IFES Signs MOU with Zero Project
The Memorandum of Understanding will advance collaboration on disability inclusion
VIENNA, February 17, 2026 – Ahead of the 2026 Zero Project Conference, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the Zero Project today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) deepening the organizations’ partnership in advancing disability inclusion around the world. The agreement was signed by IFES President and CEO Tony Banbury and Essl Foundation and Zero Project Founder Martin Essl at the Austrian Parliament in Vienna.
“Inclusion is at the core of IFES’s mission to build resilient democracies that deliver for all,” said IFES President and CEO Anthony Banbury. “Working holistically and seeking transferable good practices is what connects us so powerfully with the Zero Project. We share a passion for practical solutions, and I look forward to advancing our mission in partnership with the Zero Project.”
IFES has three decades of disability inclusion expertise and has worked with over 70 organizations of persons with disabilities around the world. Several of its global initiatives, including the Electoral Sign Language Lexicon and leadership curriculum for young people with disabilities, have been recognized with Zero Project Awards celebrating innovation in disability-inclusive programming. The five-year agreement enables greater resource-sharing between IFES and the Zero Project and an IFES-led capacity-building course at the annual Zero Project Conference.
Founder of the Essl Foundation and the Zero Project Martin Essl said: “It is a genuine pleasure to welcome Anthony Banbury to the stage at the ZeroCon26 Parliament Event and to formally sign this shared Memorandum of Understanding. The work of IFES – a Zero Project Awardee and long-standing member of our global network – has never been more crucial. Disability inclusion is fundamental to strong democracies, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual’s voice is heard, both at the ballot box and through meaningful political participation."
The 2026 Zero Project Conference will be held February 18-20 at the United Nations Office in Vienna. IFES and partner Microsoft will speak about accessible election technology at a fireside chat on February 19, and the video stream will be available on the IFES website.
About IFES. At IFES, we envision a world where people are free, societies are democratic, and elections are fair. We collaborate with civil society, public institutions, and the private sector to build resilient democracies that deliver for everyone. As a global leader in the promotion and protection of democracy, our technical assistance and applied research develop trusted electoral bodies capable of conducting credible elections; effective and accountable governing stakeholders; civic and political processes in which all people can safely and equally participate; and innovative ways in which technology and data can positively serve elections and democracy. Since 1987, IFES has worked in more than 145 countries, from developing to mature democracies. IFES is a global, nonpartisan organization and registered as a nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] under the United States tax code.
About Zero Project. The Zero Project's mission is working for a world with zero barriers. Worldwide, the Zero Project finds and shares solutions that improve the daily lives and legal rights of all persons with disabilities. The Zero Project's approach is research-driven and aims to identify, curate, and share inclusive solutions, as intended and encouraged by Article 32 of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In order to achieve this objective, the Zero Project engages with a worldwide cross-sectoral network of innovators, decision-makers, and opinion leaders.
Contact:
Jean Schindler
Director of Communications, IFES
Email: [email protected]
Judith Hermetter
Head of Communications, Zero Project
Email: [email protected]