Annual Review 2022

International IDEA

Secretary-General

Kevin Casas-Zamora

A message from the Secretary-General

If the story of the last few decades is one of increased freedom and prosperity under the spreading umbrella of democracy, the story of the last few years is one of democracy under threat. The starkest example of this is Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which represents an attack not just on lives and livelihoods, but also on the promise of democracy. Indeed, democracy now faces pressure globally, with authoritarian regimes tightening their grip and too many elected leaders adopting authoritarian tactics to cling to control. Meanwhile, misinformation campaigns, political polarization and rising inequality are eroding people’s trust that democracy can deliver on their needs and expectations.

International IDEA’s reach around the world

Sweden – Botswana

Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary- General meets the President of the Republic of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi at the International IDEA headquarters in Stockholm.

Indonesia

Leena Rikkila Tamang, International IDEA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, meets the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the Bali Democracy Forum 2022.

Mozambique

Miguel Orlando Mendes de Brito, International IDEA Head of Programme for Mozambique, responds to questions related to an introductory workshop on the Electoral Risk Management Tool for the Mozambican Elections Commission.

France

Sam van der Staak, International IDEA Regional Director for Europe, meets OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

India

Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General, and Adina Trunk, International IDEA Chief of Staff, meet Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey and the Election Commission of India leadership team.

Brazil

International IDEA’s Latin America and Caribbean programme team holds electoral mission to Brazil on 2 October 2022. From left to right: Laura Chinchilla, Former President of Costa Rica; Salvador Romero Ballivian, Head of International IDEA in Paraguay; Mónica Xavier, Former Senator of Uruguay; Katherine Batista, Programme Assistant for the Regional Office LAC; Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General; Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Marta Lucía Ramírez, Former Vice President of Colombia; Isabel Aninat, International IDEA Board member.

United States

International IDEA at the Global Forum in New York 22 September 2022. From left to right: Massimo Tomassoli, International IDEA Director of Global Programmes; Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA Regional Director for LAC; Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General; Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, Former President of the Dominican Republic; and Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director for Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD). Credit: GFDD.

Introduction

For the past 27 years, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has honored its mandate to promote and advance democracy worldwide.

This Annual Review highlights our global contributions as a think-and do-tank dedicated to researching, delivering comparative knowledge resources and supporting in the implementation of democratic practices that help everyone build and maintain inclusive and resilient democracies.

Our Vision

A world in which everyone lives in inclusive and resilient democracies.

Our Mission

International IDEA advances, promotes and protects sustainable democracy worldwide in consideration of human rights commitments through policy-relevant knowledge, capacity development, advocacy, and the convening of dialogues.

Supporting democracy worldwide

How we work

International IDEA’s working modalities constitute a reinforcing loop of knowledge production, capacity development, advocacy and the convening of dialogues. International IDEA’s comparative knowledge and research inform its capacity development; these have policy influence and inform advocacy, and enable the convening of dialogues. In turn, capacity development in the field provides valuable lessons for knowledge production, policy influence and advocacy, enabling continuous learning within the Institute.

Supporting Democracy Worldwide

Activity and Reach

Themes

IDEA offices

Existing and planned projects

Our Impact Stories

Global

Africa and West Asia

Asia and the Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

Seema Shah, International IDEA Democracy Assessment Head, presents the findings of the Global State of Democracy 2022 Report at the launch event in Stockholm.
Credit: Malin Huusmann

Global State of Democracy Becomes Go-to Report for Policymakers and Media

The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) report provides policymakers, activists, citizens and media with analysis, recommendations and data on democratic performance from 173 countries, while also advocating for evidence-based democratic reforms. The report synthesizes 116 individual indicators from our GSoD Indices, including press freedom and clean and fair election processes, to provide a scientific, trustworthy analysis of global democracy.

The United Nations: Advocating for Democracy Worldwide

As a UN permanent observer, International IDEA provides data and analysis on global democracy-related topics in line with UN agendas. In 2022 alone, we delivered 13 statements, including on the UN Secretary-General's Report Our Common Agenda, on topics such as environmental protection, gender and inclusion, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, parliamentary digital technology innovation, migration, climate change, the human rights situation in Myanmar and the war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Global Democracy Coalition, a multi-stakeholder coalition of more than 100 democracy organizations, convened forums in 2021 and 2023 to provide a space for inclusive dialogue, ahead of each Summit for Democracy.

