Baltic-Eurasia Inter Parliamentary Training Instit…
In Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, IRI, through the Baltic Eurasia Inter-Parliamentary Institute (BEIPTI), is supporting democratic gains and a…
IRI strengthens democracy by empowering citizens, bolstering democratic governance, and making leaders more accountable to their people. For nearly 40 years, we have helped activists and elected officials foster healthy democratic competition, increase transparency and accountability in government decision-making, and promote inclusivity in civic and political life.
Our staff and local partners are committed to IRI’s mission of advancing freedom and democracy around the globe. We are a people-focused organization that fosters participation, innovation, and creativity among individuals and institutions seeking to make an impact in their country’s political and civic development.
Regional and technical teams lead IRI’s programming in more than 100 countries around the world. Our programs are based on the latest evidence, tailored to local context, and designed to achieve sustainable impact. Our approach focuses on equipping and empowering local partners to take ownership of their democratic destiny.
IRI’s Center for Global Impact is comprised of thematic experts, researchers, and global project staff who cultivate innovative, evidence-based programming approaches, tools, and resources that help IRI address emerging trends and challenges to democracy.
Research and qualitative and quantitative public opinion data are a cornerstone of IRI’s approach to programming. IRI’s Center for Insights and Survey Research (CISR) leads the Institute’s efforts and to date, IRI has polled more than 1.5 million citizens through more than 1,000 polls in over 100 countries.
IRI’s Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) was founded in 2006 to inspire and equip women with the skills they need to participate in and assume greater leadership roles in government, political parties, and civil society in the countries they call home. IRI’s global youth network Generation Democracy engages, empowers and connects youth from around the world to foster their involvement in political and civic processes. IRI is a core institute of the National Endowment for Democracy, founded in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan and the United States Congress to foster the infrastructure of democracy around the world.
IRI strengthens democracy by implementing programming grounded in the latest evidence, tailored to local context, and designed to achieve sustainable impact. We rely on local partners and activists to identify needs and craft approaches best suited for their environment.
IRI has applied these tenets to develop approaches specific to each of its priority technical areas, from countering foreign authoritarian influence to combating kleptocracy and corruption.
Ineffective governance and weak institutions are at the root of global threats to democracy, including entrenched corruption, the rise of authoritarianism, and protracted conflict. The International Republican Institute (IRI) combats these trends and strengthens democracy worldwide by deploying approaches that enhance citizens’ ability to meaningfully participate in government planning and decision-making, while helping those in office respond to citizen needs with accountability and transparency.
In Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, IRI, through the Baltic Eurasia Inter-Parliamentary Institute (BEIPTI), is supporting democratic gains and a…
Last year was marred by significant political developments in Mongolia. In January 2022, the Development Bank of Mongolia (DBM), Mongolia’s…
The six Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – have increased interconnection…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with over…
In Bulgaria, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) municipal anti-corruption program continues to push toward real reforms in the governance of…
Corruption, or the “abuse of entrusted power for private gain,” is one of the greatest challenges to democracy. The global…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with over…
For nearly four decades, the International Republican Institute (IRI) has worked with thousands of local partners to advance democracy worldwide.…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), produced a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Global…
Last winter, the Biden administration released the United States Strategy on Countering Corruption, which outlines five strategic pillars for how…
Financial transparency of political parties is one of the key anticorruption mechanisms that can enhance trust in political parties, which…
Globally, restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and association are shrinking the space for people to advocate for themselves. To address this evolving challenge, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) civil society programs are informed by the experience of IRI’s partners and designed to promote communities’ ability to participate in and influence political systems within their own country.
IRI’s Middle East Regional Civic Initiative (MERCI) will support civil society in eight target countries in the Middle East and…
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Technology and Democracy team strives to prevent and build resiliency to the threats emerging from…
In Bulgaria, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) municipal anti-corruption program continues to push toward real reforms in the governance of…
Corruption, or the “abuse of entrusted power for private gain,” is one of the greatest challenges to democracy. The global…
With the general elections just a year away, early 2022 offered hope for the adoption of legislation that would have…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the Center for the Analysis of Public Policy (CAPP) and the National…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
For nearly four decades, the International Republican Institute (IRI) has worked with thousands of local partners to advance democracy worldwide.…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), produced a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Global…
Financial transparency of political parties is one of the key anticorruption mechanisms that can enhance trust in political parties, which…
On the streets of Santiago, paper copies of the proposed new constitution abound. On July 4, the 155 delegates of…
Violent conflict and state fragility threaten freedom and human well-being globally by derailing democratic progress, inhibiting service delivery, and undermining trust between the government and its citizens.
