For the last several months, Burkina Faso has been dealing with the suspension of political party activities, as well as other forms of political censorship. Public trust in government institutions has fallen considerably, with citizens citing a lack of transparency and accountability from government leaders and a disconnect between political decision-makers and the needs and priorities of citizens. In addition, the introduction of new laws used to target and silence activists and political enemies has had a chilling effect on free speech and public protest against the regime.

One of the key ways that legislatures promote democratic governance and accountability for their constituents is by participating in the yearly process of scrutinizing and authorizing the executive’s budget proposal for government spending. As the national institution most closely linked to the population’s demands, legislatures have a special responsibility to engage with the budget process to ensure that it is transparent and reflects citizen priorities.

Since 2014, Yemen has been enmeshed in an armed conflict between Yemen’s government, the Houthi rebel group, and the international actors that support both sides, which has killed nearly 400,000 Yemenis and left nearly two-thirds of the country in need of humanitarian assistance. Many of Yemen’s political leaders who are supportive of the country’s internationally recognized government have been forced to flee the country since the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.

As the National Democratic Institute (NDI) moves into a fourth year of championing environmental governance in its global programming, staff are leading the Institute in integrating the principles of environmental sustainability, democratic participation and accountability within NDI itself. In the fall of 2023, NDI launched the Environmental Sustainability Initiative pilot for select country offices to design strategic sustainability action plans, measure progress, and share lessons learned.