In November 2020, Zambia made headlines when it became the first African nation to default on its debt repayment to foreign lenders during the COVID-19 global health crisis. While many African nations made significant progress in reducing their debt burdens in the 1990s and 2000s, in recent years, countries such as Zambia, Kenya and Mozambique have steadily taken on more and more loans to finance large infrastructure projects and government spending. In 2021, Zambia’s overall debt burden reached 123% of the country’s GDP according to the International Monetary Fund.

Africa has seen significant democratic backsliding in recent years, driven in large part by leaders who undermine constitutional norms, bypass presidential term limits, and shrink political space to gain or maintain power. To stimulate a discussion on how to reverse this trend, NDI partnered with the Government of Botswana to organize an Africa-wide Summit on Constitutionalism and Democratic Consolidation, in Gaborone from July 6 to 8, 2022.

In addition to the devastating health and social impacts, the pandemic leaves in its wake a crushing public debt burden and a steep increase in debt service payments. Global sovereign debt is at the highest levels in 50 years and triple 2008 levels. In 2021, 25 of the world’s most poverty-stricken countries spent more on debt service payments than on health, education and social protection combined.

While March 11, 2020, is the day COVID officially became a global pandemic, the end date remains uncertain. Restrictions have been lifted in most of the world; yet health risks persist and countries are struggling to recover from the economic and social aftermath. The most prescient ones are capturing lessons from the COVID pandemic and  preparing for the next wave or new pandemics. 

“We cannot achieve the goals set out in the Malawi 2063 national agenda if young people are left behind.” These are the words of Precious Mafunga, a fellow of the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) Next Generation Leaders’ Academy and member of the Quota4Youth initiative. While many in Malawi are frustrated with the slow pace of change regarding the inclusion of young people in politics, Precious and the Next Generation fellows are committed to taking action to change the face of politics in Malawi.

On the occasion of the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) exchange with the International Republican Institute (IRI) and in collaboration with ParlAmericas. 

The exchange featured a parliamentary gathering for over 50 legislators from more than 20 countries across the Americas and the Caribbean with the goal of shedding light on the importance of legislatures in addressing solutions to shared regional challenges.