As violent extremist organizations expand their influence in the central Sahel and threaten northern border communities in the Littoral States,…
A rise in extremist violence in the region has led to an increase in the number of displaced people trying…
In fragile and conflict-affected environments, a political transition – such as a coup d’état, a peace agreement, or a leadership…
The six Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – have increased interconnection…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
As part of its Western Balkans regional program, the International Republican Institute (IRI) held the third annual Southeastern Europe Democracy…
On March 13, Colombians voted for the 16 Special Transitory Peace Seats (Circunscripciones Transitorias Especiales de Paz, CITREP) in Colombia’s…
As the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Western Balkans Task Force prepares for the Southeastern Europe Democracy Summit (SEE|DEM) this spring,…
As the International Republican Institute (IRI) continues its work in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the country – which exists as…
Violent conflict has posed a major threat to providing accountable and democratic governance to citizens the world over. In addition…
Electoral integrity, a critical aspect of democratic governance, is increasingly jeopardized by a proliferating range of domestic and foreign threats. To guard against these dangers and make sure elections represent the will of the people, IRI’s electoral integrity programs expand voter literacy, maximize participation, catalyze reform movements, mitigate electoral violence, and build citizens’ confidence in electoral outcomes.
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Global Impact cultivates innovative, evidence-based programming and provides resources, tools, and expertise to…
In light of recent geopolitical changes, foreign policy has become increasingly relevant to Hungarians who engage in political discussion, and…
Public perceptions of Transatlantic institutions in Central and Eastern Europe, such as NATO, are being undermined by nationalistic rhetoric and…
To bridge the growing lack of understanding regarding the strategic challenges that malign foreign influences pose, rebuild democratic values among…
Today, perhaps more than ever before, Transatlantic solidarity remains crucial to defending the tenets of democratic governance and safeguarding the…
Established in 2016, the Beacon Project leverages IRI’s 34 years of experience in European politics. For over five years, it…
Research and Public Opinion Data Research and qualitative and quantitative public opinion data is a cornerstone of IRI’s approach to programming. Our…
IRI’s Western Balkans regional program focuses on countering malign foreign influence and extremism, including extreme ethnonationalism and the rise of…
OUR STORY | Where it all Began: In March 2006, the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) was established by Judy Van…
In an innovative regional political party program, IRI provides support and capacity building to political parties in countries of the…
“All stakeholders…have a chance to put the people of Nigeria first and ensure that the 2023 elections are transparent and…
I. INTRODUCTION From December 4 to 9, 2022, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) conducted…
Fiji heads to the polls on December 14, 2022, on the heels of a sudden change to voter registration procedures…
Abuja, Nigeria – The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are fielding a joint delegation to…
Tomorrow, October 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will hold general elections for the eighth time since the signing of the…
One month ago, anti-government protests in Sierra Leone resulted in over a dozen civilian deaths, an internet shutdown, and a…
Taarifa hii ya awali inatoa matokeo na mapendekezo ya awali ya pamoja ya wajumbe wa Taasisi ya Jamuhuri ya Kimataifa …
This week’s general elections in Angola may be among the most consequential elections on the continent in some time. So,…
“Nigeria is at an inflection point. Facing the worst wave of insecurity in twenty years, a five-year trend of democratic…
The joint International Republican Institute (IRI) and National Democratic Institute (NDI) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) urgently call for calm…
Independent media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy by producing widely accessible information free of institutional bias, promoting transparency and accountability, and raising awareness against authoritarianism. IRI supports media development so citizens have access to accurate and timely information.
