Close
Secretary-General of International IDEA
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora
A message from the Secretary-General
Democracy faces critical challenges around the world, from polarization and authoritarianism to disinformation and climate change. What’s more, these issues are not unique to developing countries or to nascent democracies. They are problems common to all democracies, and they require collective solutions. In such a context, the unique mandate of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to support sustainable democracy globally has become more important than ever.
Message from the Secretary-General
Democracy faces critical challenges around the world, from polarization and authoritarianism to disinformation and climate change. What’s more, these issues are not unique to developing countries or to nascent democracies. They are problems common to all democracies, and they require collective solutions. In such a context, the unique mandate of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to support sustainable democracy globally has become more important than ever.
In 2023 we successfully delivered on this mandate, while continuing our growth trajectory in terms of programmes, membership and policy influence. The Institute became more relevant and more impactful, in line with the four pillars of work in our institutional strategy.
We improved the quality and impact of our knowledge production, including via a reconceptualized Global State of Democracy report that now integrates qualitative data from our Democracy Tracker.
We grew our capacity development programming, launching our single largest programme anywhere, a European Union–funded initiative to support rule-of-law and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, as well as major new initiatives in Peru, Ukraine and the Western Balkans, to name but a few.
We enhanced our global influence and convening power by welcoming France as our 35th Member State and by reinforcing partnerships with other intergovernmental organizations, including around the Summit for Democracy.
And we stepped up our advocacy efforts—for instance, by supporting Sweden’s presidency of the Council of European Union with recommendations to enhance the EU’s global support for democracy, and by using our United Nations Permanent Observer status to make more statements at the UN General Assembly on key issues connected with democracy.
Even in these challenging times, we continue to expand our work, helping people, communities and organizations that are striving to make their countries more democratic places to live. I am very proud of our ever-growing contributions as a convenor, programme implementer and policy research institute, all supported by an organizational commitment to learn from our activities and enhance our results. When you read the stories of action and impact in the following pages, I hope you will agree that this work is relevant, valuable and worthy of support.
Secretary-General of International IDEA
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora
International IDEA’s reach around the world
United Nations
Annika Silva-Leander, Head of North America and Permanent Observer to the UN, presents her credentials to UN Secretary-General H. E. António Guterres, on 16 June 2023. Credit: UN Photo
United Nations General Assembly
President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (left) is greeted by Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, at the 2023 UN General Assembly in New York. Credit: International IDEA
The Gambia
The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow (fourth from right) meets with International IDEA staff member Maurice Mboula Jean-Claude Didier Enguelegue (at left) in 2023. Credit: International IDEA
Mauritius
The President of Mauritius H. E. Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun (right) receives a gift from Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora. Credit International IDEA
Botswana
Botswana President H. E. Mokgweetsi E. K. Masisi regards the gift shared by Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora during a visit to Botswana, an International IDEA Member State since 1997. Image courtesy of Daily News
Nigeria
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora greets former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan at the Special Envoys Retreat on Constitutional Transitions convened by International IDEA in Abuja, Nigeria, October 2023. Credit: International IDEA
Bhutan
H. E. Dasho Tashi Dorji, Chairperson of the National Council of Bhutan from 2018 to 2023 (centre) pictured with Pema Tenzin (left), International IDEA Project Manager for Bhutan, and Leena Rikkilä Tamang (right), International IDEA Director for the Asia and the Pacific region. Credit: International IDEA
On 9 June 2023, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora (left), signed a memorandum of understanding with Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Credit: International IDEA
Belgium
Event of the Global State of Democracy 2023 Report, Brussels, 17 November 2023. From left: Marilyn Neven, Programme Manager EU
Liaison, International IDEA; H.E. Anders Eide, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the European Union; H.E. Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade of Belgium; Sam van der Staak, Director for Europe, International IDEA. Credit: Bruno Maes
Professor Eddy Maloka, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism, and Roba Sharamo, International IDEA Director for the Africa and West Asia region, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Credit: International IDEA
Sweden
International IDEA’s Secetary-General meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström. Credit: International IDEA
European Commission
Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora and Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Credit: International IDEA
Introduction
For the past 28 years, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has honored its mandate to promote and advance democracy worldwide.
This Annual Review highlights our global contributions as a think-and do-tank dedicated to researching, delivering comparative knowledge resources and supporting in the implementation of democratic practices that help everyone build and maintain inclusive and resilient democracies.
Our Vision
A world in which everyone lives in inclusive and resilient democracies.
Our Mission
International IDEA advances, promotes and protects sustainable democracy worldwide in consideration of human rights commitments through policy-relevant knowledge, capacity development, advocacy and the convening of dialogues.
To achieve its mission, and in pursuit of its vision, International IDEA has defined six workstreams to align with the challenges and opportunities of the democracy landscape and the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Electoral Processes, Constitution-Building Processes, Political Participation and Representation, Democracy Assessment, Climate Change and Democracy, and Digitalization and Democracy. The Institute mainstreams (a) gender and inclusion; (b) conflict sensitivity; and (c) environmental protection across all its work.
Institutional Strategy
Learn about our strategic direction in our current democracy landscape.
