It might be cold outside for democracy. For the fifth consecutive year, the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction exceeds the number of countries moving towards democracy. It might be close to midnight for freedom. 2020 was the 15th year in a row that we saw a global decline in freedom.

Democracy never stops, even in the face of a globally broadcast Zoom call. During a session of the Legislative Track of the Summit for Democracy, featured panelist, Polish MP Hon. Agnieszka Pomaska took viewers into the parliamentary chambers while she voted and simultaneously spoke about parliament’s role in fighting executive overreach.

Addressing gaps in public health services in rural parts of Liberia requires teamwork. Goldy Kontoe Freeman and her colleagues at Community Health Care Initiative (CHI), a civil society organization (CSO) based in Bong County, Liberia, have already done extensive research on the causes of maternal mortality in rural Liberia, where overreliance on traditional maternal health practices and ongoing infrastructural challenges prevent many women from receiving necessary care. “When we take a look at midwives, because of traditional practices, they are stuck delivering at home,” Freeman says.

In the digital age, NDI’s democratic partners need tools and guides to maximize their effectiveness and take advantage of the potential of the internet while protecting themselves from it’s biggest risks. The redesigned Dem.Tools website, is designed to help address these needs. The site features a searchable library of software, approaches, toolkits, and guides that NDI regards as trusted technology or technology-related resources for the democracy community.