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Annual Review 2023
International IDEA
A message from the Secretary-General
Democracy faces critical challenges around the world, from polarization and authoritarianism to disinformation and climate change. What’s more, these issues are not unique to developing countries or to nascent democracies. They are problems common to all democracies, and they require collective solutions. In such a context, the unique mandate of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to support sustainable democracy globally has become more important than ever.
International IDEA’s reach around the world
United Nations
Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America and Permanent Observer to the UN, presents her credentials to UN Secretary-General H. E. António Guterres, on 16 June 2023. Credit: UN Photo
United Nations General Assembly
President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (left) is greeted by Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, at the 2023 UN General Assembly in New York. Credit: International IDEA
The Gambia
The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow (fourth from right) meets with International IDEA staff member Maurice Mboula Jean-Claude Didier Enguelegue (at left) in 2023. Credit: International IDEA
Mauritius
The President of Mauritius H. E. Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun (right) receives a gift from Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora. Credit International IDEA
Botswana
Botswana President H. E. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi regards the gift shared by Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora during a visit to Botswana, an International IDEA Member State since 1997. Image courtesy of Daily News
Nigeria
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora greets former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan at the Special Envoys Retreat on Constitutional Transitions convened by International IDEA in Abuja, Nigeria, October 2023. Credit: International IDEA
Bhutan
H. E. Dasho Tashi Dorji, Chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan from 2018 to 2023 (centre) pictured with Pema Tenzin (left), International IDEA Project Manager for Bhutan, and Leena Rikkilä Tamang (right), International IDEA Director for the Asia and the Pacific region. Credit: International IDEA
On 9 June 2023, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora (left), signed a memorandum of understanding with Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Credit: International IDEA
Belgium
Event of the Global State of Democracy 2023 Report, Brussels, 17 November 2023. From left: Marilyn Neven, Programme Manager EU
Liaison, International IDEA; H.E. Anders Eide, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the European Union; H.E. Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belgium; Sam van der Staak, Director for Europe, International IDEA. Credit: Bruno Maes
Professor Eddy Maloka, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism, and Roba Sharamo, International IDEA Director for the Africa and West Asia region, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Credit: International IDEA
Sweden
International IDEA’s Secetary-General meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström. Credit: International IDEA
European Commission
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora and Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Credit: International IDEA
For the past 28 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.
A world in which everyone lives in inclusive and resilient democracies.
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.
To achieve its mission, and in pursuit of its vision, International IDEA has defined six workstreams to align with the challenges and opportunities of the democracy landscape and the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Electoral Processes, Constitution-Building Processes, Political Participation and Representation, Democracy Assessment, Climate Change and Democracy, and Digitalization and Democracy. The Institute mainstreams (a) gender and inclusion; (b) conflict sensitivity; and (c) environmental protection across all its work.
Learn about our strategic direction in our current democracy landscape.
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
Our Impact
France becomes International IDEA’s 35th Member State
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Member States support International IDEA in new and diverse ways
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Monitoring and analysing the global state of democracy
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Protecting electoral processes and holding elections during times of crises
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Sharing political finance assessments for evidence-based reform
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Spotlight on the Democracy Tracker
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Enhancing gender equality as a prerequisite for democracy: 2023 Summit for Democracy and beyond
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From discussion to action: The impact of Women Constitution-Makers’ Dialogues
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Building a multi-stakeholder coalition to protect and promote democracy
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Serving as a catalyst for democracy and SDG 16 at the United Nations
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Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption Programme in Nigeria
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Nurturing democracy defenders in Sierra Leone and crafting a manifesto for journalists
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International IDEA supports electoral transparency demands in Mozambique’s 2023 municipal elections
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From Yemen to Tunisia: Fostering dialogue and democracy awareness across the Arab region
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The climate change and democracy nexus in Asia and the Pacific
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Protecting Indigenous rights in the Philippines
Read full story, the Executive Director of Purple Foundation, speaks at an (orientation) event organized on 28th of September 2023 to kick-off the project implem.JPG)
Helping CSOs advance electoral reform in Nepal
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Assisting Ukraine in preparing for post-war out-of-country voting
Albania gears up for increased political finance oversight through digitalization
Sparking an EU debate on a new democracy narrative
Promoting creative solutions from young citizens in Peru
Preparing women leaders for political participation in Paraguay
Young people in Costa Rica promote interparty ethics pact
International IDEA in numbers
Top media mentions by country
2,416 (34%)
896 (13%)
644 (9.1%)
637 (9%)
276 (4%)
238 (3.3%)
173 (2.4%)
129 (1.8%)
90 (1.4%)
88 (1.3%)
85 (1.2%)
79 (1.1%)
Financials
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 2023.
Donors
Top 10 core funders
Top 10 restricted funders
