Throughout Central America and the Caribbean the task of consolidating democratic institutions in the wake of decades of conflicts is complicated by corruption scandals, citizen discontent and persistent social problems.
International IDEA began its Central America work in Guatemala, where it was actively involved from 1997 to 2001. That programme was transferred to locals who are now the driving force behind the agenda generated in International IDEA’s report, Democracy in Guatemala: the Mission for an Entire People.
Since then, International IDEA has expanded its work to include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, focusing on political parties and the problems and challenges they face. In this regard, from 2003 until 2008, IDEA carried out a regional project to strengthen political parties’ capacities. This initiative was fostered by an alliance of international bodies made up of International IDEA, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI), the British Department for International Development (DFID), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the UN Development Program (UNDP), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD). While the Project was being carried out, we worked on the following areas:
- Political party financing and funding for the fight against corruption.
- Political parties and agendas for the fight against poverty.
- Political party systems, electoral systems and the political regime.
- Political parties and the media.
- Reflection on and development of tools for international cooperation involving political parties.
- Political parties and local regimes (municipalities).
International IDEA continues to work with political parties in the region on their key problems and challenges.
More recently, political crises in some countries of the region call for a need to continue strengthening democratic institutions. In this regard, IDEA is working with regional and local partners to support the strengthening of procedures and regulations for the democratic process.
In the Dominican Republic, International IDEA participated in the constitutional reform process by providing technical assistance to strengthen political and institutional reform. Currently, as the new Constitution has been approved, it is time to evaluate the changes and help political institutions adjust to the regulations set out in the new Constitution. This assistance is being provided to the Electoral Board regarding political parties’ legislation, electoral reform and direct democracy mechanisms.
