as "green councils" in the case of environmental policies at the local level.