Global Democracy Coalition Recommends Actions for Second Summit for Democracy

International IDEA continued to convene the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC), which was formed ahead of the First Summit for Democracy in 2021 to broaden the conversations by including more voices and issues. The GDC has now grown into a coalition of more than 100 democracy organizations from around the world. It is co- coordinated by International IDEA and Counterpart International with a steering group of other democracy organizations. During a ‘Year of Action’, the GDC convened over 30 events, generated recommendations for the Second Summit for Democracy, issued a monthly newsletter and developed an engagement strategy for the Second Summit, with a focus on two activities: the GDC Forum and Partners for Democracy Day.

Indonesian election officials transport ballot boxes from polling stations on a boat as they wade through flood water in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, 18 April 2019. Credit: EPA-EFE/IQBAL KUSUMADIREZZA

Preparing for the Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections

Election management bodies have long had to cope with natural hazards, but the threat posed by such phenomena has become even more apparent in the past decades, from 300 per year in 1980 to 800 in 2020. This dramatic increase is likely to continue and affect elections going forward.

Demonstration in Sudan. Photo by: Hind Mekki on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmekki/49174020573/in/dateposted/ ) (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

A Forum for Constitution-makers and Conflict Mediators to Influence International Policy

In 2014, International IDEA's Constitution-Building Programme began the 'Edinburgh Dialogues' in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh as an annual meeting for experts and practitioners in constitution-making, conflict mediation and peacebuilding. Through the Dialogues, International IDEA has developed research and resources that can serve as guidance for communities engaging in both peace- and constitution-building processes in fragile environments.

The first cohort of the Young Women Democracy Academy at a graduation event co-hosted by International IDEA Sudan’s Programme in August 2022.

Sudan's Democracy Academy inspires young women to engage in politics

International IDEA’s Young Women’s Democracy Academy has helped young Sudanese women gain the skills and access the networks needed to participate effectively in political parties, social movements, trade unions or non-profit organizations. Cohort graduates have moved on to influential organizations such as the Young African Leaders’ Initiative and the Sudanese Resistance Committees, the spearhead of anti- coup protests.

Officials at a polling station prepare to count votes in The Gambia’s presidential election (2021). This was the first presidential election in The Gambia since the long-standing dictator Yahya Jammeh was ousted from power in 2017. Credit: Sally Hayden / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Helping to provide peaceful presidential elections in The Gambia

The Gambia’s December 2021 election, the first since former dictator Yahya Jammeh fled into exile, was seen as a crucial test for the young African democracy. It passed off successfully, in a huge achievement for one of Africa’s smallest countries that is also one of the poorest in the world.

The Parliament of Bhutan and civil society organizations are working together to improve the legislative process, under the Project ‘Nyamdrel.

Assisting Bhutan’s young parliament establish public hearings and civil society collaboration

Bhutan's young democracy only established its first parliament in 2008, with the legislature focusing on economic development, education, and healthcare - all critical policy infrastructure for the lower-middle-income Himalayan country. The next stage was to integrate civil society organizations better into the legislative process, enabling more public participation in parliament, as well as oversight of the lawmakers to strengthen its democracy.

New App Helps Electoral Officials and Civil Society to Counter Electoral Gerrymandering

The Electoral Redistricting App was launched to empower electoral management bodies, civil society organizations and researchers regarding electoral districting, helping to counter problems such as gerrymandering to ensure more equal suffrage. The app has been embraced by more than 200 users, from Indonesia to Nigeria and Finland.

Working with Myanmar's Government Leaders and Activists in Exile

Myanmar's military coup and deadly crackdown abruptly ended International IDEA's work in the country in support of the government's fragile democratic transition. Undeterred, International IDEA has worked with government leaders and activists in exile as well as international experts to examine the development of constitutional reform and improved governance.