In Spring 2021, IRI began a cross-regional program between the Transatlantic Strategy Division and the Latin America & Caribbean Division…
A massive flow of disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines has led to significant vaccine hesitancy among Armenia’s population. This, in turn,…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with 22…
On October 3, 2021, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) released the Pandora Papers, a multi-year investigation into nearly…
With Iraq’s next parliamentary elections scheduled for October 10, this five-part series highlights the critical voter education and mobilization work…
With Iraq’s next parliamentary elections scheduled for October 10, this five-part series highlights the critical voter education and mobilization work…
In the early 2010s, Abi Yerusa “Ira” Sobeukum was reassessing her position within East Nusa Tenggara’s sociopolitical scene. On one…
Five months after Cuba implemented a new economic reform called “The Ordering Task,” the financial situation of Cuba’s cuentapropistas, or…
Can street protests against corruption develop into meaningful electoral changes? Like other countries with political corruption but political party fragmentation,…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with 21…
On January 13th, Mongolia marked the 30th anniversary of its first democratic constitution. A communist country for most of…
A robust democracy depends on the equal and active participation of all. IRI empowers and amplifies the voices of underserved communities and integrates them into political and civic life. In so doing, IRI supports sustainable, inclusive democratic development.
OUR STORY | Where it all Began: In March 2006, the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) was established by Judy Van…
IRI’s Middle East Regional Civic Initiative (MERCI) will support civil society in eight target countries in the Middle East and…
Understanding the critical role young people play in transparent, accountable, and responsive democracies, IRI partners with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and United…
Despite constituting 56 percent of the global population, youth continue to be underrepresented in political and civic participation. Through International Republican…
The six Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia – have increased interconnection…
Fiji heads to the polls on December 14, 2022, on the heels of a sudden change to voter registration procedures…
With the general elections just a year away, early 2022 offered hope for the adoption of legislation that would have…
With just over one year to go before Bangladesh’s next national election—scheduled for January 2024— female political leaders are working…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the Center for the Analysis of Public Policy (CAPP) and the National…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
Meaningful participation of young people in political and electoral processes is essential for the democratic health of all societies. With…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), produced a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Global…
Competitive, issue-based political parties organize democracy by providing meaningful choices for voters, linking disparate citizen interests, engaging citizens in the political process, cultivating responsive leaders, and holding governments accountable. The International Republican Institute (IRI) supports and strengthens democratic political parties to increase their representation, effectiveness, and accountability.
In an innovative regional political party program, IRI provides support and capacity building to political parties in countries of the…
Last year was marred by significant political developments in Mongolia. In January 2022, the Development Bank of Mongolia (DBM), Mongolia’s…
The International Republican Institute (IRI) has supported increased transparency in North Macedonia since 2018, when it developed the Open Finance…
With just over one year to go before Bangladesh’s next national election—scheduled for January 2024— female political leaders are working…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), produced a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Global…
Financial transparency of political parties is one of the key anticorruption mechanisms that can enhance trust in political parties, which…
On the streets of Santiago, paper copies of the proposed new constitution abound. On July 4, the 155 delegates of…
Since 2003, Iraq has faced numerous challenges in its democratic transition. Despite this, Iraqis have demonstrated remarkable resilience and a…
Turkey’s system of checks and balances had been imbalanced for years. The 2017 Constitutional Referendum worsened the situation with the…
Guillermo Lasso won Ecuador’s presidency in April 2021 promising to reactivate the nation’s economy through lower taxes, less regulation, and…
Understanding what works, how, and why in democracy and governance programs is critical to achieving and sustaining meaningful impact. IRI’s Research, Learning, and Evaluation efforts focus on conducting rigorous research, and designing and implementing monitoring, evaluation and learning systems to help our practitioners develop and implement effective, evidence-based and results-oriented projects.
Research and Public Opinion Data Research and qualitative and quantitative public opinion data is a cornerstone of IRI’s approach to programming. Our…
Skopje, North Macedonia – A new poll in North Macedonia by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research…
Chisinau, Moldova – A new poll in Moldova by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows strong…
Malé, Maldives— A new nationwide poll of the Maldives by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) reveals…
Technology is the battleground for the future. The rapid adoption of digital technology has transformed how governments operate; how citizens engage and what they expect of leaders; how elections take place; what political campaigns look like; and the threats that democratic actors face.
