The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization with the mandate to promote and advance democracy worldwide.

International IDEA contributes to the public debate on democracy and assists in strengthening processes, reforms, institutions and actors that build, advance and safeguard democracy, with a focus on electoral processes; constitution-building processes; and political participation and representation. Mainstreamed across all our work is gender and inclusion, conflict sensitivity and sustainable development.

International IDEA is one of the founding partners of the ACE Project.

What does International IDEA do?

The Institute works upon invitation to provide in-country support based on our global comparative knowledge. We facilitate dialogue on issues of democracy and publish comparative data and knowledge for anyone to use to improve their democracy. We analyze this data and produce several tools that can be used to strengthen democratic institutions.

Areas of Expertise

In support of its mission and vision, International IDEA focuses on three main impact areas: electoral processes; constitution-building processes; and political participation and representation.  International IDEA also mainstreams the three cross-cutting themes of (a) gender and inclusion; (b) conflict sensitivity and (c) sustainable development across all its areas of work.

§  Electoral Processes: The design and management of elections has a strong impact on the wider political system. International IDEA seeks to ensure the professional management and independence of elections, adapt electoral systems, and build public confidence in the electoral process.

§  Constitution-Building Processes: Constitution-building is a key component of democratization and conflict management in divided societies. International IDEA supports inclusive and participatory constitution-building processes that result in nationally owned, sustainable constitutions, sensitive to gender and conflict prevention dimensions.

§  Political Participation and Representation: Political participation is an essential link between voters and the government. Yet there is widespread dissatisfaction with political parties across the world as they often lack the trust of voters and suffer from institutional problems. International IDEA analyses the functioning of institutions of political participation and representation, the public funding of political parties, their management and relations with the public.

Topics we cover

§  elections

§  money in politics

§  constitution-building

§  gender and democracy

§  political parties

§  parliaments

§  conflict and security  

§  state of democracy assessments

§  regional organizations

§  democratic accountability

§  citizen engagement

§  ICTs, election and democracy

Where does International IDEA work?

International IDEA works worldwide. It is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and West Asia, Asia and the Pacific, and Wider Europe. It also has The Office of the Permanent Observer for International IDEA to the United Nations in New York and The Office of International IDEA to the European Union in Brussels.  

Who are the Member States of International IDEA?
International IDEA has 31 Member States: Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica,  Dominican Republic, Finland, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Uruguay. Japan has observer status.  

Contact information

International IDEA, Strömsborg, SE-103 34 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 698 37 00, Fax: +46 8 20 24 22
Email: [email protected], Website: www.idea.int

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