PDRI-DevLab Partners in the Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook Initiative

A major national initiative to strengthen democracy through shared, evidence-based narrative strategies officially launched on December 8. The U.S. Pro-Democracy Narrative Playbook Initiative, led by Metropolitan Group in partnership with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) and a network of research and civic institutions, offers one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to translate global learning on democratic narratives into practical, accessible tools for the U.S. context.

The Playbook draws on a multi-year, multi-country research program that mapped the narrative landscape in democratic and authoritarian environments, analyzed mechanisms by which anti-democratic messaging spreads, and identified values-driven narrative approaches that can help rebuild trust in institutions, civic participation, and democratic norms. The resulting resources—including message frameworks, narrative guides, and application tools—aim to equip advocates, funders, and community leaders to “move upstream” and create a more enabling environment for democratic engagement.

As a partner in this initiative, PDRI-DevLab contributes its expertise in applied social science, impact evaluation, and democracy research, and supports a growing coalition committed to building durable narrative infrastructure in the United States and worldwide. While additional funding is being explored to deepen PDRI-DevLab’s implementation role in future phases, our team is actively engaged in sharing insights, promoting cross-sector learning, and amplifying the Playbook’s publicly available resources across our networks.

Organizations and practitioners can access the Playbook and its tools at:
https://prodemocracynarrativeplaybook.org