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Technology and Democracy team strives to prevent and build resiliency to the threats emerging from…
Recently, the House Democracy Partnership (HDP) traveled to Bogota, Colombia to implement a technical assistance consultancy (TAC). Central to HDP’s…
Ahead of the May 9, 2022, elections, civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Philippines have set their sights on the…
Environmental hazards may have a crucial impact on democratic transition in the Western Balkans. This is particularly true in Serbia,…
On a global stage, cryptocurrency has gained notoriety for enabling corruption and transnational money laundering via online exchanges—a newer and…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with 22…
“Last October, Bangladesh was rocked by one of its worst bouts of violence in years when Muslims across the country…
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the International Republican Institute (IRI) announced the hire of Katie Harbath as the new director of…
Introduction Over the past few years, the International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Stanford Internet…
IRI promotes women’s meaningful political participation and gender equality throughout all our regional programs, as well as our dedicated global initiative, the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN).
OUR STORY | Where it all Began: In March 2006, the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) was established by Judy Van…
Understanding the critical role young people play in transparent, accountable, and responsive democracies, IRI partners with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and United…
Political parties in Kosovo have struggled to successfully engage women and youth voters and include them in their decision-making and…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with over…
“The stunning courage shown by Iran’s young World Cup team in support of the ongoing protest movement exemplifies the bankruptcy…
With the general elections just a year away, early 2022 offered hope for the adoption of legislation that would have…
With just over one year to go before Bangladesh’s next national election—scheduled for January 2024— female political leaders are working…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), produced a House Democracy Partnership (HDP) Global…
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) hosted the fourth annual “10 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence”…
On March 13, Colombians voted for the 16 Special Transitory Peace Seats (Circunscripciones Transitorias Especiales de Paz, CITREP) in Colombia’s…
Pride Month provides a unique opportunity to recognize the advancement of LGBTQI+ inclusion and rights in democracies around the world,…
Empowering young people participate and lead is essential to the democratic health of all societies. IRI equips young people around the world with the skills and networks to engage in civic and political processes in a way that meets them where they are.
Understanding the critical role young people play in transparent, accountable, and responsive democracies, IRI partners with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and United…
Despite constituting 56 percent of the global population, youth continue to be underrepresented in political and civic participation. Through International Republican…
Political parties in Kosovo have struggled to successfully engage women and youth voters and include them in their decision-making and…
From November 13-16, 2022, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Generation Democracy (GenDem) program convened 36 civil society and political leaders…
Building from the Democracy in Action Lab in Lilongwe, Malawi earlier this year, the International Republican Institute (IRI) hosted a…
“After months of speculation and years of political turmoil, Malaysia will hold early general elections on November 19. Unlike the…
The International Republican Institute (IRI) Moldova hosted its first youth conference in the capital of Moldova on October 22 and…
The International Republican Institute (IRI), in partnership with the Center for the Analysis of Public Policy (CAPP) and the National…
The problems faced across the Western Balkans are wide ranging and touch many sectors: rule of law and socio-economic conditions;…
Washington, DC—Public opinion research released today by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) examines the perceptions…
Meaningful participation of young people in political and electoral processes is essential for the democratic health of all societies. With…
IRI’s initiatives, including the Center for Global Impact, the Center for Survey Research, the Women’s Democracy Network, and the Transatlantic Strategy Division focus on areas of particular importance in building strong and resilient democracies. In a small sampling, their work ranges from data accumulation to countering malign false information to the creation of evidence-based programs and more.
Empowering young people participate and lead is essential to the democratic health of all societies. IRI equips young people around…
IRI promotes women’s meaningful political participation and gender equality throughout all our regional programs, as well as our dedicated global…
Understanding what works, how, and why in democracy and governance programs is critical to achieving and sustaining meaningful impact. IRI’s…
Technology is the battleground for the future. The rapid adoption of digital technology has transformed how governments operate; how citizens…
Independent media plays a vital role in strengthening democracy by producing widely accessible information free of institutional bias, promoting transparency…
Globally, restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and association are shrinking the space for people to advocate for themselves. To…
A robust democracy depends on the equal and active participation of all. IRI empowers and amplifies the voices of underserved…
Violent conflict and state fragility threaten freedom and human well-being globally by derailing democratic progress, inhibiting service delivery, and undermining…
More than ever, foreign authoritarian actors from China and Russia, are taking an increasingly aggressive approach to exerting influence in…
Ineffective governance and weak institutions are at the root of global threats to democracy, including entrenched corruption, the rise of…
Electoral integrity, a critical aspect of democratic governance, is increasingly jeopardized by a proliferating range of domestic and foreign threats.…
Competitive, issue-based political parties organize democracy by providing meaningful choices for voters, linking disparate citizen interests, engaging citizens in the…