Stories

September 26, 2024

Rapid Online Support for Women in Politics

Two years ago, NDI held a series of discussions with women political leaders around the world and asked them what steps could be taken to address the gendered violence they face online. The effort validated that technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is a global challenge and a threat to the full participation of women in politics. It also recognized that TFGBV is a personal challenge to every woman in political and public life.

September 17, 2024

Creating a Safer Election Environment in Côte d’Ivoire

In the past three decades, Côte d’Ivoire has faced a wide variety of identity-based tensions that have led to election-related violence. During the Presidential election period in 2020, over 50 people were killed, and many more were injured and arrested. This cycle of violence around elections has long been an issue in Cote d’Ivoire, and it stands in the way of free and fair polls in the country, as often voters don’t feel safe going to vote, and elections officials are mistreated and killed.

September 13, 2024

A “Shelter Against Intolerance” in the Center of Kyiv

In June, NDI partner Rizni.Rivni (Different.Equal), a platform of civic initiatives operated by LGBTQ+ organizations, launched their "Shelter Against Intolerance" art installation to bring attention to the lack of protections against hate-motivated violence in Ukraine.

September 13, 2024

NDI/Kosovo’s 25-Year Journey: Building Democracy, One Step at a Time

One of the world’s newest democracies, Kosovo’s citizens have built a vibrant independent democracy that is increasingly accountable to its citizens and promotes transparency and gender equality. Over the last quarter century, NDI has been Kosovo’s partner every step of the way, dedicated to fostering democratic values, observing elections, enhancing parliamentary affairs, and supporting political party work, with a special focus on women and youth.

September 9, 2024

Boosting the Transparency of Jamaica’s Elections

Since the landmark establishment of universal suffrage in 1944, elections have been a pillar of Jamaican democracy. To safeguard this legacy, democracy watchdog groups have remained vigilant, preventing a return to vote rigging, political intimidation and violence that undermined past elections. To ensure that every ballot continues to be counted, the Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) deployed citizen volunteers to observe the February 26, 2024, Local Government Elections.

September 3, 2024

Helping Local Women Politicians Deliver Democracy in Sierra Leone

“Since we took up office after the 2023 election, the NDI training was our first opportunity to learn about our roles.” - Kailahun Local Councilor Amie Jimmy.

August 29, 2024

Youth Building the New Democratic Blueprint

Around the world, young people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with democracy. For many young people, their frustrations lie with poorly functioning governing institutions that aren't delivering policies that meet their economic needs or align with their social values. Likewise, youth often face negative stereotypes and significant barriers to participating in democratic processes based on their identity and other factors, such as social and economic status.

August 19, 2024

Supporting the Development of Independent Legislatures in Eastern Europe and Eurasia

One of the foundational methods legislatures use to promote democratic governance is drafting laws based on objective research, and Parliamentary Research Services (PRS) play a crucial role in this process. These services are the primary institutions that support legislators by providing fact-based research products tailored to address issues at the heart of their constituents' needs. Legislatures require an independent source of non-partisan research for members to make informed decisions.

August 15, 2024

Standing for Information Integrity in West Africa

From July 9 to 11, Lagos, Nigeria, became the focal point for a crucial gathering. Organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), this three-day conference was a beacon of hope amidst the growing threat of information manipulation. In an era where the swift spread of information manipulation poses significant risks to societal stability and governance, safeguarding information integrity is more crucial than ever.

August 8, 2024

Peace committee calms tensions in Côte d’Ivoire

In the Ivoirian village of Yopohué (Gopa), a distressingly common dispute over land ownership escalated into an interethnic battle, drawing dozens of people into a bloody conflict and injuring numerous people who had no personal interest in the land.