2. Alfa XP Web Software Company American University Associates in Rural Development Australian Agency for Inter national Development Car negie Endowment for Inter national Peace
Carr, Swanson & Randolph Checchi Consulting Chemonics Inter national Creative Associates Inter national Crown Agents USA Deloitte Development Associates Development
Transfor mations Dexis DPK Consulting East-West Management Institute Elections Canada Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa Freedom House Futures
Group George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Georgetown University Global Business Solutions GRM Inter national Institute for Sustainable Communities
Inter national Foundation for Electoral Systems Inter national Relief and Development Inter national Republican Institute Ipsos Public Affairs Johnson Law Group League of Women
Voters Management Systems Inter national National Court Reporters Association National Democratic Institute for Inter national Affairs Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Netherlands Ministry for Development Corporation Opinion Dynamics Corporation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Organization of American States PAE Pal-Tech
Project on Middle East Democracy Public Inter national Law and Policy Group QED Group RTI Inter national Sibley Inter national Solidarity Center State University of New York
Center for Inter national Development Swedish Inter national Development Corporation Agency Technologists Tetratech The Asia Foundation The Carter Center The Urban Institute
U.K. Department for Inter national Development United Nations Development Programme United Nations Electoral Assistance United States Agency for Inter national Development
United States Department of State University of Califor nia, San Diego University of Pittsburgh Women’s Campaign Inter national World Lear ning XL Associates Yale University
Alfa XP Web Software Company American University Associates in Rural Development Australian Agency for Inter national Development Car negie Endowment for Inter national Peace
Carr, Swanson & Randolph Checchi Consulting Chemonics Inter national Creative Associates Inter national Crown Agents USA Deloitte Development Associates Development
Transfor mations Dexis DPK Consulting East-West Management Institute Elections Canada Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa Freedom House Futures
Group George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Georgetown University Global Business Solutions GRM Inter national Institute for Sustainable Communities
Inter national Foundation for Electoral Systems Inter national Relief and Development Inter national Republican Institute Ipsos Public Affairs Johnson Law Group League of Women
Voters Management Systems Inter national National Court Reporters Association National Democratic Institute for Inter national Affairs Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Netherlands Ministry for Development Corporation Opinion Dynamics Corporation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Organization of American States PAE Pal-Tech
Project on Middle East Democracy Public Inter national Law and Policy Group QED Group RTI Inter national Sibley Inter national Solidarity Center State University of New York
Center for Inter national Development Swedish Inter national Development Corporation Agency Technologists Tetratech The Asia Foundation The Carter Center The Urban Institute
U.K. Department for Inter national Development United Nations Development Programme United Nations Electoral Assistance United States Agency for Inter national Development
United States Department of State University of Califor nia, San Diego University of Pittsburgh Women’s Campaign Inter national World Lear ning XL Associates Yale University
Alfa XP Web Software Company American University Associates in Rural Development Australian Agency for Inter national Development Car negie Endowment for Inter national Peace
Carr, Swanson & Randolph Checchi Consulting Chemonics Inter national Creative Associates Inter national Crown Agents USA Deloitte Development Associates Development
Transfor mations Dexis DPK Consulting East-West Management Institute Elections Canada Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa Freedom House Futures
Group George Mason University School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution Georgetown University Global Business Solutions GRM Inter national Institute for Sustainable Communities
Inter national Foundation for Electoral Systems Inter national Relief and Development Inter national Republican Institute Ipsos Public Affairs Johnson Law Group League of Women
Voters Management Systems Inter national National Court Reporters Association National Democratic Institute for Inter national Affairs Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Netherlands Ministry for Development Corporation Opinion Dynamics Corporation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Organization of American States PAE Pal-Tech
Project on Middle East Democracy Public Inter national Law and Policy Group QED Group RTI Inter national Sibley Inter national Solidarity Center State University of New York
Center for Inter national Development Swedish Inter national Development Corporation Agency Technologists Tetratech The Asia Foundation The Carter Center The Urban Institute
U.K. Department for Inter national Development United Nations Development Programme United Nations Electoral Assistance United States Agency for Inter national Development
“We remain committed to
working with courageous and
dedicated partners so that they
– and we – may contribute
to a more just, peaceful, and
democratic world.”
A decade ago we launched Democracy International in a seemingly quix-
otic effort to advance the theory and practice of international democracy
and governance assistance. What began as a consulting practice of “two
guys and a computer” has evolved into an organization that has con-
ducted more than 130 projects in 70 countries, has mobilized over 500
experts, and currently employs more than 200 staff members around the
globe.
Today, Democracy International is a rapidly growing company that re-
mains committed to its roots in democracy, human rights, and governance
while at the same time pursuing important initiatives in conflict-affected
and transitional environments, adapting and piloting new technologies
and analytical methods, and promoting clear thinking about how devel-
opment assistance can contribute to meaningful political change.
We have benefitted tremendously from the support and cooperation of
diverse partners within the international development community, from
the U.S. and elsewhere: funders, democracy organizations, consulting
firms, multilateral organizations, and others. We would like to thank in
particular the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S.
State Department for the confidence they have shown in Democracy In-
ternational. We are likewise grateful for the advice, cooperation, and op-
portunities we have received from many civil society organizations, firms,
academic institutions, and individuals, both in the U.S. and around the
world. We are proud to be a part of a vibrant global democracy assistance
community.
Moreover, in countries across the globe, we have been privileged to work
with activists, government officials, politicians, analysts, journalists, and
others who have shown their commitment to democracy, development,
and peace, often at great personal risk. We are also continually amazed
by the extraordinarily talented staff and consultants with whom we have
worked over the last decade and who make up Democracy International
today. We are proud of the unique, effective, and increasingly influential
organization that we have built together over the past decade.
As we mark this important milestone for Democracy International, we also
make a commitment to the future. We will strive to influence and improve
the next decade of democracy and development assistance. And we re-
main committed to working with courageous and dedicated partners so
that they – and we – may contribute to a more just, peaceful, and demo-
cratic world.
Eric Bjornlund Glenn Cowan
From the Founders
3. 5
ABOUT DI
137projects
10years
Democracy International provides technical assistance, analytical
services, and project implementation for democracy, human
rights, governance, and conflict mitigation programs worldwide.
Since its founding in 2003, DI has worked with civil society
organizations, political parties, election management bodies,
government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions,
and others in 70 countries, including some of the world’s most
challenging environments.
countries
70
regional experience
africa asia europe/
eurasia
globallatin
america
middle
east
25
36
39
1316
8
other
sectoral experience
65
21
13
18
20
elections
& political
transitions
governance &
accountability
civil society &
media
rule of law &
human rights
5. 21
2003
United States
DI’S FOUNDING
Democracy International
is incorporated in 2003
and opens its first
office on M Street in
Washington, DC.
Georgia
Mozambique
United States
active
3
office
1
Mozambique
PARALLEL VOTE TABULATION
Working with The Carter Center, DI
designs and advises on parallel vote
tabulation conducted by the Electoral
Observatory, a Mozambican election
monitoring coalition, for municipal
elections.
6. 3 4
2004
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Guyana
Indonesia
Mozambique
Philippines
Singapore
Ukraine
United States
United States
DI MOVES TO K STREET
DI moves to 15th and K Streets, NW.
DI WINS DG ANALYTICAL
SERVICES IQC
USAID awards DI indefinite quantity
contract for Democracy and Governance
Analytical Services, which marks the
beginning of DI’s extensive analytical
work for USAID.
Indonesia
ELECTION MONITORING
DI works with former U.S. President
Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center to
design and organize a comprehensive
election monitoring program for
both rounds of Indonesia’s first direct
presidential election.
Guyana
ELECTION ADVICE
Working with RTI
International, DI wins its
first USAID subcontract,
supporting election
reform and election
administration.
total
9
active
8
office
1
7. 5 6
54
rapidly collect data and analyze the program’s influence on the human
rights environment. In Nigeria DI combined semi-structured interviews
with a series of roundtable discussions throughout the country to evaluate
a five-year USAID civil society program.
Survey Research
DI has become a leading provider of DG survey research, using various
tools to assess public preferences and incorporate its findings into pro-
grams. In Russia—where a restrictive political environment demanded a
sensitive approach—DI surveys in 2011 and 2012 found a deep split in
public views about President Vladimir Putin, election fraud, and Russia’s
posture toward the United States. In Libya DI used computer-assisted tele-
phone interviewing to survey outlying regions and generate an accurate
sample of public opinion. Two comprehensive DI surveys in Afghanistan,
the largest ever conducted in that country, incorporated cognitive testing
and substantial pilot interviews to account for the population’s religious
composition and to mitigate survey bias.
providing
ANALYTICAL SERVICES FOR
DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS,
GOVERNANCE, AND CONFLICT
countries where
DI has provided
analytical
services
Assessments & Evaluations
Democracy International has provided strategic guidance for donors and
practitioners through more than 30 country and sector assessments. Our
diagnosis of electoral deficiencies in Afghanistan led directly to a new
USAID initiative for comprehensive electoral reform. In Zimbabwe a DI
assessment of the fragile political landscape informed USAID’s approach
to critical elections. Our assessment of the major challenges to democratic
consolidation in Indonesia helped shape USAID’s local governance and ju-
dicial reform programming. After DI identified poor governance and weak
rule of law as principal obstacles to democratic growth in Albania, the
USAID country mission contracted DI to help craft a strategy to address
those core challenges.
DI’s 40 evaluations have incorporated tested methods and emerging tech-
nologies to produce perceptive findings and useful lessons. To measure
the impact of the observer group Golos in Russia, DI used an experimental
design to compare Golos-observed polling sites to those without domes-
tic monitors, as well as social media analysis and election forensics. In Kyr-
gyzstan DI developed an electronic survey of participants in a Freedom
House human rights initiative—including members of parliament, interna-
tional organization representatives, and local human rights activists—to
Since2003DIhasconductednearly100analyticalproj-
ects for USAID and other partners, dealing with elec-
tions and political processes, civil society and indepen-
dentmedia,conflictmitigation,humanrights,legislative
strengthening, local governance, the rule of law, and
transparency and accountability.
CountryExperience
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Colom-
bia, Dominica, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador,
El Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana,
Haiti, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo,
Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Libya, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mo-
rocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Romania, Russia,
Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and
Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, West Bank/Gaza, Zimbabwe
assessments evaluations studies &
designs
surveys
34
40
25 30
Photo:SurveyonPoliticalInstitutions,Elections,andDemocracy,Herat,Afghanistan2011
8. 7 8
200517
United States
DI WINS EPP IQC
DI wins its second major framework
contract from USAID, the Elections and
Political Processes IQC.
DI MOVES TO BETHESDA
DI moves to Montgomery Lane in
Bethesda, Maryland, where its main
office remains for the next seven years.
Colombia
DG ASSESSMENT
Using the USAID DG Assessment Frame-
work, DI conducts its first formal democ-
racy and governance assessment.
Jamaica
DG PROGRAM
DESIGN
DI wins its first Analytical
Services task order, to
conduct an assessment
and design a new
program focused on
civil society, alternative
dispute resolution,
justice sector reform,
and community policing.
Indonesia
ACEH ELECTION ASSISTANCE
In the wake of a major peace accord, DI
works with election management bodies
to support post-conflict democratic
elections in the Indonesian province of
Aceh.
Albania
DG ASSESSMENT
DI conducts democracy and governance
assessment, which helps USAID to
develop a new DG strategy and leads to
later analytical and election work in the
country.
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Colombia
Guyana
Haiti
Indonesia
Jamaica
Macedonia
Malaysia
Sri Lanka
United States
West Bank / Gaza
total
active
12
offices
2
9. 9 10
142international election
observers deployed in
2009 and 2010
29small grants
awarded to
21local groups
stantial international attention, the IEC changed
course and scheduled a runoff election. The 2010
parliamentary elections produced similar public
discontent with the management of the electoral
process.
Both elections revealed impediments to dem-
ocratic progress. Electoral and administrative
flaws ranged from inadequate voter registration
to opaque procedures for appointing IEC com-
missioners. The Single Non-Transferable Voting
system, which limits voters to a single vote for
one candidate in a multi-candidate race, weak-
ened political parties and complicated the de-
mocratization process. DI has stressed the need
for comprehensive electoral reform to address
these problems.
Electoral Reform & Civic
Advocacy
Following the 2010 elections, DI initiated a multi-
year electoral reform project, the Afghanistan
Electoral Reform and Civic Advocacy (AERCA)
program, to promote more responsive and inclu-
sive governance. The program develops influen-
tial local constituencies and facilitates advocacy
for election reform. AERCA has included grants
to civil society organizations to conduct civic ed-
ucation and broaden the public debate, fact-find-
Democracy International began working in Af-
ghanistan before elections in 2009, a critical pe-
riod in the country’s transition. Optimism for a
consolidated democracy had given way to fear
of growing Taliban influence and frustration with
debilitating corruption and poor public service
delivery. This environment threatened the le-
gitimacy of Afghanistan’s nascent democratic
institutions. International actors hoped that the
2009 and 2010 elections, wholly administered
by Afghan institutions, would build confidence in
the democratic process and produce more legit-
imate governance.
Observing 2009 and 2010
Elections
DI deployed observers to monitor the 2009 and
2010 elections in Afghanistan, providing among
the most extensive international observation
coverage in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the elec-
tions suffered numerous irregularities, technical
errors, and instances of fraud, all of which under-
mined public confidence. In 2009, public pres-
sure forced Afghanistan’s Independent Election
Commission (IEC) to audit the results. DI’s review
of the revised ballot count revealed that votes
for then President Hamid Karzai fell beneath the
50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff. Following
publication of DI’s analysis, which attracted sub-
Top: Member of Parliament participates in DI
survey, 2012; Bottom (left to right): 2010 parlia-
mentary elections; 2009 presidential election.
ing missions for Afghan activists and officials to
observe electoral systems abroad, and support
for the Afghanistan Civil Society Elections Net-
work. AERCA also cultivates Afghan-led research
on reform through the expansion of the National
Centre for Policy Research.
2014 Elections, Political
Participation, and Public
Polling
Recently, the Afghan government has taken
steps toward meaningful electoral reform. The
2013 electoral law—the first such framework to
emerge from a consultative process rather than
a presidential decree—includes a more trans-
parent and representative process for the nom-
ination and appointment of IEC commissioners.
Building upon this momentum, DI has initiated a
program to encourage women’s political partici-
pation during the 2014 election cycle and is con-
ducting nationwide surveys on public attitudes
toward the electoral process and the political en-
vironment. DI remains committed to helping the
Afghan people achieve a representative, trans-
parent, and responsive government.
COUNTRY BRIEF: AFGHANISTAN
building accountable democratic institutions
july 2009 - present
10. 11 12
2006
Europe and
Eurasia
POLITICAL PARTY
ASSISTANCE
STUDY
For USAID and the U.S.
State Department, DI
conducts comprehensive
study of political party
assistance, including
case study research in
Georgia, Kyrgyzstan,
Romania, and Serbia.
Sri Lanka
POLITICAL
PARTIES
AND LOCAL
GOVERNANCE
DI works with The Asia
Foundation to engage
political parties on local
governance reform.
Ukraine
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
EVALUATION
DI evaluates seven
USAID-funded local
government projects.
Indonesia
PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH
DI begins four-year project to design,
conduct, and analyze nationwide public
opinion surveys to gauge support for
political reforms and monitor progress
toward USAID’s strategic objectives
for democratic and decentralized
governance.
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Georgia
Guyana
Haiti
Indonesia
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Romania
Serbia
Sri Lanka
Ukraine
United States
Venezuela
West Bank / Gaza
total
22
active
15
offices
2
Haiti
ELECTION ADVICE
DI advises UN, OAS, and Haitian
Central Election Commission on voter
registration, election operations, and
vote counting procedures.
11. 13 14
2007total
Pakistan
DOMESTIC
ELECTION
MONITORING
DI advises domestic
election monitoring
coalition on voter
registration audit and
parallel vote tabulation.
Romania
CIVIL SOCIETY
EVALUATION
DI conducts broad
study of civil society
programs since 1991,
with focus on service
providers, civic
watchdog organizations,
and professional
associations.
Armenia
LEGISLATIVE
STRENGTHENING
EVALUATION AND
PROJECT DESIGN
DI evaluates USAID-
funded legislative
strengthening projects
and assists in design
of new legislative
strengthening program.
Timor-Leste
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT
DI opens its first long-term field office
and begins highly successful three-
year program to help local research
organizations to conduct survey research
and develop quantitative research skills.
30
Albania
Armenia
Bangladesh
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Burundi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ethiopia
Georgia
Guyana
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan
Romania
Serbia
Timor-Leste
Ukraine
United States
Venezuela
active
19
offices
3
12. 15 16
39
Operating in Fragile Environments
Democracy International has regularly dealt with the operational and lo-
gistical challenges inherent in fragile, transitioning, and nondemocratic
environments. Since 2009 in Afghanistan, DI has supported civic educa-
tion and implemented advocacy and election observation programming,
including in the southern and eastern regions where violence is endemic.
Following a political crisis that included civic unrest and escalating vio-
lence in Timor-Leste, DI conducted a national program from 2007 to 2010
to develop local capacity to support and conduct data-driven develop-
ment research. In the period of instability following the 2006 elections in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DI deployed an expert team to
design a governance and decentralization program, deploying experts to
work in conflict-affected areas across eastern DRC. In Libya’s insecure and
transitioning environment, DI deployed a team in 2013 to analyze quanti-
tative and qualitative research capacity.
Curbing Violence and Conflict
DI has worked to address and mitigate conflict in every region of the
world. To support conflict mitigation in Indonesia, for example, DI staff
members in Jakarta, Aceh, and Central Sulawesi designed and execut-
ed a comprehensive small grants monitoring and evaluation program for
USAID’s SERASI project beginning in 2008. Likewise, during the past 10
years, DI has worked to combat violence in the Latin America and the
Caribbean region. In 2011 DI conducted a Caribbean Basin Security Initia-
tive juvenile justice assessment, providing USAID with recommendations
to counter youth violence across the region. To mitigate election-related
violence in Haiti, DI provided pre-election advice to the UN, the Organiza-
tion of American States, and the Central Election Commission in advance
of the 2006 presidential and parliamentary elections. Later, in the wake
of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, DI facilitated a post-election
review of elections in 2011. DI is currently implementing a five-year, $75
million program in support of elections and political processes in South
Sudan; conflict mitigation is a core cross-cutting theme.
working in
CONFLICT-AFFECTED
ENVIRONMENTS
conflict and post-
conflict countries
where DI has worked
“In fragile states the
international community
has a far greater role in
determining the legitimacy
of elections than it does in
more stable transitional or
established democracies.”
Eric Bjornlund, Glenn Cowan, and William
Gallery, in Derick Brinkerhoff (ed.),
Rebuilding Governance in Post-Conflict
Societies and Fragile States (2007)
Overthepast10years,DemocracyInternationalhasimplement-
ed programs in conflict and post-conflict environments world-
wide. We have rapidly mobilized short-term projects in moments
of crisis in all regions of the world, and we have conducted long-
term interventions in environments with entrenched, protracted
conflict.
CountryExperience
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Azerbai-
jan, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Burma, Burundi, Colom-
bia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El
Salvador, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia,
Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon,
Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Mexico, Mozambique,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Serbia,
South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Ven-
ezuela, West Bank/Gaza, Zimbabwe
Photo:Nagad,Djibouti2010
13. 17 18
2008
Colombia
HUMAN RIGHTS EVALUATION
DI evaluates U.S. efforts to promote human
rights and strengthen justice for vulnerable
populations.
Nigeria
CIVIL SOCIETY
EVALUATION
DI evaluates the
Advocacy, Awareness
and Civic Empowerment
(ADVANCE) program.
Kosovo
CIVIL SOCIETY
AND MEDIA
EVALUATIONS
DI evaluates USAID
civil society and media
programs, the first of
seven evaluations in
Kosovo over the next
three years.
Pakistan
ELECTION OBSERVATION
On extremely short notice, and in the
face of substantial political, logistical,
and security challenges, DI organizes
large-scale U.S. mission to observe high-
profile national parliamentary elections.
Indonesia
M&E FOR SERASI PROJECT
Working with International Relief and
Development, DI designs and executes
comprehensive, long-term monitoring
and evaluation program for USAID’s
SERASI conflict-mitigation project in
Aceh, Central Sulawasi, Moluku, and
Papua.
Angola
Colombia
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ghana
Guyana
Indonesia
Kosovo
Liberia
Nigeria
Pakistan
Romania
Timor-Leste
Ukraine
United States
Zimbabwe
total
36
active
15
offices
3
14. 19 20
50,000+grassroots
party leaders
and activists
participating in DI
activities
more than
5,700
participants in
When Women
Win, We All Win
campaign
than 50,000 Bangladeshi party activists have
participated in DI activities. DI is also helping to
bridge the gap between the national and local
party structures by working directly with nation-
al leaders to develop new tools and approach-
es, including web-based systems for managing
and increasing local participation, and foster-
ing the next generation of leaders through DI’s
wide-ranging, multi-party fellowship program.
Empowering Women in
Politics
The Representation of the People Order Act of
2009, requiring that women make up at least
33 percent of party committees by 2020, has
opened up space for internal party reform. Build-
ing on this opportunity, DI has opened seven
Women and Youth Centers throughout the coun-
try and has organized women’s dialogues to de-
velop new networks and advocacy groups. DI has
also launched a nationwide campaign, Narir Joye
Shobar Joy (When Women Win, We All Win), to
increase support and advocacy for women’s po-
litical leadership. The campaign is developing a
network of highly qualified women candidates
across Bangladesh to serve as potential party
nominees for upcoming elections. Many of these
In the four decades since its independence, Ban-
gladesh has struggled to cultivate political par-
ties that respond to citizen demands. The inter-
nal functioning of most parties is deeply rooted
in a political culture that seems to value dynastic
leadership and is highly polarized along the lines
of historical loyalties. As a result, parties rarely
encourage participation or input from their ranks
and fail to interact meaningfully with constituents
between elections. Moreover, women and youth
remain chronically underrepresented in political
parties and government institutions. With few
incentives for responsive politics, major parties
have neither addressed the country’s many de-
velopmental challenges nor fully consolidated
fragile democratic gains.
To address these issues, Democracy Internation-
al is working to promote greater internal party
democracy and grassroots involvement. The
Democratic Participation and Reform program
encourages broader participation among polit-
ical party members and potential candidates—
especially by women and youth—to improve
the environment for more responsive politics. DI
has developed a nationwide network for mobi-
lizing grassroots political participation, and more
Top: Narir Joye Shobar Joy campaign launch;
Bottom (left to right): Comilla City Corpo-
ration election 2012; Developing Young
Leaders Fellows
women are pursuing leadership positions within
parties as well. The campaign has provided train-
ing and networking opportunities for more than
3,400 women and has helped place more than
1,000 new women on party committees.
Survey Research
To help create incentives for political parties to
be more responsive to their constituents, includ-
ing women, youth, and local activists, DI works to
demonstrate the political benefit of public opin-
ion research and sophisticated policy analysis to
national party leaders. As part of this effort, in
March 2013 DI conducted a national research
conference, the first of its kind, with more than
200 local and national political party leaders,
think tank and research firm representatives, jour-
nalists, and civil society leaders. DI also sponsors
statistically based election observation to help
inform debate about election processes in Ban-
gladesh.
COUNTRY BRIEF: BANGLADESH
supporting responsive & inclusive politics
april 2011 - present
15. 21 22
2009total
Central America and
Mexico
RULE OF LAW STUDY
DI conducts comprehensive review of
USAID’s rule of law programs in Mexico
and Central America, with field work in El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Ecuador
PARALLEL VOTE TABULATION
ADVICE
DI advises USAID on support for parallel
vote tabulation conducted for April 2009
elections.
Albania
SUPPORT TO
ELECTION
COMMISSION
DI works with Central
Election Commission on
preparations for national
elections.
41
Afghanistan
Albania
Angola
Colombia
Ecuador
El Salvador
Georgia
Guatemala
Haiti
Indonesia
Kosovo
Mexico
Nigeria
Timor-Leste
United States
Zimbabwe
active
16
offices
3
Afghanistan
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
DI conducts comprehensive election
observation project for presidential
election, the largest U.S. mission. On
October 19, DI’s analysis of election
results points out the need for a runoff
and garners substantial international
attention.
New York Times map of fraudulent votes, citing DI: nyti.ms/i8y0I
16. 23 24
2010
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
EVALUATION OF
GOVERNANCE
ACCOUNTABILITY
PROJECT
DI evaluates local
governance program
for the Swedish
International
Development
Cooperation Agency,
the Netherlands Ministry
for Development
Cooperation, and
USAID.
Afghanistan
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
As part of a comprehensive election
monitoring project, DI deploys 80
international observers throughout
Afghanistan, the largest and most widely
deployed international mission.
Sudan
ADVICE ON ELECTION
MONITORING
Working with The Carter Center, DI
advises civil society organizations on
domestic election monitoring, including
vote count verification.
Bolivia
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
EVALUATION
DI evaluates U.S. assistance to justice
sector institutions in Bolivia.
Morocco
EVALUATION OF
POLITICAL PARTY
PROJECTS
DI conducts evaluation
of 17 political party
assistance projects
funded by USAID, the
U.S. State Department,
and the National
Endowment for
Democracy.
Afghanistan
Angola
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Djibouti
Indonesia
Kosovo
Moldova
Morocco
Panama
Sudan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
United States
total
47
active
14
offices
4
17. 25 26
16
Election Innovation & Smart Reform
DI has been a pioneer in using innovative tools and approaches for elec-
tion monitoring and assistance. In addition to parallel vote tabulation—a
system developed in the 1980s by DI co-founder Glenn Cowan that has
become a widespread and powerful check on electoral fraud—DI has ad-
opted new technologies to build more comprehensive monitoring net-
works and strengthen civic education. In 2012, DI launched a regional
initiative in the Middle East to develop open-source data platforms and
crowdsourcing tools for local citizens to improve and expand election
transparency and oversight. In El Salvador DI built an online voting simu-
lator for citizens to learn about the new ballot design and voting process
before the 2012 elections.
DI has regularly pushed for smart political reforms to increase opportunities
for meaningful participation and competition around the world. Together
with local civil society or political party partners in Afghanistan, Bangla-
desh, El Salvador, Indonesia, and South Sudan, DI has implemented ini-
tiatives to re-design political processes in a way that strengthens political
parties, encourages broader citizen engagement, and generates higher
levels of public accountability for elected officials. Following observation
missions for 2009 and 2010 elections in Afghanistan, DI initiated a multi-
year project to generate domestic support for electoral reform through
civic education, fact-finding missions for local activists and officials, and
start-up support for the Afghanistan Civil Society Elections Network, a
broad coalition of pro-reform advocates.
strengthening
ELECTIONS AND
POLITICAL PROCESSES
parallel vote
tabulations
supported
awarded
for election
projects
Supporting & Observing Elections
Democracy International has become a leading implementer of technical
projects to improve the efficiency and integrity of electoral procedures in
countries around the world. Ahead of the important 2012 elections in El
Salvador, DI provided technical assistance to the Supreme Election Tribu-
nal on strategic planning, voter education, electoral operations, and the
design and management of IT systems for transmitting results. In Albania
DI supported the Central Election Commission in advance of 2009 na-
tional elections by training election officials, conducting voter education,
and designing monitoring and reporting systems. In Indonesia after the
2004 tsunami and the subsequent peace accord in the contested prov-
ince of Aceh, a DI team partnered with the national and Aceh election
commissions to prepare new regulations, train officials, register internally
displaced persons, and organize the province’s critical post-conflict elec-
tions in 2006.
DI has implemented election observation projects in conflict-affected and
transitioning environments including in Afghanistan, Albania, Bangla-
desh, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Sudan.
Following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in Paki-
stan, DI deployed a team of international observers around the country
to monitor the critical 2008 elections. DI also organized comprehensive
observation missions for the 2009 and 2010 elections in Afghanistan, cov-
ering all regions of the country, including particularly sensitive and remote
provinces.
Founded to improve the quality and integrity of elections and
democraticinstitutions,DemocracyInternationalhasworkedto
improve elections and political processes in more than a dozen
countries. Since 2003 our focus has expanded from small-scale
technical assistance to large-scale election management, ob-
servation, and support programs.
CountryExperience
Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Belarus,
Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia,
Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Indo-
nesia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Mon-
tenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Pakistan,
the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Serbia,
South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia,
Ukraine, Venezuela, and West Bank/Gaza
$130+
million
Photo:CityCorporationElectionObservation,Gazipur,Bangladesh,2013
18. 27 28
2011
Afghanistan
ELECTORAL REFORM AND
CIVIC ADVOCACY PROJECT
Building on its work on election
observation and electoral reform in 2009-
10, DI initiates the Afghanistan Electoral
Reform & Civic Advocacy (AERCA)
Project, which seeks to facilitate Afghan-
led electoral reform process.
Ghana
DG ASSESSMENT
Using the newly
revised DG Strategic
Assessment Framework,
DI conducts its 12th
formal democracy and
governance assessment
for USAID.
EL Salvador
ELECTION ASSISTANCE
To support critical election reforms,
DI launches major assistance program
for the Supreme Electoral Tribunal—
including technical assistance to
election officials on communications and
transmission and reporting of results—
and works with civil society organizations
on voter education programs.
Haiti
LOCAL GOVERNANCE
EVALUATION
DI evaluates local governance program,
focused on transparent local governance
and improved local service delivery.
Russia
PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH
AND IMPACT EVALUATION IN
RUSSIA
DI conducts four public opinion
surveys relating to parliamentary and
presidential elections. Separately, DI
carries out impact evaluation of selected
U.S. government-funded electoral and
political processes programs.
Bangladesh
POLITICAL PARTIES IN
BANGLADESH
DI launches five-year Democratic
Participation and Reform project,
a USAID-funded political party
development program focused on
inclusion of women and youth, use of
survey research, and the environment for
responsive politics.
Afghanistan
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Cameroon
Djibouti
Dominica
Egypt
El Salvador
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
Haiti
India
Indonesia
Jamaica
Kosovo
Mexico
Montenegro
New Zealand
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Serbia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Timor-Leste
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
total
64
active
32
offices
5
19. 29 30
Following a bitter civil war that began in 1979 and left more
than 70,000 dead and missing, a peace accord in 1992 pro-
vided for peaceful elections and a multi-party system in El
Salvador. The country held four presidential elections be-
tween 1992 and 2009, but all were marred by fraud, intimi-
dation, and violence. Moreover, by 2009 many of the polit-
ical and electoral reforms outlined in the 1992 accord had
yet to be implemented, inhibiting genuine political compe-
tition. But in 2009 the first post-conflict transfer of power
opened the door for meaningful changes to the country’s
political institutions and the realization of these long-await-
ed reforms.
Democracy International began its USAID-funded program
in El Salvador in 2011, in preparation for the 2012 legisla-
tive elections that would feature two substantial electoral
reforms. The first reform followed the Salvadoran Supreme
Court’s 2009 decision that allowed voters to choose can-
didates directly instead of voting only for a single political
party list. The second reform dramatically expanded the
number of polling stations to increase accessibility for vot-
ers. A DI nationwide poll in advance of the 2012 elections,
however, revealed extremely low levels of public knowledge
about these changes. To address this need, DI partnered
with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) and domestic civ-
il society organizations to design and deliver a nationwide
civic and voter education campaign.
Civic and Voter Education Campaign
In the months leading up to the elections, DI worked with
14 Salvadoran NGOs to increase public awareness of the
electoral reforms. The far-reaching campaign’s slogan was
“Elige, Vota, Exige” (“Elect, Vote, Demand”). DI’s program
targeted vulnerable groups and included innovative voter
education materials, media broadcasts, cultural events, and
workshop sessions throughout the country. To raise aware-
ness about redesigned ballots and to reduce confusion on
election day, DI created electronic and physical simulators
that gave voters an opportunity to learn how to cast ballots.