Supporting democracy worldwide
How we work
International IDEA’s working modalities constitute a reinforcing loop of knowledge production, capacity development, advocacy and the convening of dialogues. International IDEA’s comparative knowledge and research inform its capacity development; these have policy influence and inform advocacy, and enable the convening of dialogues. In turn, capacity development in the field provides valuable lessons for knowledge production, policy influence and advocacy, enabling continuous learning within the Institute.
International IDEA at a Glance
Supporting Democracy Worldwide
Activity and Reach
Member States
Member states
Our Impact
Governance
Global Programmes
North America and the Office of the Permanent Observer to the UN
Africa and West Asia
Asia and the Pacific
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
France becomes International IDEA’s 35th Member State
Read full story
Member States support International IDEA in new and diverse ways
Read full story
Monitoring and analysing the global state of democracy
Read full story
Protecting electoral processes and holding elections during times of crises
Read full story
Sharing political finance assessments for evidence-based reform
Read full story
Spotlight on the Democracy Tracker
Read full story
Enhancing gender equality as a prerequisite for democracy: 2023 Summit for Democracy and beyond
Read full story
From discussion to action: The impact of Women Constitution-Makers’ Dialogues
Read full story
Building a multi-stakeholder coalition to protect and promote democracy
Read full story
Serving as a catalyst for democracy and SDG 16 at the United Nations
Read full story
Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption Programme in Nigeria
Read full story
Nurturing democracy defenders in Sierra Leone and crafting a manifesto for journalists
Read full story
International IDEA supports electoral transparency demands in Mozambique’s 2023 municipal elections
Read full story
From Yemen to Tunisia: Fostering dialogue and democracy awareness across the Arab region
Read full story
The climate change and democracy nexus in Asia and the Pacific
Read full story
Protecting Indigenous rights in the Philippines
Read full story
Helping CSOs advance electoral reform in Nepal
Read full story
Assisting Ukraine in preparing for post-war out-of-country voting
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced millions of Ukrainians to flee the country and search for protection across the globe. Once the war is over, Ukraine will need to hold elections for the presidency, the parliament and thousands of local self-government bodies. Organizing these first postwar elections will pose unprecedented challenges.
Read full story
Albania gears up for increased political finance oversight through digitalization
International IDEA worked closely with the University of Helsinki’s Rule of Law Centre of Finland, to help Albania’s Central Election Commission (CEC) and CSOs increase the transparency of political finance in the country.
Read full story
Sparking an EU debate on a new democracy narrative
With the support of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and input from more than 100 democracy partners around the world, International IDEA’s Report on the EU’s external democracy action influenced the EU’s thinking about its role in promoting democracy around the world.
Read full story
Promoting creative solutions from young citizens in Peru
Tambogrande is a small district in northern Peru that in 2023 began to transform itself thanks to a movement organized by school students. It was part of a project to develop a toolbox for democratic citizenship focusing on developing competencies and capacities through learning by doing in Peru.
Read full story
Preparing women leaders for political participation in Paraguay
Six years of close collaboration between International IDEA and the Gender Policy Unit at the Superior Tribunalof Electoral Justice in Paraguay has strengthened women’s leadership and political empowerment, helpingwomen gain access to popularly elected and decision-making positions.
Read full story
Young people in Costa Rica promote interparty ethics pact
International IDEA supported a pact on ethics in municipal elections that was signed by 42 national and local political parties in Costa Rica.
Read full story
International IDEA in numbers
77431
Publication downloads on the International IDEA website
22303743
Visits to the International IDEA website
12346
Total new followers on social media
1399149
Total new views and reach on social media
Top media mentions by country
1. United States
2,416 (34%)
2. Mexico
896 (13%)
3. Argentina
644 (9.1%)
4. Spain
637 (9%)
5. Peru
276 (4%)
6. Nigeria
238 (3.3%)
7. Dominican Republic
173 (2.4%)
8. Canada
129 (1.8%)
9. South Korea
90 (1.4%)
10. Belgium
88 (1.3%)
11. United Kingdom
85 (1.2%)
12. Paraguay
79 (1.1%)
Financials
Total funding 2023, EUR 53,535,169
Total funding 2023
Core funding
Restricted (project) funding
31% increase in restricted project funding between 2022 and 2023
Total funding by programme 2023, EUR 52,040,326
Total funding 2023
Global Programme
Africa & West Asia
Asia & the Pacific
Regional Europe
Latin America & the Caribbean
North America
3% increase in core funding between 2022 and 2023
97% of funding goes to programmes
Funding by theme
Member States and Donors’ contributions to the work of International IDEA are instrumental to advance our shared vision of achieving a more resilient and inclusive democracy for all. We are pleased to recognize our donors who have partnered with us for the delivery of key outcomes for democracy in 2023.
Electoral Processes
(€8,914,935.00)
Core: €618,817.00 Restricted: €8,296,118.00
Constitution-Building Processes
(€4,187,710.00)
Core: €1,033,616.00 Restricted: €3,154,094.00
Political Participation and Representation
(€10,614,120.00)
Core: €487,353.00 Restricted: €10,126,767.00
Democracy Assessment
(€2,939,497.00)
Core: €1,098,976.00 Restricted: €1,840,521.00
Core
Restricted
Donors
Top 10 core funders
Top 10 restricted funders
Partners
Learn more about us!
Download: Annual Review 2023 (PDF) Download: International IDEA: What We Offer (PDF)
