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E-NEWSLETTER

Ukrainian border Crossing Sign Reads Ukraine in English and Ukrainian

IFES PRESIDENT VISITS UKRAINE TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH STAFF AND PARTNERS, PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

“I am moved by the determination of my colleagues to continue IFES’ work in the face of the most grievous challenges, and to continue the fight for democracy in Ukraine,” - Tony Banbury, IFES President and CEO

On March 26, 2022, IFES President and CEO Tony Banbury and Senior Country Director for Ukraine Peter Erben crossed the Polish border into Ukraine to meet with IFES staff who had relocated from Kyiv to western Ukraine. They also met with IFES partners in Ukraine, including members of the Central Election Commission and representatives of civil society organizations. Despite the Russian Federation’s invasion, IFES continues to support Ukraine’s democratic institutions and organizations.

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Piggy bank in shadow on dark blue backgroujnd

THE DARK SIDE OF DEMOCRACY

“We need to talk about the dark side of money in politics. Dirty money. Foreign money. Illicit, opaque, crypto, gray and black.”

Director of the IFES Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust Katherine Ellena and Director of the Center for Applied Research Erica Shein addressed the insidious impact of dark money on democracy in Foreign Policy magazine.

This op-ed was written in concert with last month’s Foreign Policy Virtual Dialogue: Corruption and Democratic Decay.

Read the op-ed

Watch the event

Global Disability Summit Logo rainbow text over grey map of the world.

IFES CHAMPIONS GLOBAL DISABILITY COMMITMENTS

IFES is honored that the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) made their support of IFES’ disability rights work one of their commitments to the Global Disability Summit, hosted by the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the government of Norway and the government of Ghana in February 2022. IFES’ commitments are in line with Strategic Outcome Three of IFES’ Five-Year Strategic Plan adopted in 2019: All people safely participate in civic and political life on an equal basis. 

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V-Dem Institute Democracy Report 2022 Autocrization Changing Nature?

V-DEM DISCUSSION OF 2022 DEMOCRACY REPORT

On Thursday, April 7, IFES and the Varieties of Democracy Institute (V-Dem) hosted a discussion about the 2022 V-Dem Democracy Report. Despite global democratic backsliding and increased authoritarianism, extensive evidence collected by V-Dem reaffirms that democratic governments perform much better than authoritarian regimes in key areas of development, including economic growth, security, public health and the provision of public goods. These findings offer an important opportunity to consider how democracy champions can leverage data to both debunk the autocratic narrative and to fight for democracy and guarantee its benefits, domestically and globally.

Read the report and watch the discussion

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IFES ENDORSES INTERNATIONAL OPEN DATA CHARTER PRINCIPLES

IFES is pleased to announce our endorsement of the International Open Data Charter Principles. These principles state “open data is digital data that is made available with the technical and legal characteristics necessary for it to be freely used, reused, and redistributed by anyone, anytime, anywhere.” Open data can help rebuild trust between people and government. The IFES Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust will continue to draw upon these sources and encourage IFES partners to do the same.

Read the endorsement

 
Local Democracy Reporters attending a training on Photo and Video Journalism

COVERING LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN TUNISIA: THE MOURASILOUN PROGRAM

A free press is foundational for any democracy. IFES Tunisia selected 24 individuals from both citizen and traditional media for the Local Democracy Reporters, or Mourasiloun. Through this program, journalists participated in a series of journalistic techniques and ethics workshops. Ultimately, 128 pieces of journalism were produced.

Read the article and watch the event

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IFES President and CEO Anthony Banbury visited IFES staff and partners in Africa and Europe.

 
It was a pleasure meeting with @IEBCKenya Chair Wafula Chebukati, CEO Marjan H. Marjan and Commissioners. @IFES1987 is honored to support their crucial work in delivering Kenya’s August election.
The best part of my @IFES1987 work is connecting with our staff around the world. Our Kenya @IFESAfrica team is special — their commitment and passion for democratic freedoms will fuel me well after I leave Nairobi.
IFES CEO & President Anthony Banbury and Regional Director for Europe & Eurasia Anya Cumberland met with stakeholders across Europe, including Chargé Kristina Kvien at USAID Mission Ukraine (now in Poland), to discuss the importance of protecting democracy at this critical time. IFES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting #democracy in Ukraine and the broader region, focusing on electoral process strengthening, media diversity and freedoms, rule of law and transparency, establishing regional networks, and providing safe spaces for civil society.
President and CEO OF IFES Anthony Banbury was hosted by MP Alexander Lambsdorff at the German Bundestag today for a great discussion on the social contract, the future of disinformation, and the “frontiers of democracy.” We appreciate MP Lambsdorff’s generosity and the opportunity to showcase the work of IFES.
Left to right, Peter Erben, Anya Cumberland, Charge Kristina Kvien, IFES President Tony Banbury
Left to right, MP Lambsdorff and IFES President Tony Banbury at Bundestag
Crossing into Ukraine. The people of Ukraine are fighting with their lives to live in a free and democratic country. ⁦@IFES1987⁩ is rock solid in our commitment to their fight, and to support our Ukrainian staff. Happy to be here. #supportukraine
President Tony Banbury at CEC in Ukraine
Crossing into Ukraine
The first Russian rocket attack on Lviv yesterday wasn’t going to stop ⁦@IFES1987⁩ team from visiting our colleagues. #standwithukraine
A beautiful day in Lviv.
 
orange background transparent surgical mask over blue and white voting box with ballot

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN SRI LANKA DURING COVID-19: CASE STUDY IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN ELECTIONS

In a new case study, IFES examines adaptive strategies and crisis management protocols implemented as a result of COVID-19 by Sri Lankan election management bodies. Read Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka During COVID-19: Case Study on Crisis Management in Elections to learn the impact of these strategies on the nation's August 2020 parliamentary elections.

