Democracy International is committed to supporting active citizens, responsive governments, and engaged civil society and political organizations to achieve a more peaceful, democratic world. By developing and using new knowledge, tools, and approaches, they change people’s lives and improve development assistance in fundamental ways. To accomplish this, Democracy International works in four core practice areas: Politics, Governance, Peace & Resilience, and Learning.

Politics

DI supports political systems around the world to be responsive, inclusive, and competitive. We support election administration and reform; domestic and international election observation; political party and legislative strengthening; civic and voter education; political empowerment of marginalized groups; civil society strengthening and advocacy support; media freedom and oversight strengthening; and the protection of fundamental political rights, especially in societies with closing political space.

Governance

DI supports accountable government systems and institutions that are responsive, effective, and transparent. We promote the rule of law; institutional strengthening and reform; public financial management; local governance and decentralization; transparency and accountability; anticorruption efforts; legislative strengthening; citizen advocacy and engagement for improved service delivery; and media strengthening. 

Peace & Resilience

DI promotes peaceful, democratic transitions and political settlements to resolve conflict so that societies are at peace and can repair their own divisions. DI works to build peace and resilience, the foundations of accountable politics and governance. We promote conflict management and mitigation; countering violent extremism and citizen security; transition initiatives, stabilization, peacebuilding, and reconciliation; and transitional justice and atrocity prevention. 

Learning

DI uses innovation and learning to improve international development outcomes, assistance, and policy. DI prioritizes an evidence-driven approach to improve development outcomes, primarily related to the programming areas of governance, democracy, politics, and peace and resilience. We provide analytical services, including assessments, evaluations, special studies, knowledge management, performance monitoring, strategy design, and institutional support and training to development funders and civil society organizations.