“Parties that take women’s political participation seriously benefit from stronger electoral positions, access to new groups of voters and stronger relations with their constituents,” NDI President Kenneth Wollack said at the Feb. 29 launch of a new guidebook for political parties.

The guide, Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties: A Good Practices Guide to Promote Women’s Political Participation, was written and produced by the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) and NDI. 

NDI announced today that it will award its 2012 Madeleine K. Albright Grant to the Women’s Discussion Club of Kyrgyzstan.

The Discussion Club, launched with NDI support in 2006, was one of the first groups in Kyrgyzstan to bring together women from diverse backgrounds and political parties to defend the rights and interests of women nationwide.

In Mali, a new series of citizen forums aims to solve community problems and incorporate women as full partners in the process.

On Dec. 10, join NDI as we "Rise with the Prize," an initiative that celebrates this year’s Nobel Peace Prize and women’s participation in building a secure world.

The Congolese National Independent Election Commission (CENI) is reconvening its forum for dialogue with all major Congolese political parties, which had not met since July. The breakthrough came during a pre-election mission organized by NDI and led by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson.