Democracy is taking center stage in 2024 as over 60 nations gear up for significant electoral events. The world is watching as millions of citizens participate in shaping the political landscape of their countries through major elections, including in the United States.

In March 2024, two friends, Fofana and Koffi, set out on a hunting trip in a forest near their village of Akakro, as they often did. After successfully bagging their first game, Koffi split away to relieve himself. Fofana kept walking and suddenly thought he spotted a wild boar in the bushes in the distance – but when he shot at it and heard his friend Koffi’s cries, he realized with terror his mistake. 

The participation and empowerment of citizens in all their diversity are the keys to healthy and resilient democracies, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the realm of environmental sustainability. The unique climate-related challenges that face communities around the world require innovative, local solutions that address the needs of those affected, especially the marginalized communities who feel the effects of climate change most acutely.

Amid Poland's diverse urban landscape, citizen-led initiatives are reshaping communities and addressing pressing issues with the support of NDI’s Central Europe Civic Engagement Project (CECEP). The project aims to empower citizens and foster stronger collaboration between civil society and the government. Within Poland's dynamic urban centers, grassroots activism is gaining momentum, tackling environmental challenges head-on.

In the lead-up and aftermath of Ethiopia’s 2021 elections, NDI worked with its civil society organization (CSO) partners, the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations for Elections (CECOE), Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), and Federation of Ethiopian Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEAPD) to strengthen  their external communications capacity and implement outreach strategies pertaining to citizens election observation (a process that leads to major gains in electoral integrity, accountability, transparency, inclusion and long-term public engagement around ele

As democracies across Asia face new and sophisticated threats to their integrity, it is crucial for the next generation of leaders to have opportunities to help strengthen their home countries’ civic institutions and democratic processes. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has long invested in the future of electoral integrity by nurturing young, like-minded individuals throughout the region, prioritizing the inclusion of youth in conversations around evolving electoral processes as they face new and emerging threats.

Over the past few years, Ecuador has gradually been taking steps to achieve gender parity in political processes. To further this effort, NDI has established and provided technical support to the Violet Coalition (Coalición Violeta, CV), a multi-sector coalition to promote increased women’s participation in Ecuadorian politics made up of members representing academia, civil society organizations, media outlets, and the private sector.