📋 Tender Overview
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is the only inter governmental organization specialized in democracy support and thus key for realizing Switzerland’s foreign policy objective of promoting democracy. IDEA’s diverse constituency of countries from the Global South & North, its practice oriented expertise and its convening of policy dialogues at all levels, offers Switzerland an ideal dialogue platform and implementing partner on democratic governance.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Governance
Democratic participation and civil society
Elections
01.01.2023 - 31.12.2026
CHF 3’500’000
The project in brief
Background Democracy is in decline around the world: The number of backsliding democracies has never been as high as in the last decade. A complex interplay of factors has influenced the democratic downturn, starting with the 2008 financial crisis as well as push-backs against equality and civil rights. Social media and new communication technologies have exacerbated societal and political polarization, enabling the spread of disinformation and increasing hate speech. The aggression of Russia against Ukraine has highlighted how authoritarian regimes undermine multilateralism and the international order. The Covid-19 pandemic has been used to justify excessive democratic restrictions. IDEA’s membership of 34 countries from younger & older democracies from the Global South and North offers a useful dialogue platform and implementing partner to find solutions to the various challenges related to democracy at regional, national and municipal level. Such membership is also helpful to build up trust & reduce further polarization of liberal & less liberal democracies. Promoting democracy is part of the DNA of Switzerland, renowned for its democratic tradition and inclusive culture.
Objectives A world in which democratic processes, actors and institutions are inclusive and accountable and deliver sustainable development for all.
Target groups National and subnational governments; oversight agencies; civil society organisations/NGOs, political parties and movements, parliaments; public interest groups; electoral management bodies; constitution makers and implementers.
Medium-term outcomes IDEA applies outcome mapping methodology for managing results. It formulated 13 outcome statements aiming at behavior change by its partners in its six workstreams. For example: 1) Constitution-makers apply increased knowledge and skills to make more informed choices regarding constitutional design and process. 2) Civil society hold constitution makers accountable, inform the public on constitution-building processes, and promote public participation in the process. 3) Electoral assistance practitioners provide support, informed by norms, good practices and research in electoral processes. They contextualize norms, practices and research to local conditions.
Results Expected results: Events, advocacy
