The National Democratic Institute (NDI) seeks to build youth capacity to participate in and collectively act on accountability and transparency issues through its Anti-Corruption & Transparency Initiatives Engaging Youth in the Indo-Pacific (ACTIVE Youth) program. The ACTIVE Youth program is managed by NDI Taiwan and includes program activities across four target countries: Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea.

In November, representatives from NDI’s civil society partners in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan came together for a two-day virtual roundtable event addressing their respective advocacy efforts focused on the preservation of civic space. As countries across sub-Saharan Africa face a worrisome trend of democratic backsliding, NDI seeks to provide opportunities for civil society organizations (CSOs) to learn from their peers' experience operating in increasingly repressive environments and promoting greater respect and protection of civil liberties.

Today, more than one-third of Africa’s population is aged between 15 and 35. Ordinarily a cheering picture of a promising future for the continent, but evidence shows this demographic advantage remains to be seen in political inclusion, particularly inclusion and visibility of young people in internal political party processes. There is more evidence that young people tend to vote less frequently, stand as candidates less often and remain underrepresented in electoral functions and political party processes in the continent.

On August 9, an estimated 22 million Kenyans went to the polls to elect their next president. Despite being one of the most competitive elections in the country’s history, it resulted in a peaceful transition of power and a step forward in Kenya’s democratization process.

Making Democracy Work by Improving Government Communication and Public Engagement in The Gambia

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, countless individuals and organizations across Ukraine have risen to the challenge of supporting their communities and addressing challenges that have emerged as a result of the war. The Rizni.Rivni project, launched in collaboration between the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and a group of Ukrainian LGBTQI+ equality organizations in 2020, has played a key role in that effort.

Ana Usharek, or “I Participate,” is an umbrella suite of programming that provides young Jordanians and marginalized groups with knowledge and skills to be more active in Jordanian civil and political life.

On October 25, 2021, the Sudanese military took over government institutions and arrested the civilian prime minister, upending the tenuous transitional agreement that had been in place since the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019. The military’s takeover has spurred widespread popular protests on a near-weekly basis calling for civilian rule, which have been met by heavy-handed repression by security forces.