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…
Cross-border flows of dark money are the greatest corruption challenge of our time. Secretive entity ownership structures and shell companies…
Environmental damage, climate change, insecurity, inequality, and poverty are some of the many challenges faced by people living in the…
In Montenegro, municipal government administrations struggled to make their decision-making processes transparent, leaving citizens with unanswered questions about how decisions…
Morocco’s political institutions have not been responsive to or inclusive of youth, leaving Moroccan youth feeling disengaged and unrepresented in…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with over…
For the first time in over twenty years, authoritarian governments outnumber liberal democracies, according to a Varieties of Democracy Institute…
Since the breakout of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…
Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Balkans continued to undermine regional stability in 2023. Chinese investments – particularly in…
The House Democracy Partnership (HDP) is a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives that works directly with over…
Citizens’ ability to be informed and engaged with their elected authorities requires tools that allow them to have accurate and…
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 Aspen Security Forum is an annual conference in which foreign policy and national security leaders review many of the…
This past March, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Technology and Democracy Practice attended the 12th Information Communication Technology for Development…
In March 1990, as the Soviet Union was dissolving, Lithuania regained its independence. Soon thereafter, the United States began providing…
Since the breakout of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…
Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Balkans continued to undermine regional stability in 2023. Chinese investments – particularly in…
In 2024, El Salvador will host presidential, legislative, municipal, and Central American Parliamentary (PARLACEN) elections to determine the country’s future…
On November 11, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully regained control of the right bank of the Kherson region,…
Marking the 40th anniversary of the International Republican Institute (IRI), 2023 provided many key moments in our fight to advance…
Thirty-one-year-old Atabek Aripov has already had a quite successful career. Born and raised in Kyrgyzstan in the southwest region of…
This article is part of a series highlighting the work of five inspiring and capacity-building initiatives the young civic activists…
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…
2023 was marked by increasing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. The ongoing hostilities compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine…
Since the breakout of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…
Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Balkans continued to undermine regional stability in 2023. Chinese investments – particularly in…
On October 14, IRI’s Evidence and Learning Practice (ELP) organized a panel on conducting trauma-sensitive evaluations as part of the…
Every November 18, Haiti commemorates the Battle of Vertières, a pivotal conflict that ended over a century of French colonial…
In the past four months, more than 2.4 million Sudanese people have fled their homes due to ongoing conflict, and…
Burma’s military-run State Administration Council (SAC), which seized control of the country in a February 2021 coup, has offered up…
IRI relies on its many local partners to advance democracy around the world. Working with individuals on a local level…
As the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine arrived in February, members of Parliament (MPs) from Armenia, Georgia,…
In fragile and conflict-affected environments, a political transition – such as a coup d’état, a peace agreement, or a leadership…
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.
Increased public access to and awareness of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) applications, which were launched into the spotlight with the…
През юни 2021г. Международният републикански институт (IRI) стартира програмата си за борба с корупцията в 10 български общини, а през…
In June 2021, IRI launched its municipal anti-corruption program in 10 Bulgarian municipalities, and expanded its program to a second…
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…
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…
Chişinău, Moldova – The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) today released its preliminary findings on Moldova’s…
Tbilisi, Georgia – The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) today released its preliminary statement on Georgia’s…
2024 has been a year of elections around the world, with a potential 1.8 billion people headed to the polls.…
Maputo, Mozambique – The International Republican Institute’s International Election Observation Mission issued the following statement today in response to the release…
On October 26, Georgians will head to the polls to vote in the tenth parliamentary elections held since the country’s…
Tbilisi, Georgia – The International Republican Institute (IRI) has announced the arrival of its short-term observers (STOs) as part of its…
I. Mission overview This preliminary statement is offered by the international election observation mission of the International Republican Institute (IRI)…
Chişinău, Moldova – The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) today released its preliminary statement on Moldova’s…
Maputo, Mozambique – The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) to Mozambique released a statement today on…
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…
On June 25, 2023, results of the first round of Guatemala’s general elections surprised onlookers as Bernardo Arévalo from center-left…
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…
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 2024 Generation Democracy Global Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, brought together over 62 young leaders, experts, activists, and policymakers from…
Inclusive political participation is a core element of a democracy. In Kosovo, equal participation within, and representation by, political parties…
In March 1990, as the Soviet Union was dissolving, Lithuania regained its independence. Soon thereafter, the United States began providing…
Since the breakout of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…
To ensure a sustained dialogue on increasing youth political and civic participation globally, it is imperative to create a space…
