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 working in Nepal since 1994 to strengthen the country’s democratic processes. In recent years, the Institute has conducted voter and civic education programs to promote citizen understanding of and involvement in the political sphere, supported anti-corruption efforts, carried out nationwide public opinion polling, and conducted programs to increase the political participation and effectiveness of local women leaders and activists. The Institute has initiated programs to promote consensus building between parties, strengthen political party leadership and governance, and encourage civil society and media oversight of the political process.

To support elections for Nepal’s Constituent Assembly on April 10, 2008, NDI assisted the Democracy and Election Alliance Nepal (DEAN) in training and deploying more than 9,000 nonpartisan pollwatchers. The Institute also conducted a training-of-trainers program for political party polling agents. NDI is currently working with political party activists and women parliamentarians through the Women’s Leadership Academy in order to enhance their political skills and their ability to deliver services. Graduates of the first phase of the WLA are now helping to implement the second phase. The Institute conducts ongoing consultations with political parties and elected members to develop party strengthening programs focusing on internal party democracy. As part of this program, the Institute organized a women’s film festival to raise awareness of gender-based issues among Constituent Assembly members, civil society leaders and the media.

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