Local participation has become a standard expectation for peacebuilding, reconstruction, and transitional justice efforts in societies recovering from armed conflicts. Victims and affected communities are expected to play a central role in shaping development and peacebuilding processes. Yet, participation today increasingly unfolds within frameworks shaped by market logics. As governments turn from aid-based to investment-driven reconstruction, the private sector is being reframed as an essential actor in building peace. This project examines how such shifts transform the practice of participatory governance, focusing on Colombia’s Works for Tax Breaks scheme—a mechanism allowing corporations to fund public works in exchange for tax reductions. Using Colombia as an instrumental case study, the research explores how corporate involvement in development and reconstruction intersects with local demands for justice, recognition, and redistribution. To analyse these dynamics, the study combines Steven Lukes’ theory of power with Nancy Fraser’s theory of justice, exploring how corporate inclusion is changing power dynamics and reframing visions of development. Methodologically, the project employs a mixed-methods design combining spatial analysis, documentary review, and qualitative interviews. It will generate both scholarly and applied outputs, including an academic article, an open-access dataset, a policy brief, and a practical toolkit for civil society organisations. While empirically grounded in Colombia, the research project contributes to broader debates on corporate inclusion in peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts, offering a conceptual framework for analysing other contexts, including Ukraine’s reconstruction.