All of these efforts contributed to an election where, de-
spite dramatic changes to voting procedures, voter turnout
increased and ballot errors decreased compared to previ-
ous elections.
Campaign Finance Reform
In response to lack of transparency about campaign fund-
raising, DI conducted workshops addressing campaign fi-
nance with 126 local NGOs. This effort led to a civil soci-
ety-backed draft campaign finance law. DI also worked with
the TSE on proposed campaign finance regulations. These
efforts generated substantial attention from Salvadoran me-
dia, analysts, NGOs, and government representatives. In
February 2013, the Legislative Assembly passed a law reg-
ulating public and private financing of electoral campaigns.
40%
more than
130
civil society
partners
strengthened
COUNTRY BRIEF: EL SALVADOR
“elige, vota, exige”
september 2011 - october 2012
population
reached by DI
voter education
campaign
“[DI played] an
extraordinary
role in the
advancement
and development
of democracy in
our country.”
Eugenio Chicas,
President, Supreme
Electoral Tribunal,
at the Fourth Latin
America Conference
on Electoral Justice,
September 3, 2013
Top: Voter education campaign;
Bottom (left to right): Voting sim-
ulator; Election Day
20. 31 32
2012
Serbia
EVALUATION
OF MEDIA
ASSISTANCE
PROJECT
DI examines
effectiveness of
assistance to traditional
and new media.
United States
DI WINS IQC FOR
TRANSITIONAL INITIATIVES
USAID’s Office of Transitional Initiatives
awards DI the Support That Augments
Rapid Transition (START) IQC.
Ukraine
RULE OF LAW
EVALUATION
DI conducts its sixth
analytical project in
Ukraine, an evaluation
of USAID’s Access
to Justice and Legal
Empowerment Project.
Middle East and North
Africa
ELECTION MONITORING
INNOVATION
With funding from the State
Department’s Middle East Partnership
Initiative (MEPI), DI opens office in
Tunisia to partner with organizations in
the region on piloting new technologies
and approaches to domestic election
monitoring.
Kyrgyzstan
HUMAN RIGHTS EVALUATION
DI evaluates Strengthening Human Rights
Program to help guide future human
rights, civic advocacy, and judicial reform
programming.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Egypt
El Salvador
Georgia
Ghana
Haiti
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Russia
Serbia
Tunisia
Ukraine
total
66
active
13
offices
5
21. 33 34
2013
United States
DI MOVES HOME OFFICE
In January DI moves to new offices at
7600 Wisconsin Avenue in Bethesda.
DI WINS RULE OF LAW AND
PEACE CONTRACTS
USAID awards DI IQCs for Rule of Law
and Programming Effectively Against
Conflict and Extremism (PEACE).
Ghana and
Liberia
ANALYZING
FEEDBACK LOOPS
DI initiates year-
long effort, with
fieldwork in Ghana
and Liberia, to analyze
“feedback loops” that
strengthen democratic
accountability in
countries receiving
government-to-
government assistance.
Middle East and North
Africa
#ELECTECH (UN)CONFERENCE
DI brings together more than 100
participants from 43 organizations—
including election monitoring and other
civil society groups and technology
development firms from across the
Middle East and North Africa—to discuss
innovative ways to mobilize citizens and
use technology to safeguard elections.
SURVEY RESEARCH
Building on work beginning in 2011, DI
conducts opinion research in Morocco,
Libya, and Tunisia on public attitudes
about democracy to inform programming
in the region.
South Sudan
USAID AWARDS DI MAJOR
PROGRAM
USAID awards DI Systems to Uphold
the Credibility and Constitutionality of
Elections in South Sudan (SUCCESS),
a five-year program to support
constitutional reform and democratic
elections and political processes.
total
70
Afghanistan
Albania
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Burma
Egypt
Ghana
Jordan
Kenya
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Morocco
Serbia
South Africa
South Sudan
Tanzania
Tunisia
Ukraine
active
19
offices
5
Latin America and the
Caribbean
ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR
YOUTH CRIME AND VIOLENCE
PREVENTION
DI launches multi-year program to
provide analytical support services for
efforts to address and prevent youth
crime and violence in Central America—
including Mexico—and the Caribbean.
