The Democracy Council (DC) was founded on the belief that good governance, economic opportunity, human rights, the rule of law, and the free exchange of information are fundamental elements of stable societies and the universal rights of all.
Who We Are
Council specialists come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including congressional staff, government aid agencies, the United Nations, international law, human rights, nonprofit, academia and the private sector. Council staff and officers maintain a proven track record of successfully developing and managing projects in most parts of the developing world, including areas beset by war and fundamental change or in authoritarian countries. The Democracy Council enjoys a reputation for building a relationship with local stakeholders and decision-makers based on mutual trust and respect. The Council operations and management are supervised by an independent board of directors and outside auditor, Bandari Beach Lim & Cleland, LLP.
SERVICES
Private Sector Development & Sustainable Business Practices
Since its inception, Democracy Council has developed projects designed to build and strengthen environments in which economic opportunity and the private sector thrive. Where a vibrant and open entrepreneurial spirit is supported, businesses and stakeholders can work together toward innovative and creative solutions for sustainable economic development. Democracy Council programs include support for young entrepreneurs in the Middle East, promotion of free movement of people and to facilitate cross border trade goods in the Middle East, and facilitation of access to business training materials for Latin American small business proprietors. We also work with local partners to promote fair and responsible laws and regulations governing trade and economic opportunity in emerging societies.
Independent Media Programs
The Democracy Council supports and incubates independent media projects within closed societies. By working in tandem with local journalists and media managers, we provide critical support to press freedom worldwide, thereby enhancing prospects for democratic institution-building.
The Council has successfully nurtured local media outlets in the Arab World and Latin America. We have provided technical expertise to facilitate the production and availability of independent news in post-conflict situations and in states that are transitioning to become open societies, creating spaces for information and idea sharing where they had not existed before.
Analysis & Research
Democracy Council draws upon a broad range of skill sets and global experience in supporting reform and accountable public administration in regions of change or conflict. Council staff have a proven track record of working with local stakeholders to identify problematic systems and practices in order to put forth actionable, practical solutions. The Council provides strategic research, analysis and consulting on a wide range of issues to further the rule of law, transparent and accountable governance structures, effective revenue management, institutional development and civil society capacity building.
Transparency & Accountability Programs
The Democracy Council works with local partners to enhance the transparency and accountability of public and private institutions.
Council staff have earned a proven reputation for designing practical programs to foster dialogue, mitigate corrupt systems, and promote public participation at all levels of government and corporate activity.
Democracy Council transparency and accountability projects include the Council’s groundbreaking work in the Palestinian Authority and Timor L’este. The Palestine Transparency & Accountability Project, first made public during the annual conference of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, received widespread support from around the world, including accolades by organizations such as Transparency International, the World Bank, and the U.S. Department of State.
Human Rights & Civil Society Advocacy/Capacity Building
The Democracy Council advocates freedom, human rights, equal opportunity and public participation across the globe. The Council’s work is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the belief that a vibrant civil society and accountable public administration remain fundamental tenets of democratic societies. The rights of all human beings, governed and governing, should be respected. The right to organize and advocate on one’s own behalf is a fundamental right of all people. Discrimination, repression and torture must be resisted at all levels, at all times.
The Council maintains a proven track record of working with both local and national government offices and civil society organizations to build local capacity and efficiencies.
Through civic engagement and education, public testimony and partnerships with civil society organizations, the Council works to ensure that respect for rights and the promotion of public participation in an accountable and productive manner are priorities of transitioning states.
Vocational Training & Economic Opportunity
The Democracy Council provides advice and services to promote literacy, vocational skills, and economic opportunity in emerging countries. For example, Democracy Council’s collaborates with MUJER, a project in Guatemala City’s red light district that provides practical skills and literacy training to sex workers, enabling the participants to take advantage of economic opportunities in order to enhance their own quality of life.
MUJER addresses other occupational and social needs of marginalized women and offers instruction in literacy, elementary school certification, computer skills and vocational classes. The MUJER curriculum also provides a forum, based on shared experiences, for discussion of individual and collective rights, commentary on best practices and networking with women like themselves. The goal is to empower each person to regain the sense of dignity and economic well-being to which all people are entitled.
International Election Monitoring & Training
Democracy Council provides independent monitoring, technical expertise and training in election planning, electoral law development, administration and voter education to governments, political parties and civil society.
Democracy Council staff has participated in election monitoring and training missions in post-conflict countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. We have coordinated electoral missions with multinational organizations, such as the United Nations and Organization of American States.
