IFES has been involved in the democracy movement in Latin America and the Caribbean since 1989. In that time, IFES has worked in more than 20 nations, strengthening democracy through projects that include:
- providing technical advice and assistance to electoral institutions;
- building civil and voter registries;
- creating civic education programs and strengthening civil society groups; and
- participating in electoral observation missions throughout the Americas and the United States.
IFES also has hosted and participated in various regional democracy-building initiatives in an effort to foster greater cooperation among the hemisphere's democracy-building organizations. These events have included several significant electoral conferences.