22. 43
Abuja Accra Aceh Besar Acul-du-Nord Akhalkalaki Ali Sabiyeh Amman Arandjelovac Auckland Bacioi Baku Balikpapan Banda Aceh Banja Luka
Bar Barisal Bas-Limbe Basseterre Batumi Beirut Belgrade Berdyansk Bishkek Bocsa Bogota Bogra Brcko Bucharest Bujumbura Cabaret
Cagllavice Cairo Cape Town Cap-Haitien Caracas Carrefour Castries Cauca Cherkasy Cher nivtsi Chisinau Chittagong Cluj Cochabamba
Colombo Comrat Dar es Salaam Dej Dhaka Dikhil Dili Djibouti-ville Donetsk Durlesti Easter n Antioquia Faridpur Ferizaj Georgetown
Gjakova Gjilan Gorontalo Gracanica Guatemala City Harare Iasi Islamabad Ismayilli Ivano-Frankivsk Jakarta Jalalabad Jerusalem Johannesburg
Kabul Kabupaten Sleman Kakata Kamianets-Podilskyi Kampala Karachi Khachmaz Kharkiv Khartoum Khulna Kingston Kingstown Kinshasa Kline
Kovel Kragujevac Kutaisi Kyiv La Paz Lahore Leposavic Lilongwe Limbe Lipjan Luanda Lviv Maevka Makassar Manila Maputo
Mar neuli Medan Medellin Mexico City Mitrovica Modhupur Mogadishu Monrovia Monteria Moscow Mostar Multan Mwanza Mymensingh
Nairobi Narayangonj City New Delhi Niksic Niš Novi Sad Obok Osh Panama City Peja Peshawar Podgorica Pontianak Port of Spain
Požarevac Pristina Quba Quetta Quibdo Quito Rabat Ramallah Rangpur Rawalpindi Sabirabad Saint-Marc Samarinda San Salvador Santa
Cruz de la Sierra Sarajevo Silovo Simferopol St George’s Strpce Sucre Surabaya Sylhet Tadjoura Takoradi-Secondi Tbilisi Timisoara Tirana
Tubmanburg Tunis Vaslui Wellington Yerevan Yogyakarta Zanzibar Zrenjanin Zvecan Abuja Accra Aceh Besar Acul-du-Nord Akhalkalaki
Ali Sabiyeh Amman Arandjelovac Auckland Bacioi Baku Balikpapan Banda Aceh Banja Luka Bar Barisal Bas-Limbe Basseterre Batumi
Beirut Belgrade Berdyansk Bishkek Bocsa Bogota Bogra Brcko Bucharest Bujumbura Cabaret Cagllavice Cairo Cape Town Cap-Haitien
Caracas Carrefour Castries Cauca Cherkasy Cher nivtsi Chisinau Chittagong Cluj Cochabamba Colombo Comrat Dar es Salaam Dej Dhaka
Dikhil Dili Djibouti-ville Donetsk Durlesti Easter n Antioquia Faridpur Ferizaj Georgetown Gjakova Gjilan Gorontalo Gracanica Guatemala
City Harare Iasi Islamabad Ismayilli Ivano-Frankivsk Jakarta Jalalabad Jerusalem Johannesburg Kabul Kabupaten Sleman Kakata Kamianets-
Podilskyi Kampala Karachi Khachmaz Kharkiv Khartoum Khulna Kingston Kingstown Kinshasa Kline Kovel Kragujevac Kutaisi Kyiv La
Paz Lahore Leposavic Lilongwe Limbe Lipjan Luanda Lviv Maevka Makassar Manila Maputo Mar neuli Medan Medellin Mexico City
Mitrovica Modhupur Mogadishu Monrovia Monteria Moscow Mostar Multan Mwanza Mymensingh Nairobi Narayangonj City New Delhi Niksic
Niš Novi Sad Obok Osh Panama City Peja Peshawar Podgorica Pontianak Port of Spain Požarevac Pristina Quba Quetta Quibdo
Quito Rabat Ramallah Rangpur Rawalpindi Sabirabad Saint-Marc Samarinda San Salvador Santa Cruz de la Sierra Sarajevo Silovo Simferopol
St George’s Strpce Sucre Surabaya Sylhet Tadjoura Takoradi-Secondi Tbilisi Timisoara Tirana Tubmanburg Tunis Vaslui Wellington
Yerevan Yogyakarta Zanzibar Zrenjanin Zvecan Abuja Accra Aceh Besar Acul-du-Nord Akhalkalaki Ali Sabiyeh Amman Arandjelovac Auckland
Bacioi Baku Balikpapan Banda Aceh Banja Luka Bar Barisal Bas-Limbe Basseterre Batumi Beirut Belgrade Berdyansk Bishkek Bocsa
Bogota Bogra Brcko Bucharest Bujumbura Cabaret Cagllavice Cairo Cape Town Cap-Haitien Caracas Carrefour Castries Cauca Cherkasy
Cher nivtsi Chisinau Chittagong Cluj Cochabamba Colombo Comrat Dar es Salaam Dej Dhaka Dikhil Dili Djibouti-ville Donetsk Durlesti
Easter n Antioquia Faridpur Ferizaj Georgetown Gjakova Gjilan Gorontalo Gracanica Guatemala City Harare Iasi Islamabad Ismayilli Ivano-
Frankivsk Jakarta Jalalabad Jerusalem Johannesburg Kabul Kabupaten Sleman Kakata Kamianets-Podilskyi Kampala Karachi Khachmaz Kharkiv
Khartoum Khulna Kingston Kingstown Kinshasa Kline Kovel Kragujevac Kutaisi Kyiv La Paz Lahore Leposavic Lilongwe Limbe
Lipjan Luanda Lviv Maevka Makassar Manila Maputo Mar neuli Medan Medellin Mexico City Mitrovica Modhupur Mogadishu Monrovia
Monteria Moscow Mostar Multan Mwanza Mymensingh Nairobi Narayangonj City New Delhi Niksic Niš Novi Sad Obok Osh Panama City
@DemocracyIntl
Democracy International
DemocracyIntl
Democracy International
/company/democracy-international
+1.301.961.1660
7600 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1010
Bethesda, MD 20814
info@democracyinternational.com
“We are committed to influencing and improving democracy,
human rights, and governance in the next decade. We will
continue to pursue important initiatives in conflict-affected and
transitional environments, pilot new technologies and analytical
methods, and provide clear thinking about how development
assistance can contribute to meaningful political change.”