On October 14, IRI’s Evidence and Learning Practice (ELP) organized a panel on conducting trauma-sensitive evaluations as part of the…
This article is part of a series highlighting the work of five inspiring and capacity-building initiatives the young civil activists…
Mongolia has been lauded globally as a democratic success story and as a country that, despite being sandwiched between authoritarian…
From Kenya to Ukraine and beyond, democracies are on the frontlines in the war against disinformation and corruption on every…
Amidst the current headlines dominated by the conflict in Ukraine, International Youth Day presents an opportune moment to reflect on…
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…
The world is currently experiencing a global wave of democratic erosion, with the number of democratizing countries plummeting to the…
The rise of political parties in their modern form in Europe has historically been associated with the coming of age…
Nearly 50 percent of the world’s countries will see voters head to the polls in 2024 in what has become…
Over the course of this historic year of elections, IRI’s Technology and Democracy (TechDem) Practice has been tracking how artificial…
In March 1990, as the Soviet Union was dissolving, Lithuania regained its independence. Soon thereafter, the United States began providing…
Political parties can be key actors in the prevention and disruption of democratic erosion. Scholars have documented strategies political parties…
Since the breakout of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)…
As Ghana prepares for the upcoming 2024 general election, the importance of ensuring a free and fair democratic process has…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of global politics, harnessing the power of digital technology has become paramount. With Bangladesh’s election…
On June 25, 2023, results of the first round of Guatemala’s general elections surprised onlookers as Bernardo Arévalo from center-left…
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…
The world is currently experiencing a global wave of democratic erosion, with the number of democratizing countries plummeting to the…
Yerevan, Armenia – A new nationwide poll conducted in Armenia by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) found that majorities support joining the…
Kathmandu, Nepal – A new nationwide public opinion poll from Nepal released by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights…
Pristina, Kosovo – A nationwide poll in Kosovo by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research shows a desire to join the European Union (EU)…
Washington, DC — A new nationwide poll by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) shows that strong…
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.
Navigating Risks and Harnessing Opportunities
IRI’s Recently Launched Actionable Steps Workbook, Developed Through a Co-Creation Process
Acknowledgments This report was made possible through the writing and research of Diana Kurth and Hui Hui Ooi. We thank…
Over the course of this historic year of elections, IRI’s Technology and Democracy (TechDem) Practice has been tracking how artificial…
Implications for Human Rights and International Governance
This past March, the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Technology and Democracy Practice attended the 12th Information Communication Technology for Development…
Since becoming widely accessible to the public in late 2022, generative AI (GenAI) has been used for positive democratic outcomes,…
Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been at play in our everyday lives for years, the recent advancements in generative AI…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of global politics, harnessing the power of digital technology has become paramount. With Bangladesh’s election…
Connecting Grassroot Actors and Public Servants to Create a Tech-Empowered Democratic Future
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…
Silvia Rita Souza is the Executive Director of WDN Brazil, where she has trained over 2,000 women in leadership skills…
Inclusive political participation is a core element of a democracy. In Kosovo, equal participation within, and representation by, political parties…
Indu Tuladhar, a WDN member from Nepal, is an inspiration whose passion and perseverance is creating positive change. Tuladhar grew…
Ngeh Kelly Kushinyu, a member of WDN from Cameroon, embodies the essence of the network. Beyond her vibrant personality and…
Meet Lucila Garcia, a dedicated WDN member from Argentina who was first introduced to the Network in 2015, when she…
Institutional barriers to female political participation have fallen worldwide in recent decades, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number…
South American countries are facing crises on multiple fronts. Ecuador is experiencing spiraling insecurity, there is political paralysis in Bolivia…
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) held its annual Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award ceremony on Tuesday, March 12th, honoring,…
Marking the 40th anniversary of the International Republican Institute (IRI), 2023 provided many key moments in our fight to advance…
Washington, DC – The International Republican Institute’s Women’s Democracy Network held its annual Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award ceremony on Monday, November 13th, honoring…
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…
The 2024 Generation Democracy Global Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, brought together over 62 young leaders, experts, activists, and policymakers from…
Inclusive political participation is a core element of a democracy. In Kosovo, equal participation within, and representation by, political parties…
Mexican youth play an important role in the sociopolitical landscape, significantly influencing the trajectory of the country’s future. Furthermore, youth…
The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Generation Democracy Network is thrilled to invite you to support our eighth annual Global Summit,…
Morocco’s political institutions have not been responsive to or inclusive of youth, leaving Moroccan youth feeling disengaged and unrepresented in…
Given the prevalence of youth candidates and staff engaged in the upcoming Dominican Republic elections, it is probable that some…
A Barrier Analysis of Youth in Malaysian Political Parties
On November 11, 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully regained control of the right bank of the Kherson region,…
To ensure a sustained dialogue on increasing youth political and civic participation globally, it is imperative to create a space…
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…