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IFES

Political Finance

Promoting political integrity through the establishment of transparent and accountable systems of political finance and public ethics is a priority in emerging, consolidating, and established democracies. Recognizing that each environment requires a unique approach, IFES partners with international organizations and works with all key in-country stakeholders – government institutions, political parties, civil society groups, media, and scholars – in a collaborative and holistic manner to support effective and appropriate transparency and accountability measures.

IFES has identified a series of gaps related to political finance and public ethics in standards, information, capacity, monitoring and oversight, cross-border transactions, and advocacy. There is a need to address these gaps by conducting standard setting applied research, identifying best-practices, and assisting in-country partners to:

  1. Identify and target reform areas;
  2. Create or enhance the relevant legal, regulatory, and procedural frameworks;
  3. Establish the institutions needed to administer, monitor, and enforce the process;
  4. Improve the regulated community’s capacity to comply with regulatory requirements;
  5. Enhance civil society and media monitoring and oversight;
  6. Further applied research by academics and think-tanks;
  7. Educate the electorate.

IFES blends standard-setting experience, sound research capacity, and a global network of experts, practitioners, and organizations to implement initiatives that apply tested best-practices in the field.

Find out more at www.moneyandpolitics.net »

Political Finance Projects
Nicaragua - Promoting Political Integrity
IFES has been working with Nicaraguan NGOs and civil society to develop the means to ensure all Nicaraguans comply with the country’s political finance laws. Working from experience gained through its Money and Politics (MAP) program, IFES is helping to set up a network of political finance regulators, develop a handbook that will detail Nicaragua’s political finance system in comparative perspective, and create a political finance website to keep the public informed. In addition, IFES is supporting campaigns to make the public more aware of the consequences of bad political finance practices on Nicaragua’s democracy.
Nigeria - Enhancing the Credibility of Nigeria's 2007 Elections

A key focus of IFES’ work in Nigeria has been strengthening the capacity of election administration bodies to help ensure credible elections and strategic planning for election management.

Political Finance Standards
IFES is assembling a coalition of researchers, experts, anti-corruption activists, and practitioners in the field of political finance to develop a set of global standards that clarify and define article 7 (3) of the United Nation's Convention against Corruption, both within the context of the Convention and the emerging set of global best-practices.
For more information on IFES programs, please contact us.
News and Materials
November 2007
White Paper/Report: Political Financing in Canada: Achieving a Balance by Diane Davidson
English », French »
November 2007
Political Party Law: Thailand Political Party Law (.pdf)
Get more related , News, Commentary, Political Party Laws and Reports »