image of a compass
NDI

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.

Featured Stories

The latest stories from NDI.

Libya-girl-382px.jpg

Most Libyans are eager to exercise their newfound political freedoms and participate in shaping their country’s future, but they feel disadvantaged by their lack of exposure to democratic practices and have concerns about security and their economy, according to new public opinion research undertaken by NDI.

The qualitative research project sampled citizens’ opinions through 16 focus groups in six cities in eastern, western and southern Libya from Nov. 12 to 28.

Egypt-Round2-382px.jpg

NDI Delegation Notes Administrative Improvements and Less Campaigning in Polling Centers

Voting in region two of the Egyptian People’s Assembly elections showed continued enthusiasm on the part of Egyptians to exercise their right to select the candidates and parties of their choice in Egypt’s first open parliamentary elections, NDI said in a statement released in Cairo.

Hans-with-musicians-in-Zehra-382px.jpg

When Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer set out to write the score for the new Sherlock Holmes film, he knew he wanted to collaborate with Roma musicians. "I went there to find musicians we can work with," Zimmer recently told the Huffington Post.

Kasse-382px.jpg

Burkina Faso has awarded its highest national honor to Aminata Kassé, NDI senior resident director in the west African country. The National Order (l'Ordre National), which recognizes personal merit and eminent service to the country, was bestowed on Kassé on Dec.

South-Sudan-CD-382px.jpg

The first-time opportunity to question their elected members of parliament (MPs) was so important to residents of South Sudan that some of them brought their own chairs to standing-room-only constituency dialogues organized in November by the South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SuNDE), a nonpartisan coalition of community groups.

Guatemala Round 2 Elections Photo, 382px

Election observation efforts by Guatemalan citizen groups, including NDI’s partner Citizen Action (Acción Ciudadana, AC), helped increase public confidence in the integrity of last month’s presidential runoff election and head off a repeat of problems associated with the first round of voting. 

During that initial September poll, candidates and parties raised concerns about delays in the release of results, which were also blamed for several incidents of violence, including the burning of election materials.

johnson-sirleaf.jpg

On Dec. 10, join NDI as we "Rise with the Prize," an initiative that celebrates this year’s Nobel Peace Prize and women’s participation in building a secure world.

NDI urges Russian authorities to put a stop to the harassment now facing Golos, an independent, nonpartisan citizen election monitoring group.

In the run up to Russia's parliamentary elections on Sunday, Dec. 4, Golos activists in the regions have been facing intense pressure from authorities, including threats of lost jobs and violence, to abandon their plans to observe the elections.

Egypt-voter-382px.jpg

Record Number of Voters Overcome Fears of Violence and Administrative Shortcomings

Defying expectations, record numbers of Egyptians completed two largely peaceful days of voting that give rise to the possibility of an election that reflects the will of the people, NDI said in a statement released in Cairo.

South Sudan: Building a Nation Cover, 382 px

As the people of South Sudan undertake the task of building a new nation, public opinion research conducted by NDI shows they are optimistic about South Sudan’s future while also concerned about the fundamental challenges it faces.