NDI Staff: Biographies
Patrick Merloe
Patrick Merloe is a Senior Associate and directs electoral programs conducted by NDI. He has observed election processes in more than 25 countries and led or participated in over 130 NDI delegations and assistance teams to more than 50 countries around the world. Pat's program focus is largely on promoting democratic reform and political development in semi-authoritarian countries and conflict-sensitive states. He has produced numerous publications and is a frequent speaker on democracy promotion, elections, human rights and international law.
The following are among the program areas for which Pat is responsible:
- Constitutional and law reform projects regarding electoral issues, including civil and political rights;
- Programs promoting political dialogue and mitigating conflict in the electoral context;
- Programs concerning domestic nongovernmental organizations and political parties in election monitoring and promotion of electoral integrity; and
- International election assessments and election observer delegations.
Pat has produced a dozen publications on international human rights, comparative law and standards for election processes. He is frequently invited by the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other organizations to advise on electoral matters and is one of the leaders of a multi-organizational effort to agree on a Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. In approximately the last year, he as spoken on a broad range of topics concerning democracy promotion at: the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; the Geneva Center for Security Policy; the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; the European Commission; the Council on Foreign Relations; Johns Hopkins University; Yale University School of Law; the American University Washington College of Law; and Tulane University School of Law.
Prior to joining NDI in 1993, Pat was an attorney with Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe in San Francisco and has served as pro bono and special counsel to a number of international human rights organizations. He has taught courses at University of Pennsylvania Law School, the University of San Francisco School of Law and at Temple University. Pat received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, conducted graduate studies in public policy analysis at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC, and completed his undergraduate education at Temple University.
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