Middle East and North Africa

For more than 30 years, NDI has assisted democrats and reformers across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as they work to strengthen institutions that can better represent citizens, protect freedoms and rights and promote accountability and transparency. Since opening its first offices in East Jerusalem and Gaza City in 1994 to provide support to Palestinians as they prepared for historic elections, the Institute has responded to requests from civic activists, parliaments, governments and political parties throughout the region. Despite the ups and downs of their struggles, NDI continues to support efforts to advance peace, prosperity, and opportunity, so they can achieve a better quality of life for all.

The MENA region continues to respond to seismic shifts in geopolitical alignments, regional conflicts, economic crises and efforts to curb fundamental rights. Citizens remain disillusioned by the failures of current governing arrangements to deliver better lives and they continue to aspire to promises of greater freedoms, dignity and accountable governance. Perhaps more than any time over the past 30 years, democrats and activists need support as they work to counter malign influences, build new governance structures and bolster representative institutions that have emerged in recent decades to respond to and give life to these public hopes: directly elected local governments, independent election commissions, reform-oriented political parties, and mechanisms for enhanced representation of women and young people, to name a few.

Like all places, MENA remains dynamic; with each step forward and hopeful opportunity in one place, efforts to undermine in another continue. NDI’s programs are designed to respond to on-the-ground political developments while ensuring that support contributes to building the resilience of civic groups, political parties, parliaments and governing institutions. A study of hundreds of individuals across the MENA region who had participated in NDI’s programs over two decades demonstrated that these participants went on to continue directly contributing to political and civic life, from establishing parliamentary committees that are developing immigration management strategies to hosting talk shows elevating public conversation on key policy issues. Even amid challenging headwinds, across 12 countries an overwhelming 83% of those who responded indicated that they remained politically or civically active, with many going on to hold leadership roles in a political party (28%) or being involved in drafting legislation or policies affecting their country (39%).

NDI pays special attention to ensuring the involvement of women, youth and others who are historically sidelined in the political process to promote the inclusion and representation that can ensure stability and accountability in fragile contexts. NDI also fosters opportunities for political and civic leaders from across the region to exchange ideas, benefit from lessons learned and build solidarity in promoting accountable, efficient and fair governance arrangements. With its regionwide presence, the Institute seeks to help partners, institutions and new democratic entrants respond creatively and constructively to the challenges they face with meaningful solutions.