Nigeria is taking a landmark step towards modernizing how it protects and empowers its people. With support from International IDEA’s CSO Strengthening Bridge Project, the country has drafted a new Social Development Act Amendment Bill—as the old law no longer reflects Nigeria’s rapidly growing population, its complex social challenges or the vital role of civil society.

International IDEA’s work through the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC II) in Nigeria has strengthened Nigeria’s justice sector by improving detainee rights, ensuring access to justice for vulnerable groups, promoting the adoption of non‑custodial sentencing and safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities.

International IDEA’s Consolidation of Democratic Dispensation in The Gambia project is driving a major step forward for women’s political participation in The Gambia, where women currently hold only 8.6 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, the country’s parliament. 

Following Gabon’s transitional period after the annulment of the country’s 2023 general elections, International IDEA urged the presidential candidates to sign the country’s first voluntary code of conduct—the Code of Good Conduct for the Candidates for Peaceful Presidential Elections in Gabon. Despite initial mistrust, the initiative helped foster a more peaceful electoral environment and inspired similar practices ahead of subsequent legislative and local elections.

Nigeria has for years been on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list—a designation for countries with gaps in tackling money laundering and terrorist financing. Countries on the list face strict restrictions in their ability to conduct international financial transactions, harming the economy of one of Africa’s powerhouses.

Ahead of Albania’s 2025 general election, International IDEA supported the creation of the country’s first Code of Conduct on Digital Campaigning, developed with the Central Election Commission, the National Democratic Institute and the University of Helsinki’s Rule of Law Centre. 

International IDEA supported Moldova in organizing free and fair parliamentary elections against a backdrop of covert digital threats, unregulated online political advertising and coordinated third-party campaigning capable of undermining the integrity of results. Ahead of the elections, the Institute anticipated these risks by helping oversight bodies respond to threats and strengthening the Central Electoral Commission’s ability to oversee the compliance of online campaigning and political advertising.

With millions of Ukrainians displaced across Europe, ensuring their right to vote is central to Ukraine’s democratic recovery. In 2025 Ukraine’s Central Election Commission, with International IDEA’s support, conducted eight consultative missions to Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden—countries hosting a combined total of more than 1.5 million Ukrainian voters.