NDI has supported Kosovo's democratic development for more than 20 years, and one of the core areas of assistance has been guidance for the democratic development of the Assembly of Kosovo. Listen below for NDI experts discussing NDI support and the Assembly's development over the last 20 years.

On January 28, NDI joined a discussion on public sentiment in Kosovo, based on its April 2021 public opinion research. The discussion, hosted by the Harriman Institute at Columbia Univeristy, covered historical trends in Kosovo, the 2021 national and local elections, and a forward look.

View the full event recording below.

Underage girls are an underrepresented group in Libya and often have life-altering decisions made for them without their consent, including forced marriages. In the Middle East and North Africa, one in seven girls marries before her 18th birthday, which often means an end to the girls’ schooling and at-risk early childbearing. The practice of child marriage often perptuates a cycle of poverty, low education, and limited economic opportunities for women. UNICEF estimates that child marriage costs economies at least 1.7 percent of GDP.

In times of anti-democratic backlash and increased political polarization, public trust in political parties is worryingly low. Parties are increasingly perceived as elite-driven and unrepresentative of the public because of corruption, populism and greater financial costs of engaging in politics. While political parties should play a key role in democratic governance – responsibly aggregating citizen’s concerns into policy as well as; vetting, selecting and influencing political leaders – they often struggle to do so, further alienating the public. 

As we prepare to celebrate the annual collective memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is important to reflect upon the symbol of his legacy and its relevance to democracy. The theme of this year’s celebration of Dr.

On November 20, 2021, two presidential candidates in The Gambia took to the stage in an historic moment to debate their policies and plans ahead of the December 4 presidential election. This was the first debate between presidential candidates since The Gambia became an independent state in 1965. Until December 2016, when Gambians voted out then-President Yahya Jammeh, the mere discussion of politics or the slightest criticism of the country’s leadership could result in arrest, forced disappearances or worse.

The September 5, 2021 coup d'etat in Guinea was a dramatic political upheaval for the country. Overnight, the military junta dissolved the National Assembly and abrogated the constitution. While the junta has since discussed a return to democratic rule, the path forward remains unclear. Despite this uncertainty, NDI is supporting local civil society partners as they work toward an inclusive democratic transition. 

Solomon Islands, like other Pacific Island countries, is bearing the brunt of climate change, which has been accelerated by the exploitation of natural resources. With support from USAID, NDI launched a 10-month program to help young activists develop the skills to advocate on behalf of their communities and the environment in Solomon Islands.

It might be cold outside for democracy. For the fifth consecutive year, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction exceeds the number of countries moving towards democracy. It might be close to midnight for freedom. 2020 was the 15th year in a row that we saw a global decline in freedom.