Stories

December 6, 2017

MPs from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Discuss Countering Violent Extremism with U.S. Counterparts

From November 13 to 17, NDI welcomed members of parliament (MPs) from the Sahel region of Africa to Washington, D.C. for a parliamentary exchange program in partnership with the Institute for Representative Government (IRG). The delegation included six MPs from majority and minority parties from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger who are working in their respective legislatures on combating violent extremism and enhancing citizen security. The program, supported by the State Department’s Office of Citizen Exchanges, focused on the vital role of parliaments in combating violent extremism and reducing state fragility through democratic engagement. During the program, the delegates met with U.S. policy makers and experts to discuss how parliaments can respond effectively to rising threats of violent extremism and strengthen security in the Sahel region and globally.

November 24, 2017

In Advance of Honduras Elections, Groups Collaborate to Launch Vote for Equality Campaign

Hondurans will head to the polls on November 26 to vote in the country’s general election. On September 26 and 27 -- two months prior to this week’s election -- representatives of civil society organizations gathered in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to launch a campaign titled Vote for Equality. The campaign provides a platform for marginalized populations, pooling their efforts to advocate for equality. The campaign also publishes information on candidate platforms related to inclusion to inform voters in advance of the election.

November 21, 2017

NDI Supports African Union Efforts to Enhance Youth Participation in Electoral Processes

Africa’s growing youth population will place young people at the forefront of the continent’s development. According to data from the United Nations, people under the age of 35 make up three-quarters of Africa’s population, and this number is predicted to continue to increase over the next decade.

November 14, 2017

“Demands for Freedom and Accountability Did Not End with the Arab Spring” Says NDI’s Les Campbell to Congress

“Democracy and governance promotion efforts are important pieces of securing U.S. interests in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.

November 3, 2017

NDI Announces Senior-Level Hires at the Intersection of Tech and Democracy

As technology’s role in democracy continues to grow and evolve, NDI is pleased to expand its team with two new staff members, each of whom brings professional experiences along with a deep commitment to strengthening democracy throughout the world.

November 2, 2017

2017 Democracy Dinner Explores the Global Threat of Disinformation

Last night the National Democratic Institute (NDI) awarded its 2017 Democracy Award to three organizations at the forefront of the battle to combat disinformation at its annual Democracy Award Dinner in Washington, D.C. Entitled Disinformation vs. Democracy: Fighting for Facts, the evening’s discussion explored the threat of disinformation to democracy around the world.

October 26, 2017

Disinformation vs. Democracy: Fighting for Facts

NDI’s annual Democracy Dinner will be held November 2nd at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, DC. This year, NDI will honor three organizations on the front lines of fighting the global challenge of disinformation and false news. In addition, Senator Chris Murphy will provide a perspective from the U.S. Congress on this important topic and efforts that are being taken to counter disinformation. To purchase tickets and sponsor the event, please use this link.

October 19, 2017

NDI Partners with Eastern African Regional Organization to Promote Democratic Principles

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc composed of eight countries in East Africa, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Democratic Institute on Friday, October 13. The new agreement fortifies the existing relationship between the two organizations and will enhance joint efforts to consolidate democratic practices in the IGAD member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.

October 4, 2017

NDI’s Madeleine Albright and Sandra Pepera Discuss Violence Against Women in Politics on PBS’s To The Contrary

Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, chairman of NDI’s board of directors, and NDI Director for Gender, Women and Democracy, Sandra Pepera, were featured on PBS’s To The Contrary on Friday, September 29, 2017. The show discussed numerous issues of global importance, including NDI’s #NotTheCost campaign aimed at stopping violence against women in politics.

October 3, 2017

Technology that Improves Citizen Engagement with Government

NDI was pleased to support the Code for All Network at their annual Code for All Summit, which took place in Taipei, Taiwan, at the margins of Taiwan’s CivicTech Festival.

Code for All is an international network of organizations who believe that digital technology opens new channels for citizens to more meaningfully engage in the public sphere and have a positive impact on their communities.