Member of Haitian electoral management body takes notes as he observes the voting process in a polling station in Polanco, Mexico City.

Voters stand behind blue and yellow curtains in poll booths.

A crowd of young people stand together, holding up signs supporting youth voting rights in Sri Lanka.

A large group of people dancing, with wheelchair users in the front

Citizens study a mock ballot while taking part in a mock poll prior to the 2017 local elections in a remote village of Nepal.

Together we build resilient democracies that deliver for all

UNite to End Violence Against Women

Our Impact

Reached

25M+

people with civic and voter education in 2021

Worked Across

58

countries in 2021

Supported

30

elections in 2021, training 300K+ election officials

Featured

About IFES: Building Resilient Democracies That Deliver for All

Watch this video to learn about IFES work around the globe with the generous support of Sida.

Learn More

Family walking through crowded streets. Yellow text reads "The organizing principle behind democracy is helping people"

Winning the Peace After the War: Supporting Ukrainian Democracy

Peter Erben, IFES' Country Director in Ukraine, joins speakers at the United States Institute of Peace for a conversation on the future of Ukrainian democracy and support.

Learn More

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during a news conference in Kyiv, March 3, 2022. (Lynsey Addario/The New York Times)

FP Virtual Dialogue: Freeing the State

Join the IFES in partnership with Foreign Policy on February 9th for a timely discussion on the pace of democratic backsliding and the concrete strategies for fortifying democracies and democratic movements around the world.

Learn More

Freeing the State: Strategies for Defending Democracy Around the World

IFES Recognized for Innovative Disability Inclusion Practices

IFES has received international recognition as a recipient of two Innovative Practice Awards from the Zero Project, an initiative of the Austrian Essl Foundation, which provides a platform for sharing innovative solutions to barriers faced by persons with disabilities around the world. The two tools selected for the award include IFES’ Election Access Observation Toolkit and its Electoral Sign Language Lexicon.

Learn More

Summit For Democracy 2023

Democracy government by the people, equality, opportunity, freedom

Information about IFES-led cohorts for the 2023 Summit for Democracy #Summit4Democracy

Latest

View All

Publication Report/Paper

Family walking through crowded streets. Yellow text reads "The organizing principle behind democracy is helping people"

About IFES: Building Resilient Democracies That Deliver for All Watch this video to learn about IFES work around the globe with the generous support of Sida. January 31, 2023

News and Updates Feature

Hands preparing traditional Ethiopian coffee Ceremony with cups and steaming pot.

Brewing Peace on a University Campus in Ethiopia Through the People Against Violence Everywhere (PAVE) project—implemented by Ethiopia Law School Association (ELSA) through technical and financial support from USAID/IFES—students engage in community peacebuilding and organized coffee ceremonies, January 30, 2023

Publication Brochure/Fact Sheet

Seed participants left to right in Georgia, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Armenia

Strengthening Engagement through Education for Democracy (SEED) 2023 In 2010, IFES developed a global, university-level civic education approach: Strengthening Engagement through Education for Democracy (SEED). January 27, 2023

News and Updates Announcement

IFES Ukraine Civic Education Training

IFES Celebrates International Day of Education In commemoration of the UN-designated International Day of Education, IFES recognizes the power of education to transform lives and the need for inclusive and accessible education for all. January 24, 2023

News and Updates Announcement

IFES Welcomes First General Counsel IFES welcomes Natasha N. Campbell, Esq. as its first General Counsel and Vice President for Labor Relations & Human Resources January 9, 2023

News and Updates Opinion

Mixed gender, multi racial group standing in protest.

What Can the 2022 Elections Tell Us About Violence Against Women IFES Sr. Global Advisor on Gender, Regina Waugh, reflects on 2022 global elections and violence against women in the Fair Observer. January 3, 2023

Upcoming Events

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine during a news conference in Kyiv, March 3, 2022. (Lynsey Addario/The New York Times)

In-Person Winning the Peace After the War: Supporting Ukrainian Democracy February 8, 2023 | 9:30 AM EST Learn More

Freeing the State: Strategies for Defending Democracy Around the World

Virtual FP Virtual Dialogue: Freeing the State February 9, 2023 | 11:00 AM EST Learn More

Where We Work

Countries

Legend

Upcoming Elections

Cyprus Cyprus President 2023 Cyprus President 2023 05 Feb. 2023 LEARN MORE

Monaco Monaco National Council Monaco National Council 05 Feb. 2023 LEARN MORE

Ecuador Ecuador Referendum Ecuador Referendum 05 Feb. 2023 LEARN MORE

Nigeria Nigeria President 2023 Nigeria President 2023 25 Feb. 2023 LEARN MORE

IFES Mentions

View All

el Caribe IFES: Legislators must deliver electoral laws on time "Máximo Zaldívar, IFES regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, says the Dominican Republic must learn from past elections." October 3, 2022

BBC News Brasil International observers see 'normal' voting and 'strengthened TSE' after Bolsonaro's good result "Despite the tense atmosphere in the country, the technical process of the election went satisfactorily, according to foreign experts." October 2, 2022

Radio Huancavilca Electoral Function and international cooperation analyzed the challenges of democracy in the 2030 decade Read "Electoral Function and international cooperation analyzed the challenges of democracy in the 2030 decade" on Radio Huancavilca. September 15, 2022

2023 Zero Project Award Winner