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“Every country deserves to have the best possible leader and that means that women have to be given a chance to compete. If they’re never allowed to compete in the electoral process then the countries are really robbing themselves of a great deal of talent.”
– Madeleine K. Albright, NDI Chairman
NDI believes that equitable participation of women in politics and government is essential to building and sustaining democracy. The Institute is committed to working with women as partners and participants in NDI programs and activities.
Comprising over 50 percent of the world’s population, women continue to be under-represented as voters, political leaders and elected officials. Democracy cannot truly deliver for all of its citizens if half of the population remains underrepresented in the political arena.
NDI helps women acquire the tools necessary to participate successfully in all aspects of the political process. Our creative and wide-ranging programs – in both challenging environments where democracy is just beginning to flourish and in more established democracies – engage women in legislatures, political parties and civil society as leaders, activists and informed citizens. These programs create an environment where women can advocate on matters of policy, run for political office, be elected, govern effectively, and participate meaningfully in every facet of civic and political life.
About Women and Democracy
Women around the world often face daunting social, economic and political challenges. For democratic governments to deliver to their constituents, they must be truly representative, and NDI recognizes that women must be equal partners in the process of democratic development. As activists, elected officials and constituents, their contributions are crucial to building a strong and vibrant society. It is therefore essential to support women around the world because:
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Women are highly committed to promoting national and local policies that address the socio-economic and political challenges facing women, children and disadvantaged groups.
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Women are particularly effective in promoting honest government. Countries where women are supported as leaders and at the ballot box have a correspondingly low level of corruption.
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Women are strongly committed to peace building, as they often disproportionately suffer the consequences of armed conflict. Reconstruction and reconciliation efforts take root more quickly and are more sustainable when women are involved. By helping women become participating members of a democracy, one can look to mitigate conflicts or stop conflicts before they begin.
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Women are strongly linked to positive developments in education, infrastructure and health standards at the local level. Where rates of gender development and empowerment are higher, human rates of development and standards of living are also higher.
These facts help guide NDI’s work with women, who have a profound positive democratic impact on communities, legislatures and the lives of citizens. Women must be trained, encouraged and empowered to become strong politicians, community leaders and activists.
Introduction to NDI’s Women’s Political Participation Programs
Since 1985, NDI has organized innovative and targeted programs across the globe to increase the number, effectiveness and popular support of women civic leaders, voters, candidates, political party representatives and elected leaders in the belief that as more women become politically involved, institutions will become more responsive to the needs of all citizens.
NDI currently works in more than 70 countries, creating programs that are specifically tailored to women and ensuring that women are a part of every existing NDI program. At any given time, nearly 75 percent of NDI country programs have a dedicated component addressing women’s political participation – in legislature, political parties and civil society as leaders, activists and informed citizens. The Institute has also introduced several global initiatives that aim to connect politically active women and help them network freely across time and place.
The United Nations has highlighted working with women as a Millennium Development Goal, and NDI is a leader in linking women’s political participation with good democratic governance. To continue this tradition of excellence, NDI seeks to expand its impact by deepening its work with women at the local and executive levels and working with men to promote women’s full participation in political life.
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