Read the case study

Serbian elections

DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGES IN EUROPE: RECENT ELECTIONS IN SERBIA AND HUNGARY - WHAT LIES AHEAD?

Where is democracy in Europe heading? Earlier this month, Serbian and Hungarian citizens went to the polls to cast their votes. As expected, Aleksandar Vucic remains President of Serbia while Viktor Orban remains Prime Minister of Hungary. What do these outcomes mean for these countries and the rest of Europe? What are the democratic challenges connected to the outcome of these elections and are we going to see more countries struggle to uphold democratic values and rule of law? Join us virtually for an in depth discussion on these issues Thursday, April 28 from 9-10:15 AM EST/UTC-5

Register for the event
Election FAQs blue background orange text four pics left to right Hungarian voter, serbian voters, Timor Leste youth, Colombian voters

ELECTION FAQS MARCH - APRIL 2022

There were critical elections with global impact in March and April, including parliamentary elections in Hungary, presidential and early parliamentary elections in Serbia, presidential elections in Timor-Leste and congressional elections in Colombia.

Elections in Hungary:2022 Parliamentary Elections

Elections in Serbia: 2022 Presidential and Early Parliamentary Elections

Elections in Timor-Leste: 2022 Presidential Elections

Elections in Colombia: 2022 Congressional Elections

blue background light blue text image 1 Garvin Brown Image two Gregori Lebedev

IFES WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS

IFES is pleased to announce two new Board members: Garvin Brown, former Chairman of Brown-Forman Corp.; and Gregori Lebedev, Chairman of the Center for International Private Enterprise.  

IFES is also deeply grateful for the service of Rob Nabors and Denise Napier, who both stepped down from the IFES Board in December 2021.


Learn more about our board

Images left to right Matt Bailey, Jordan Shipley and Emad Yousef
 

IFES WELCOMES NEW SENIOR COLLEAGUES

IFES is pleased to announce its three newest experts: Emad Yousef, Country Director, Libya; Matt Bailey, Senior Cyber and Information Integrity Advisor, Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust; Jordan Shipley, Legal and Anti-Corruption Senior Officer, Center for Anti-Corruption and Democratic Trust.

 

WORK WITH IFES

IFES is a great place to work! IFES is hiring for a variety of positions at our headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and our field offices worldwide. Among the open positions are:

  • Deputy Director of Strategic Communications, Headquarters
  • Communications Officer, Headquarters
  • Chief of Party – Central Europe Program-Prague, Czech Republic
  • Election and Civil Society Capacity Advisor / Angola Country Representative

Join us!

 

IFES MENTIONS

IFES programs, experts and research are regularly featured in the media. We value the opportunity to highlight the importance of democracy assistance and further our mission to build democracies that deliver for all.

Asia-Pacific: Pacific Community reported on its recent webinar on open data, which IFES participated in.

Armenia: Armenian State Pedagogical University reported on IFES' Jérôme Leyraud visiting the university to give a guest lecture.

Brazil: Reuters reported on the Supreme Electoral Court for the first time inviting the EU to observe its general elections, which IFES was also invited to observe.

Colombia: El Colombiano interviewed National Registrar Alexander Vega about electoral security in the Colombian elections, in which he mentioned IFES' role as an observer.

Democratic Republic of Congo:  7sur7 reported on CENI efforts to fix the under-representation of women in elections and mentioned IFES' Sylla Mountaga. Actualite reported on the Independent National Electoral Commission's workshop on gender policy and inclusion, which Mountaga participated in.

Honduras: Canal 6 reported on IFES hosting a workshop on auditing campaign financial reports.

India: Daiji World reported on the Election Commission's international poll visitors' event, attended by IFES.

Indonesia: Antara News reported on Indonesia holding general elections and regional head elections simultaneously in 2024 and quoted IFES' Joanne McCallum.

Papua New Guinea: Loop PNG reported on an election awareness training workshop for media personnel, hosted in partnership with IFES.

Nigeria: Business Day Nigeria reported on the delay of printing of Permanent Voters' Cards for new registrants and quoted IFES' Seray Jah on IFES’ support of the INEC. The Guardian Nigeria reported on the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission and IFES partnering to hold a training on improving voter participation.

United States: Google's the Keyword published an article on their plans to support the U.S. 2022 midterm elections and mentioned their collaboration with IFES.

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FOLLOW THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ELECTIONS

Elections around the world have been impacted by COVID-19. IFES continues to track the latest information on election postponements, adjusted election dates and risk-mitigating strategies adopted during elections.

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