Start reading

Annual Review 2022

International IDEA

photo of the secretary general
signature of the secretary general
Secretary-General
Kevin Casas-Zamora

A message from the Secretary-General

If the story of the last few decades is one of increased freedom and prosperity under the spreading umbrella of democracy, the story of the last few years is one of democracy under threat. The starkest example of this is Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which represents an attack not just on lives and livelihoods, but also on the promise of democracy. Indeed, democracy now faces pressure globally, with authoritarian regimes tightening their grip and too many elected leaders adopting authoritarian tactics to cling to control. Meanwhile, misinformation campaigns, political polarization and rising inequality are eroding people’s trust that democracy can deliver on their needs and expectations.

International IDEA’s reach around the world

Sweden – Botswana

Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary- General meets the President of the Republic of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi at the International IDEA headquarters in Stockholm.

Indonesia

Leena Rikkila Tamang, International IDEA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, meets the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the Bali Democracy Forum 2022.

Mozambique

Miguel Orlando Mendes de Brito, International IDEA Head of Programme for Mozambique, responds to questions related to an introductory workshop on the Electoral Risk Management Tool for the Mozambican Elections Commission.

France

Sam van der Staak, International IDEA Regional Director for Europe, meets OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

India

Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General, and Adina Trunk, International IDEA Chief of Staff, meet Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey and the Election Commission of India leadership team.

Brazil

International IDEA’s Latin America and Caribbean programme team holds electoral mission to Brazil on 2 October 2022. From left to right: Laura Chinchilla, Former President of Costa Rica; Salvador Romero Ballivian, Head of International IDEA in Paraguay; Mónica Xavier, Former Senator of Uruguay; Katherine Batista, Programme Assistant for the Regional Office LAC; Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General; Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Marta Lucía Ramírez, Former Vice President of Colombia; Isabel Aninat, International IDEA Board member.

United States

International IDEA at the Global Forum in New York 22 September 2022. From left to right: Massimo Tomassoli, International IDEA Director of Global Programmes; Daniel Zovatto, International IDEA Regional Director for LAC; Kevin Casas-Zamora, International IDEA Secretary-General; Leonel Antonio Fernández Reyna, Former President of the Dominican Republic; and Natasha Despotovic, Executive Director for Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD). Credit: GFDD.

Introduction

For the past 27 years, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has honored its mandate to promote and advance democracy worldwide.

This Annual Review highlights our global contributions as a think-and do-tank dedicated to researching, delivering comparative knowledge resources and supporting in the implementation of democratic practices that help everyone build and maintain inclusive and resilient democracies.

Our Vision

A world in which everyone lives in inclusive and resilient democracies.

Our Mission

International IDEA advances, promotes and protects sustainable democracy worldwide in consideration of human rights commitments through policy-relevant knowledge, capacity development, advocacy, and the convening of dialogues.

Supporting democracy worldwide

How we work

International IDEA’s working modalities constitute a reinforcing loop of knowledge production, capacity development, advocacy and the convening of dialogues. International IDEA’s comparative knowledge and research inform its capacity development; these have policy influence and inform advocacy, and enable the convening of dialogues. In turn, capacity development in the field provides valuable lessons for knowledge production, policy influence and advocacy, enabling continuous learning within the Institute.

Read More

Supporting Democracy Worldwide

Activity and Reach
Themes
IDEA offices
Existing and planned projects

Our Impact Stories

Global
Africa and West Asia
Asia and the Pacific
Europe
Latin America and the Caribbean
Seema Shah, International IDEA Democracy Assessment Head, presents the findings of the Global State of Democracy 2022 Report at the launch event in Stockholm.
    Credit: Malin Huusmann

Global State of Democracy Becomes Go-to Report for Policymakers and Media

The United Nations: Advocating for Democracy Worldwide

The Global Democracy Coalition, a multi-stakeholder coalition of more than 100 democracy organizations, convened forums in 2021 and 2023 to provide a space for inclusive dialogue, ahead of each Summit for Democracy.

Global Democracy Coalition Recommends Actions for Second Summit for Democracy

Indonesian election officials transport ballot boxes from polling stations on a boat as they wade through flood water in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, 18 April 2019. Credit: EPA-EFE/IQBAL KUSUMADIREZZA

Preparing for the Impact of Natural Hazards on Elections

Demonstration in Sudan. Photo by: Hind Mekki on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hmekki/49174020573/in/dateposted/ ) (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

A Forum for Constitution-makers and Conflict Mediators to Influence International Policy

The first cohort of the Young Women Democracy Academy at a graduation event co-hosted by International IDEA Sudan’s Programme in August 2022.

Sudan's Democracy Academy inspires young women to engage in politics

Officials at a polling station prepare to count votes in The Gambia’s presidential election (2021). This was the first presidential election in The Gambia since the long-standing dictator Yahya Jammeh was ousted from power in 2017. Credit: Sally Hayden / SOPA Images/Sipa USA

Helping to provide peaceful presidential elections in The Gambia

The Parliament of Bhutan and civil society organizations are working together to improve the legislative process, under the Project ‘Nyamdrel.

Assisting Bhutan’s young parliament establish public hearings and civil society collaboration

New App Helps Electoral Officials and Civil Society to Counter Electoral Gerrymandering

Photo credit: Visual Rebellion.

Working with Myanmar's Government Leaders and Activists in Exile

Bruno Maes for International IDEA

Bringing Civil Society Voices to EU's Democracy Policymaking

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Bucha town after liberation from Russian occupiers during Russian Ukrainian war, April 2022. Credit: Dmytro Larin, Shutterstock

Helping Ukraine's Parliament Operate Effectively in Time of War

Supporting the drafting of laws in Paraguay that promote women in politics

A scene from the play “Danzaré hasta transformarlo todo” (I will dance until I change it all). A group of young people train for a folk dance competition, while reflecting on the last political changes of the country and how they affect them.

Using theatre in Peru to raise awareness of the rights of marginalized groups

International IDEA in numbers

177,139
Publication downloads on the International IDEA website
2,171,522
Visits to the International IDEA website
10,447
Total new followers on social media
1,413,578
Total new impressions on social media

Top Media mentions

1. United States

2,490

2. Mexico

1,070

3. Spain

811

4. Argentina

697

5. Brazil

485

6. Peru

397

7. Indonesia

201

8. Nigeria

195

9. Dominican Republic

162

10. Colombia

150

11. India

145

12. South Africa

111

Financials

Total funding
Total funding 2022
Core funding
Project funding
30% increase in project funding between 2021 and 2022
Funding by programme
Total funding 2022
Global Programme
Africa & West Asia
Asia & the Pacific
Regional Europe
Latin America & the Caribbean
North America
15% increase in core funding between 2021 and 2022
90%
of all funding to International IDEA goes directly to our programmes around the world

Funding by theme

Member States and Donors’ contributions to the work of International IDEA are instrumental to advance our shared vision of achieving a more resilient and inclusive democracy for all. We are pleased to recognize our donors who have partnered with us for the delivery of key outcomes for democracy in 2022.

Electoral Processes
(€5,355,818)
Core: €982,765 Restricted: €4,373,053
Constitution-Building Processes
(€5,270,469)
Core: €984,331 Restricted: €4,286,138
Participation and Representation
(€10,281,275)
Core: €984,331 Restricted: €9,296,944
Democracy Assessment
(€1,105,302)
Core: €490,442 Restricted: €614,860
Core
Restricted

Donors

Top 10 Project donors

Top 10 Project Funding

Partners

Nepal office
Asia and the Pacific
View regional page