Institutional
Strategy

Mainstreaming Lenses

International IDEA will mainstream (a) gender and inclusion; (b) conflict sensitivity and (c) environmental protection across all its areas of work.

Criteria for Engagement

International IDEA will work worldwide at a global, regional, and country level. Based on International IDEA’s vision of democracy and its status as an inter- governmental organization, in its Strategy the Institute’s work will continue to be characterized by an impartial, non-partisan, collaborative, demand-driven and holistic approach to democracy cooperation. International IDEA believes that this approach lays a solid basis for acting as a trusted partner to those leading democratic change at the country level.

International IDEA will work in all democratic countries to counteract challenges to democracy where opportunities exist to remedy democratic erosion and breakdown or improve and advance democracy. Specifically, International IDEA will:

• prioritize countries experiencing visible signs of democratic erosion, including democratic backsliding.
• continue to engage in countries experiencing democratic breakdown, as measured by its Global State of Democracy Indices on a case-by-case basis based on political-economic and risk assessments
• focus on countries that are emerging democracies, choosing opportunities for intervention by conducting stakeholder analysis and identifying pro-democracy target groups.

Optimizing our Work

International IDEA aims to continuously optimize its work and improve its internal operations by:

Assessing impact and increasing our learning capacities

International IDEA will strive to expand its existing monitoring and evaluation capacities to better assess how its work and projects contribute to outcomes that protect and advance democracy as set out in International IDEA’s Theory of Change.

Enhancing integrated programming and collaboration within the organization

The Institute will nurture a cohesive institutional culture and knowledge management structure, the Institute will encourage co-owned, institute-wide projects led by cross-functional and/or cross-regional teams.

Expanding and harnessing our digital footprint

International IDEA will enhance its digital footprint and invest in digital technology and the digital capabilities of its staff, to increase and facilitate internal and external communication and outreach.

Investing in International IDEA’s human capital

International IDEA will invest in its staff to attract and maintain talent by offering competitive working conditions, professional development as well as flexible working and residence modalities. The Institute will prioritize and ensure inclusivity, non discrimination, and diversity in its workforce.

Resource Mobilization

To ensure International IDEA’s financial sustainability and to be able to maintain or modestly grow its current levels of core funding, while increasing its amount of restricted funding, the Institute will (a) enhance its monitoring and evaluation systems and results reporting to Member States and other donors, (b) continue to develop and implement cost-effective programmes and improve the transparency of reporting, (c) increase its capacity for resource mobilization and (d) seek to diversify its donor base and grow its ability to manage various funding modalities including ‘basket funding’ to balance core and restricted funds.

Communication and Outreach

To support its mission and help realize its strategic objectives, International IDEA will seek to increase its visibility with an increased focus on creative and digital models as a tool for democracy promotion. In its communication, International IDEA will focus on creating and strengthening ownership of its Member States and donors on the outcomes of International IDEA’s work on the state of democracy, democratic reform, and democracy building, highlighting its relevance as an intergovernmental organization and as a credible partner for sustainable democracy.