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.

In response to growing public frustration with decades of single-party rule, Algerian authorities began opening up the political system in the late 1980s. But when elections held in 1991 gave overwhelming support to Islamists, the Algerian military seized control of all political institutions. This triggered a decade of civil war between armed Islamic groups and the government that left hundreds of thousands of civilians dead. Political and military leaders ended the violence in 2002 and rhetorically committed themselves to democratic principles like political pluralism, free and fair elections and the rule of law. The military has since gradually withdrawn from civilian life and multiparty elections have established local and national assemblies, though deep political divisions remain.

Despite this progress, the government has increasingly limited the activities of opposition political parties, local and international organizations and the traditionally independent press. Election law reform is needed; many citizens remain deeply skeptical that political change is possible through the ballot box. Legislative and local elections held in 2007 were accompanied by allegations of fraud and record-low voter turnout. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, was elected to a third term in 2009 after amending the constitution to abolish term limits.

The occurrence of terrorist attacks in recent years has alarmed Algerian authorities and neighboring countries. Yet while the security situation has improved considerably in recent years, many Algerians' quality of life has not had the same positive trajectory. Citizens see increasingly little result and face greater frustration in their daily lives as the government struggles to meet expectations on key social issues such as housing, education and unemployment. With limited political freedoms and continued dominance by the same politicians, there is growing apathy to participate in political process.

NDI Programming

Algerian Muslim Scouts (SMA) leaders pose for a group picture after an NDI-SMA workshop on civic engagement.

NDI has worked in Algeria since 1997, helping to strengthen political parties, civil society organizations and the media to make them more representative of the people and to encourage political, economic and social reform. A key component of the Institute's work has been helping to strengthen Algerian political parties so that they are more representative, transparent and internally democratic. To contribute towards enhancing political party effectiveness, NDI emphasizes the increased participation of women and youth, two groups that are chronically underrepresented in the political party structure. NDI also works with local civic partners to educate citizens about elections and political processes, encouraging greater engagement in political life.

Political Party Support

To expose political parties to practical information and concrete skills, the Institute holds trainings and workshops on party organizing, platform development and constituency outreach. Leading up to the 2009 presidential elections, parties from across the political spectrum took part in NDI-led workshops how to deploy observers to polling stations across the country. NDI has also sponsored study missions for Algerian political party members to travel abroad and learn about other countries' electoral processes and political party management and ways to apply those lessons and skills to their own parties’ situations in Algeria.

One program known as "Walk and Talk," for example, strengthened local parties' ability to stay in regular contact with voters at the grassroots level. By using door-to-door canvassing, public opinion research and party newsletters, the parties incorporated citizens' needs and concerns into their platforms.

Study missions by Algerian political party leaders to Washington, D.C., have coincided with key political events, such as Congressional mid-term elections, to give the participants a glimpse of party politics in other systems.

• North African political leaders observe U.S. elections»

Women and Youth Political Participation

Participants from the Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow program

Women and youth are historically underrepresented groups in Algerian politics. NDI programs aim to give those groups the skills they need to succeed as leaders. Young women from Algeria participate in the Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow program, which gathers young women from across North Africa for interactive retreats focusing on leadership and advocacy skills. As a result of this intensive civic and community leadership development initiative, Algerian young women, along with their peers from across the region, are implementing projects to strengthen their communities and the role of women in society, targeting such issues as domestic violence, single mothers and freedom of the press.

• Young women leaders collaborate at North African regional conference»
• 'Leaders of Tomorrow' conference kicks off collaborative program for North African women»

Twenty Algerian women participated in the Partners in Participation Maghreb Regional Campaign Academy in Marrakech, Morocco, in April 2007. Together with 40 other women from the Middle East and North Africa region, they took part in intensive training workshops on campaign planning, public speaking and message development, while networking with their peers. Many of the Algerian participants went on to run for office in the 2007 legislative and local elections. Two of them are now serving as local councilors. Similarly, a multiparty "women's working group" created with NDI's assistance submitted a list of recommendations, including legislative and voluntary political party quotas for women candidates, to the Algerian government and party leaders.

To reach out to youth, NDI partnered with the Algerian Muslim Scouts on a civic education program that engaged hundreds of voting-age youth in monthly discussions on their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and about democratic institutions and practices. The Institute also organizes gatherings for Scouts troop leaders to examine the core principles of democracy and draft personal action plans for motivating and leading troop members to take action in their communities.

• Algerian Muslim scout leaders inspire youth to engage in politics»

Civil Society and Media

With NDI's help, civil society organizations are learning to promote civic awareness among Algerians and to advocate for policy changes on a number of issues, including human rights and political reform. So that Algerian journalists can better cover elections and electoral campaigns in a professional and balanced manner, the Institute has conducted a number of media workshops with journalism experts from around the globe and has sponsored study missions by leading Algerian journalists to see how the media in other countries covers domestic political affairs.

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, D.C.
Andrew Farrand, Program Officer
(202) 728-5550

  Subscribe to updates about Algeria