Youth Political Participation

June 14, 2021

Citizens Advisory Groups Make Inroads with Regional Policy-Makers in Morocco

In 2015, Morocco began an initiative to shift governing power from a national, more centralized model, to a regional model, in part to strengthen citizen trust and participation in government processes. Without adequate outreach, communication, and citizen consultation, though, regional government has, at times, been just as inaccessible as national politics.

Remarks by NDI President Derek Mitchell at the Launch of Speak Youth to Power Campaign

Remarks by NDI President Derek Mitchell

Launch of the Speak Youth to Power Campaign

June 3, 2021

Hello everyone. My name is Derek Mitchell, and I’m privileged to serve as President of the National Democratic Institute.

For nearly four decades, NDI has worked with partners from every corner of the globe to strengthen the institutions, processes, norms and values that underwrite democracy.

YALA Training Toolkit

This toolkit -- Youth Activism for Lebanese Accountability: An Inclusive Civic Engagement Training Curriculum -- is about creating change through activism and accountability. It is about creating change at the individual, institutional, and socio-political level by providing young people with the knowledge and skills to help shape the future of their country. It was developed at a time when the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) was witnessing the second wave of mass protests movements led by youth and women.

December 18, 2020

Lebanese Youth Debate Finale Highlights the Challenge of Emigration

With their country already racked by corruption, economic depression, and a healthcare system crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanese could not see how their situation could get any worse. Then came the devastating Port of Beirut explosion on August 4, 2020.

November 3, 2020

Palestinian Youth Advocate for Change during COVID-19

Palestinian youth are often associated with the uprisings of the first and second Intifadas and are seldom celebrated as changemakers in their local communities. Today’s young Palestinians are eager to participate in formal political processes and contribute to achieving long-lasting and meaningful changes in their communities. Despite their enthusiasm, youth face severe challenges in finding positive avenues to make their voices heard and communicate their needs to decision-makers.

October 5, 2020

Building an Effective Parliamentary Training System in Georgia

Building an Effective Parliamentary Training System in Georgia

‘We want a homeland’--Iraqis Assess Anti-Government Protests and Their Country’s Path Forward

‘We want a homeland’--Iraqis Assess Anti-Government Protests and Their Country’s Path Forward

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) recently completed a series of focus groups and key informant interviews in Iraq to identify public views and perceptions about the anti-government protests, assess the response of the government and other stakeholders, and explore a potential path forward.

Women and Youth Will Be Key to Armenia’s Democratic Success

“As a new democracy, Armenia faces a long road ahead,” said Ambassador Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, at the conclusion of a visit to the country. “But it’s clear the country already has at its disposal an abundance of ingredients for success. Chief among these are fresh democratic energy from a new generation of leaders, an increasing number of politically-active women and youth, and the support of the international community of democracies.”

February 27, 2020

Youth Voice of Change in Libya

In Libya, NDI's new youth debates program, called "Voice of Change" demonstrates the important work that can be done despite the ongoing conflict in the country. Debates are often one of the first real opportunities that young people have to engage in the basic tenets of democracy. The skills that students develop in preparing arguments on policy topics, in presenting those arguments and in being judges in their effectiveness last a lifetime. Through each debate, more people are introduced to democratic ideas and the pros and cons of political party and government policies.

Bridging the Divide: Youth and Parties Roundtable Discussion

NDI is implementing a program initative to identify opportunities for engagement and collaboration between youth-led organizations and political parties. As part of the initiative, NDI hosted a roundtable discussion of twenty experts in the youth and democracy development space in order to brainstorm potential solutions for bridging the divide between youth and parties. This resource is a public summary of the discussion's contents and the resulting recommendations for development practitioners.