The EU Delegation to Nepal and International IDEA launched a project on electoral reform to enhance the equal participation of women, youth, Dalits and other marginalized groups in Nepal’s political processes. This comes as Nepal is implementing a federal system that has increased the representation of historically marginalized and excluded groups in state bodies. The institutionalization of the new system faces risks, however, especially from political parties exploiting loopholes in electoral laws. 

The Philippines has an estimated 14–17 million Indigenous People, belonging to 110 ethno-linguistic groups. In the Bangsamoro and Cordillera regions of the Philippines, Indigenous people experience social discrimination, economic marginalization and political disempowerment, which are worsened by the pandemic and an ongoing armed conflict that imperils their land rights.

The Report Climate Change and Democracy: Insights from Asia and the Pacific focuses on the challenges facing and opportunities for regional democracies amid this global environmental crisis. The first publication of its kind, the Report investigates the complex relationship between democratic governance and meaningful climate action and shows how democracy itself can be improved by interventions that mitigate climate change.

From encouraging reconciliation in war-torn Yemen to supporting the Libyan Parliament and encouraging debate about constitutional developments in Tunisia, International IDEA fosters democratic support across the Arab region. Following the outbreak of Yemen’s most recent conflict, a reconciliation commission was established in Taiz province, where the Institute helped organize training and dialogue sessions. 

International IDEA supported a consortium of seven CSOs, called Mais Integridade, that observed the 2023 municipal elections in Mozambique. This support was part of a six-year programme aimed at consolidating democracy in Mozambique, including improving the quality of election observation by civil society, funded by the EU and the Austrian Development Agency.

As part of its efforts to support electoral and democratic processes in Sierra Leone, International IDEA engages with young people and promotes media freedom in the West African country. 

International IDEA launched Phase II of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme, funded by the EU, in 2023 to bolster the rule of law, combat corruption, reduce gender-based violence, and promote human rights and inclusivity in Nigeria. 

The Office of the Permanent Observer for International IDEA to the UN works with member states, multilaterals and civil society to advocate for greater visibility on issues linked to democracy. In 2023, International IDEA co-organized 14 events, including on the human rights situation in Myanmar, the breakdown of Sudan’s democratic transition and obstacles to women’s political participation.

The Global Democracy Coalition (GDC), convened by InternationalIDEA in 2021 ahead of the first Summit for Democracy, has developed into a network of more than 120 civil society, philanthropic, academic and multilateral organizations aimed at fostering collaboration on democracy building. In 2023, the GDC played a pivotal role in the second Summit for Democracy, facilitating dialogues for civil society, participating in the main plenary and providing a platform for non-governmental stakeholders to have their voices heard.

Women constitution-makers utilize International IDEA’s knowledge and networks to give high-quality advice and advance inclusive practices in constitution-building processes. Of the 75 countries that underwent constitutional reform or a negotiated transition from authoritarianism to democracy between 1990 and 2015, only 19 per cent of the members of the constitution-making bodies involved were women.