Political party finance and political corruption scandals are by no means exclusive to Africa. However, whereas a wide range of literature has been published on Western Europe, North American and Australia, relatively little research exists on the way these issues impact the continent and possible solutions to the problem. In February 2003, NDI launched the Africa Political Party Finance Initiative (APPFI), one of the first attempts to understand and evaluate the challenges of political party financing in Africa.

Montenegro’s peaceful transition to independence began the final chapter in the lengthy and often bloody disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. On May 21, 2006, the people of Montenegro cast their ballots in a much-anticipated and highly charged referendum on the nation’s status, opting for independence over continued union with Serbia.

NDI Pakistan, in collaboration with NDI Brussels, is organizing a Study Tour to the Netherlands for 13 Pakistani political party activists, including 8 women and 5 men, from June 4 through June 10. The participants, active in NDI’s youth and women’s programs, represent all four provinces and a range of political parties in Pakistan — including the Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N).