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The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), is the only inter-governmental organization supporting democracy around the world. It aims to support journalists with up-to-date information and impartial analysis. Our experts are on hand to talk to media and have been cited in the likes of The New York Times to the BBC, Le Monde and the Mail & Guardian. Our reports are also available online, including our flagship Global State of Democracy Report. Be among the first to learn about our announcements and new reports by signing up for our press releases and regular newsletter on this page.
Here are some of our experts who are available for interviews on our regional programmes, key focus areas and special initiatives—including the Global Monitor of COVID-19's Impact on Democracy and Human Rights, which is co-funded by the European Union..
Full Profile
Kevin Casas-Zamora
Secretary-General
Expertise: Global overview of democracy, consequences for democracy in general, geopolitics, civil liberties, Latin America
Languages: English, Spanish
Directors
Full Profile
Adebayo Olukoshi
Director for Africa and West Asia
Country / Region Focus: Africa and the Middle East
Languages: English
Full Profile
Leena Rikkilä Tamang
Director for Asia and the Pacific
Expertise: Democratic transitions/backsliding in the region
Country / Region Focus: Asia and the Pacific
Languages: English, Finnish
Full Profile
Laura Thornton
Director for Global Programmes
Expertise: Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on democracy promotion globally; the former USSR sphere and Asia-Pacific; disinformation, security apparatus, public opinion polling, parliamentary oversight, political parties and campaigns, election observation, and citizen advocacy and participation
Country / Region Focus: The former USSR sphere and Asia-Pacific
Languages: English
Full Profile
Sam van der Staak
Head of Programme, Regional Europe
Expertise: Europe, impact of the coronavirus pandemic within European Union
Country / Region Focus: European Union
Languages: Dutch, English
Full Profile
Daniel Zovatto
Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
Expertise: Latin America, impact of the coronavirus pandemic on electoral processes
Country / Region Focus: Latin America
Languages: English, Spanish
Adhy Aman
Senior Programme Manager
Expertise: Senior Programme Manager, Asia and the Pacific and Country Programme Manager for Fiji and Mongolia
Country / Region Focus: Fiji and Mongolia
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English
Alfonso Ferrufino
Senior Adviser
Expertise: Political parties and Constitution-building in Bolivia
Country / Region Focus: Bolivia
Languages: English, Spanish
Carolina Floru
Programme Officer
Expertise: Electoral processes and gender
Country / Region Focus: Bolivia
Languages: English, Spanish
Jennifer Guachalla
Coordinator for the Electoral Processes Project
Country / Region Focus: Bolivia
Languages: English, Spanish
Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu
Head of Political Participation and Representation
Expertise: Gender equality and women’s empowerment, politics, media, constitutions, electoral processes and governance, parliamentary development and legislative formulation, women’s human rights advocacy and community development.
Languages: English, Shona
Adem Kassie Abebe
Programme Officer
Expertise: Elections and constitutional governance, Ethiopia and Africa
Country / Region Focus: Ethiopia and Africa
Languages: Amharic, English
Percy Medina
Head of Mission, Peru
Expertise: Elections, political processes, electoral observation and electoral debates.
Languages: English, German, Spanish
Therese Pearce Laanela
Head of Electoral Processes
Expertise: elections and electoral assistance, electoral systems, and political financing
Languages: English, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish
Annika Silva-Leander
Head of Democracy Assessment
Expertise: Global democracy assessment and measurement; civic space; impact of the coronavirus pandemic on democracy; governance and development; expertise in Latin America and Asia
Country / Region Focus: Europe, Asia, Latin America
Languages: English, French, Spanish, Swedish
Massimo Tommasoli
Permanent Observer for International IDEA to the United Nations
Expertise: United Nations and democracy assistance response, Implications for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Country / Region Focus: New York
Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish
Adina Trunk
Special Adviser to the Secretary-General
Expertise: Global State of Democracy, political parties, gender & women’s political empowerment,democratization processes, democratic backsliding
Country / Region Focus: Eastern Europe, Sweden
Languages: English, French, German, Romanian, Swedish
Kimana Zulueta-Fülscher
Acting Head of Constitution-Building
Expertise: Constitution building; state- and peace-building; conflict and security
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish