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.

Legislative Strengthening

NDI has worked with national and regional-level legislatures in more than 60 countries, and is considered to be one of the world’s leading legislative strengthening organizations. Through technical assistance to members, institutional development assistance, and support for legal reform, NDI helps legislatures to better represent citizens and groups in society, more effectively carry out their law and budget-making roles, and better oversee government finances and programs.

Technical Assistance to Members

While NDI designs its programs in accordance with the specific political context of a given legislature, developing legislatures often face similar hurdles. Working with individual members, parliamentary leadership, committees, and political party caucuses, NDI has tailored programs to help them overcome those hurdles, and provides ongoing guidance, training, and advice in a number of areas, including:

• committee structure and operations;

• constituency relations;

• executive-legislative relations;

• legislative drafting;

• negotiation skills;

• party caucus operations;

• process of developing and promoting a legislative agenda;

• organization of interest-based caucuses;

• rules of procedure;

• legislative analysis and research capacity; and

• legislative roles and responsibilities.

One of the most important tasks of a legislature is the consideration of the national budget – when legislators have the opportunity to review, discuss and possibly amend the budget before approving it for implementation by the executive agencies. NDI has worked with several legislatures to strengthen their role in this process. In Nigeria, for example, the Institute has assisted the National Assembly to develop an independent budget analysis and information office. Starting in 2003, the Institute conducted study missions, conferences, and expert visits to expose legislators to budget offices in other countries, and held workshops to convene legislators with representatives of civil society, the media, and the executive branch. The Institute worked with advocates to draft and refine legislation, which passed both Houses of the National Assembly in 2007.

NDI support and guidance has also helped strengthen the ability – and perhaps more importantly, the desire – of representatives to engage their constituents to identify concerns and find ways for the legislature and government to respond. In Macedonia, with funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and in partnership with the Assembly of Macedonia and the Association of Municipalities, NDI is implementing a project to open and sustain 65 parliamentary constituency offices throughout the country.

NDI has designed programs for legislatures in both conflict and post-conflict environments. In Iraq, the Institute launched a Parliamentary Training Academy in 2007 for members and staff of the Council of Representatives that taught techniques of legislative and public policy document drafting, procedures for developing policy, and understanding public policies through statutory texts. In Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Democratic Republic of Congo, NDI has carried out new member orientation activities, worked with MPs to solicit citizen input on legislative issues, and helped MPs to build relationships with CSOs.

Assistance with Legal Reform

NDI assists legislators to contribute to the development of laws needed to make their nations stronger democracies. This includes constitutional reform, as well as revising electoral and other key reform laws. Thus, for example, when the legislature is reviewing a draft election law, or a draft law that regulates public access to government information, the Institute contributes to public consultation and debate processes. This assistance - usually implemented in partnership with the relevant legislative committee - has included the solicitation of expert opinion from around the world about relevant democratic norms. In 2007, for example, NDI provided expert electoral reform consultations to parliamentary committees in Afghanistan. NDI has often provided comparative legal research and analysis to support decision-making of key reform committees.

In Iraq, the Institute convened 18 experts from the U.S., Spain, Canada, India, Kenya and Ethiopia in July and August 2005 to offer technical and advisory assistance to the Constitutional Committee. At the request of the Constitutional Committee experts met with committee members to discuss issues, answer questions, and draft short advisory papers addressing matters of interest to members. Experts produced 72 topical papers and commentaries (amounting to over 300 pages of material translated into Arabic) on issues ranging from the application and implications of various forms of federalism to the allocations of natural resources, human rights and electoral systems.

Institutional Assistance

In addition to supporting the work of legislatures, NDI legislative programs also support the development of legislative institutions. Many legislatures in newly emerging democracies lack the staff, research and analysis capacity, and organizational and operational management experience to enable them to be a strong counterbalance to the executive branch. NDI’s institutional assistance programs help level the playing field through activities such as:

• technical assistance to legislative staff;

• internship programs;

• support for legislative publications, newspapers, books, pamphlets, and web sites;

• development of legislative tracking databases;

• design and development of legislative research and/or budget offices

• organization of the speaker’s office;

• guidance and training on the legislative budget process;

• assistance in conducting public hearings; and

• assistance in developing legislative-civil society partnerships.

In Macedonia, NDI has played a pivotal role in helping parliament address legislative challenges in preparation for EU and NATO integration. The Institute has provided assistance to improve and strengthen parliamentary resources, committee functions, legislative review, and outreach. The Institute consulted on the revision of the rules of procedure, which are critical to the parliament’s ability to pass legislation and improve its oversight.

NDI also assists parliaments in utilizing appropriate information and communication technologies to manage and distribute information. NDI has helped parliaments create computer research centers, where MPs and their staff are trained in Internet research. NDI-designed Internet and intranet-based information management systems provide legislators and staff instant access to bills, committee and public hearing schedules, parliamentary programs and other legislative information. In Namibia, NDI trained members of both houses of Parliament and staff from different directorates in utilizing computer technologies in conducting legislative work, particularly legislative drafting.

The Institute supports committees and legislative leaders in identifying, prioritizing, and addressing legislative development needs. In Montenegro, NDI conducted an in-depth assessment of parliament and created a blueprint for development needs and priorities. The blueprint identified a range of reform areas and offered a series of recommendations to improve the institution’s infrastructure, support services, and legislative processes. In Liberia, NDI assisted the legislative modernization committee in developing, reviewing and revising a draft strategic plan.