Bringing Civil Society Voices to EU's Democracy Policymaking

In a rapidly changing geopolitical context, the EU is relying on the voice of citizens to reinvigorate democracy globally. To help the EU build inclusive policies, International IDEA and the Swedish Presidency of the EU facilitated regional and national dialogues with more than 200 civil society organizations from outside the EU to discuss its external democracy policy. International IDEA also engaged more than 100 civil society organizations in the Summit for Democracy process initiated by the US Biden administration, focused on the Global South and Eastern Europe.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Bucha town after liberation from Russian occupiers during Russian Ukrainian war, April 2022. Credit: Dmytro Larin, Shutterstock

Helping Ukraine's Parliament Operate Effectively in Time of War

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been a humanitarian disaster. It has also presented unprecedented challenges for a functioning government, ranging from the destruction of infrastructure to displacement and loss of staff. International IDEA, together with a network of Ukrainian legal experts, has provided expertise to the parliamentary leadership on how the legislature can best operate during war, including looking at how other countries have coped with providing public services during conflict.

Supporting the drafting of laws in Paraguay that promote women in politics

International IDEA teamed up with Paraguay's Senate to introduce a bill to protect women who engage politically from gender-based violence, enlisting the help of legal experts to produce legislative proposals. International IDEA helped tailor an advocacy plan to persuade sceptical Senators to support the bill.

A scene from the play “Danzaré hasta transformarlo todo” (I will dance until I change it all). A group of young people train for a folk dance competition, while reflecting on the last political changes of the country and how they affect them.

Using theatre in Peru to raise awareness of the rights of marginalized groups

Ahead of regional and municipal elections, International IDEA helped produce seven plays to raise awareness of the role of Indigenous and Afro-Peruvian people in the foundation of democracy, the unrecognized rights of the LGBTIQ+ community and the lack of services for the community of people with disabilities. Over 2,500 people watched the plays in November 2022.

Global State of Democracy Becomes Go-to Report for Policymakers and Media

The GSoD is used by international development donors to help them prioritize the allocation of democracy assistance funds and to design projects and programmes. Its findings have been cited by the likes of the US Senate, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Finnish Innovation Fund and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In 2022, for example, Sida reported that its Africa department systematically uses the categories in the GSoD Indices conceptual framework when compiling results for annual strategy reports.

In 2022, the GSoD Initiative and its products were reported in 27 languages in 791 articles across international media, from the BBC to Al Jazeera, the Times of India, the Washington Post and Brazil's Globo. Pakistan's Express Tribune highlighted how the country measured against the GSoD Indices and reflected on the report's assessment of Pakistan's overall democratic performance.

The Sida Department for Africa uses GSoD's categories when compiling results from the annual strategy reports, i.e.. Representative Government, Fundamental Rights, etc. The compilation is made in Excel format. It is the most systematic use of the GSoD. The GSoD, or other indices, are also used in the analysis of political developments in individual strategy reports and in analyses forming the basis for country strategies.

Mikael Boström, Sida

Funding	Core, European Union, Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Robert Bosch Stiftung
Theme	Democracy Assessment
Pillar	Knowledge

The United Nations: Advocating for Democracy Worldwide

International IDEA has also been a strong voice around SDG16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, through the SDG16 Data Initiative. The Initiative is a consortium of 17 partner organizations that makes key recommendations on SDG16 in an annual report.

Funding	Core
Pillar	Convening Advocacy

Global Democracy Coalition Recommends Actions for Second Summit for Democracy

Thanks for everything that you are doing for the Year of Action and the Summit for Democracy Process through the Global Democracy Coalition and all other efforts and contributions by International IDEA. You are filling important gaps and are enabling a platform for more stakeholders to engage and be part of the Summit process.

Laura Thornton, Senior Vice President at the German Marshall Fund

Funding	Core, Robert Bosch Stiftung
Pillar	Convening Advocacy

Preparing for the Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections

Our reporting on the Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections provides an insight into the strategies that can be used to protect elections from adverse effects that are likely to increase with climate change, such as flooding and wildfires, as well as non-climate change specific disasters such as earthquakes. Case studies on Haiti, Mozambique, the United States and Indonesia provide a closer look at this topic.

Funding	Core
Theme	Electoral Processes
Pillar	Knowledge Capacity Development

A Forum for Constitution-makers and Conflict Mediators to Influence International Policy

Demonstration in Sudan. Photo by: Hind Mekki on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmekki/49174020573/in/dateposted/ ) (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The first of its kind, this gathering has influenced approaches to constitution-building in Myanmar and South Sudan, among other countries.

