For a country that has not witnessed national elections since 2014, municipal elections are an important way for many Libyans to make their voices heard within their communities and participate as active citizens. Participation in these elections also has the potential to improve the daily lives of Libyans - when provided with adequate support, municipal councils can address local issues, provide basic services, and implement municipal legislation.

From December 15 to17, the National Democratic Institute, in partnership with the Africa Forum, the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF) and the Open Society Initiative (OSI) brought together civic and political leaders from across the continent for a Virtual Term Limits Conference, entitled “2020 in Retrospective.” Over the course of this three-day event, panelists and participants, including former President of Malawi, Her Excellency Dr.

In August 2020, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville held the first general election since the region voted overwhelmingly for separation from Papua New Guinea last year. Voters headed to the polls to elect the new president and representatives responsible for establishing the world’s newest independent country.

Around the world, a diversity of beliefs and nonbeliefs interact with and are integrated into political, social and cultural contexts. This reality makes collaborating and partnering with religious communities to advance development goals, known as strategic religious engagement (SRE), an intricate, yet important, process.