The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

NDI has been engaged in Mauritania since November 2003, when the Institute led an assessment mission to the country during presidential elections that proved to be flawed. Later, following a peaceful coup d’état in 2005 in which the military overthrew an entrenched dictator, NDI sent a three-member team to Mauritania to assess the political environment, meet with key political actors and recommend benchmarks for a meaningful democratic transition. As the country moved from a military regime to a civilian government, NDI assisted government officials, political parties, civic groups and election authorities.

Since April 2007, when a freely-elected legislature and president took office, NDI has worked with local partners to address the difficult task of institutionalizing democratic processes and attending to the scars left by 40 years of authoritarian rule. Specifically, NDI recently worked with parliamentary caucuses and their respective members of parliament (MPs) to develop the tools and knowledge needed to perform parliamentary responsibilities effectively. In addition, the Institute worked with civil society organizations seeking to build their capacity to guide a comprehensive national reconciliation process after years of ethnic strife. Now underway are programs to strengthen the capacity of political parties and civil society, and increase women’s participation in the political sphere in the aftermath of Mauritania’s most recent coup d’état on August 6, 2008.

Political Context

Resource Center

Civil Society Support

Elections Programming

Parliamentary Assistance

Political Party Support

Contact Information