More concretely, one policy paper has informed the Myanmar National Unity Government in its thinking around drafting a constitutional framework for a future transition from military rule to democracy. Policy papers on 'Sequencing Peace Agreements' and 'Constitutions in the Political Settlement Process' provided advice to the UK government on transitional constitutional arrangements to inform the Vienna Process on Syria.

The Edinburgh Dialogues and Women Constitution Makers Network have made recommendations that have been taken on board by entities such as the UK government and the UN Mediation Support Unit. The learning has supported processes in places as diverse as The Gambia, Sudan and Myanmar. Importantly, the Dialogues have built across mediator-constitution maker divides, to address the political dynamics of constitution making as a peacemaking tool in ways that inform both communities and practitioners.

CHRISTINE BELL

Assistant Principal (Global Justice), Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Edinburgh, Founder and Director of Global Justice Academy and former International IDEA Board Member

Funding	UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Theme	Constitution-Building
Pillar	Knowledge Convening Capacity Development

Sudan's Democracy Academy inspires young women to engage in politics

I did not realize I was in the darkness of isolation until I came to the light of participation and solidarity with my colleagues …. The discussions, debates and disagreements between us opened a wide door that ignited in me a desire to learn, discuss and share.

Muzan Elfatih, 19

Funding	Embassy of Sweden in Khartoum, Sudan
Theme	Political Participation and Representation Gender and Inclusion
Pillar	Knowledge Capacity Development

Helping to provide peaceful presidential elections in The Gambia

Officials at a polling station prepare to count votes in The Gambia’s presidential election (2021). This was the first presidential election in The Gambia since the long-standing dictator Yahya Jammeh was ousted from power in 2017. Credit: Sally Hayden / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

International IDEA supported the peaceful presidential elections and a stable aftermath by providing dialogue, outreach and training for civil society organizations, journalists, members of political parties and government officials. One outcome was a Code of Conduct signed by presidential and parliamentary election candidates. Another was the creation of a high-level group of Gambian Moral Guarantors led by Dr Mohamed Chambas, a politician and Head of the UN Office for West Africa.

International IDEA has been very pivotal in the successful conduct of this election cycle. This makes International IDEA a key building-block not only in the democratic process of The Gambia, but also as a key peace building pillar for this country.

Alieu Momar Njai, Chair of the Independent Electoral Commission

Funding	UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Theme	Electoral Processes
Pillar	Capacity development

Assisting Bhutan’s young parliament establish public hearings and civil society collaboration

International IDEA helped parliament to devise a strategy on public hearings and a renewed and more accessible parliamentary website. Legislators were given training in communications and the importance of engaging with civil society organizations as the country prepares to tackle its most protracted problems - from domestic violence to political participation and youth engagement.

It's really about knowing the domain and then the teaching, discussing successes, struggles and challenges. What are the things they need? What do they need support in, in terms of legislation and policy?

Phuntshok Choden, Executive Director of the Bhutan Network for Empowering Women (BNEW)

Funding	European Union. This project was implemented by International IDEA and Helvetas Bhutan.
Theme	Political Processes and Representation
Pillar	Capacity Development

New App Helps Electoral Officials and Civil Society to Counter Electoral Gerrymandering

This free and open-source tool allows users to democratize the process of delimiting boundaries and to design their own constituency maps to further both research and debate. The app is secure and can be used off-line, which is helpful for users in remote locations with poor Internet access. It also provides resources that users can access to identify how crucial electoral representation is in a democracy.

I found it to be so user-friendly and enjoyed that I could download it or use it online. It's a very quick and easy way [to create boundary maps].

Mun Hao Yoong, a civil engineer based in Indonesia

Funding	Core
Theme	Electoral Processes
Pillar	Knowledge Capacity Development

Working with Myanmar's Government Leaders and Activists in Exile

Photo credit: Visual Rebellion.

Workshops have included training on negotiation, which is especially important given the myriad of political parties, members of parliament, ethnic armed groups and broader civil society working for an eventual return of Myanmar to democracy.

