Francesca Binda is NDI's resident senior director in Morocco, having held similar posts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Iraq and West Bank/Gaza.

Ms. Binda rejoined NDI in October 2005 from the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) where, as senior advisor for political parties, she edited a book on gender quotas in Europe and designed a global research project to map internal political party practices. From 2000 to 2002, she directed the Elections Department for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Bosnia where she oversaw the fulfillment of the 2000 election results and the successful transfer of election administration from international control to Bosnian authorities.

A Canadian political professional, Ms. Binda’s international experience includes consulting with political parties and parliamentarians in more than 30 countries — mostly in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Before beginning her international work with NDI in Bosnia in 1996, Ms. Binda spent 11 years in Ottawa, Canada, working for the New Democratic Party in the Canadian House of Commons. Ms. Binda also served two years as campaign director for the Canadian Endangered Species Coalition, where she successfully campaigned for the introduction of historic legislation in the Canadian Parliament.

Ms. Binda holds a degree in political science from Carleton University and is a recipient of the Canada Peacekeeping Medal.