I am getting to understand well about constitutional democracy. I can distinguish better regarding rights and, since I could learn about judicial independence, constitutional review, federalism, and [the] separation of powers, it supports my teaching, learning and research and I [have] gained knowledge about the essential elements in the design of constitutional reforms and amendments for our country.

Attendee at the Constitution Academy

Funding	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland; and Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
Theme	Constitution-Building
Pillar	Knowledge Capacity Development

Bringing Civil Society Voices to EU's Democracy Policymaking

Including the voices of civil society as a key democracy actor and stakeholder is a core priority of EU institutions and the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

We have to make democracy tangible and relevant to the people we wish to work with.

Christian Leffler

Standing up for democracy and the rule of law is standing up for those who have less power and no voice. I look forward to working with International IDEA, Sweden, and EU member states because together we can advance democracy in Europe and beyond.

Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships

at the launch conference of International IDEA's Recommendations Report

For online report: View the International IDEA's Flickr launch event album and event videos.

Funding	European Union and Sweden
Pillar	Convening Advocacy

Helping Ukraine's Parliament Operate Effectively in Time of War

The network has also addressed questions from citizens, ranging from labour and employment rights under martial law to the operation of the courts. Legal advice was provided to citizens through social media, leading to 580,000 views on Facebook.

Funding	Core
Theme	Political Processes and Representation
Pillar	Knowledge Convening

Supporting the drafting of laws in Paraguay that promote women in politics

In parallel, International IDEA has supported women's groups to develop advocacy strategies, by providing civil society organizations with facts and arguments to build strong networks and alliances. The collaboration led to a social media campaign and attempts to build a civil society alliance to give voice to politically marginalized groups such as women, young people, the disabled and Indigenous people.

Funding	European Union, EMB and the Superior Tribunal for Electoral Justice (TSJE). The school also received inputs from the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry for Women, the Senate Gender and Equity Commission and the Paraguayan Network of Municipal Women.
Theme	Political Processes and Representation Gender and Inclusion
Pillar	Capacity Development Advocacy

Using theatre in Peru to raise awareness of the rights of marginalized groups

The plays provoked debate during the election campaigns, as candidates for the regional and municipal elections in districts of Lima pushed for the signing of municipal commitments. The project is one of several International IDEA projects helping to support democracy in the Andean nation, which has been beset by political instability, violent protest and police crackdowns.

Funding	This initiative by the International IDEA office in Peru was carried out with the sponsorship of USAID and the support of The Place of Memory, Tolerance and Social Inclusion (LUM), of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, the Peruvian Network of Afro-descendant Youth (Ashanti Perú), Más Igualdad Perú, Society and Disability (SODIS) and Capaz Perú.
Theme	Political Processes and Representation Gender and Inclusion
Pillar	Capacity Development Advocacy

International IDEA in numbers

177,139

Publication downloads on the International IDEA website

2,171,522

Visits to the International IDEA website

10,447

Total new followers on social media

1,413,578

Total new impressions on social media

Top Media mentions

1. United States

2,490

2. Mexico

1,070

3. Spain

811

4. Argentina

697

5. Brazil

485

6. Peru

397

7. Indonesia

201

8. Nigeria

195

9. Dominican Republic

162

10. Colombia

150

11. India

145

12. South Africa

111

Financials

Total funding

Total funding 2022

Core funding

Project funding

30% increase in project funding between 2021 and 2022

Funding by programme

Total funding 2022

Global Programme

Africa & West Asia

Asia & the Pacific

Regional Europe

Latin America & the Caribbean

North America

15% increase in core funding between 2021 and 2022

90%

of all funding to International IDEA goes directly to our programmes around the world

Funding by theme

Member States and Donors’ contributions to the work of International IDEA are instrumental to advance our shared vision of achieving a more resilient and inclusive democracy for all. We are pleased to recognize our donors who have partnered with us for the delivery of key outcomes for democracy in 2022.

Electoral Processes

(€5,355,818)

Core: €982,765 Restricted: €4,373,053

Constitution-Building Processes

(€5,270,469)

Core: €984,331 Restricted: €4,286,138

Participation and Representation

(€10,281,275)

Core: €984,331 Restricted: €9,296,944

Democracy Assessment

(€1,105,302)

Core: €490,442 Restricted: €614,860