International IDEA Institute for Democracy & Electoral Assistance Overview © International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance 2016 This is an International IDEA publication. International IDEA publications are independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of International IDEA, its Board or its Council of Member States. Applications for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of this publication should be made to: International IDEA SE - 103 34 Stockholm Sweden International IDEA encourages dissemination of its work and will promptly respond to requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications. Images: p22, Friedrich Naumann Foundation; p17-18, International IDEA/Ulf Ringblom; p26, top left copyright Danish Institute of Political Party Development; p47, United Nations/Amanda Voisard; all other images copyright International IDEA. Graphic design, illustrations and icons by kilometre design. Printed by: Trydells Tryckeri, Sweden ISBN: 978-91-7671-003-6 2 International IDEA Annual Results Report 2015 www.IDEA.int Overview About this report TOC As per the statues of international IDEA, the of International IDEA’s specific contributions to Secretary-General reports to the Council of these processes and of the partnerships that made Overview Member States on the overall implementation of the this possible. This information, combined with 1 Institute’s activities. information about respective democracy contexts In April 2014, as part of the Mid-Term and milestones, should enable readers to appreciate Strategy Review, Member States recommended the relevance and effectiveness and, to a lesser that the organization continue to strengthen degree, sustainability and impact of International its communication about results. This fifth IDEA’s work. Featured Results International IDEA Annual Results Report As was the case in 2014, the decision to include 2 therefore presents improved qualitative reporting of obstacles and challenges in the report has been taken results, giving more information beyond the simple for reasons of professional openness and integrity. implementation of activities. It is intended to make the report a useful tool enabling internal and external stakeholders to hold Full accountability at outcome level International IDEA accountable. Global Level Part 1 of this report features a cross-section of 3 democracy events and processes world-wide Acknowledgements and International IDEA’s contributions to them The progress reports are built from structured throughout 2015. conversations held with country, regional and Parts 2 and 3 of this report present progress reports global teams at the end of 2015, complemented by regular monitoring information. Teams then further Africa towards each of the annual goals (programmatic 4 outcomes in Part 2, institutional objectives in Part developed the progress texts. 3) that International IDEA set for itself. These Special thanks go to David Prater (Publications), sections are meant for reference and hence apply Cajsa Collins, Maria Rossall, Lynn Simmonds the planning framework as per the Programme and (Communications) and Andrew Mash (consultant) Budget 2015. for extensive writing, editing and copy-editing work. Asia & the Pacific Outcomes are goals that International IDEA intends Alistair Clark (Africa Programme), Andrea Milla, 5 to contribute to through its activities (outputs). Amalia Amador (Latin America and the Caribbean Embedded in larger processes, and subject to other Programme), Shana Kaiser (West Asia and North stakeholders’ actions, they are beyond the control Africa Programme), Raymund Borcillo Bolanos of International IDEA. At country or regional level, (Asia and the Pacific Programme) and Midori International IDEA’s annual goals refer to specific Kosaka (Global Programmes) coordinated teams’ Latin America & the Caribbean Latin partners and stakeholders, as they move towards feedback. Matt Knapik (consultant) was responsible 6 their own democracy-related goals, for instance for the layout. Thiyumi Senerathna (Strategic regulating the use of state-owned media in elections. Planning) acted as project associate officer. Kerstin At the global level, International IDEA’s annual Meyer (Strategic Planning) coordinated the staff goals typically relate to the availability of global contributions and acted as lead editor and project comparative knowledge, and to setting democracy manager for this report. West Asia & North Africa West themes on global agendas, for example in the Reading the results in parts 3 to 8 7 context of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Milestones Appreciation of relevance and effectiveness From the progress reports, it is possible to learn Strategic Objectives 2015-2017 Institutional Management how, globally (and in different continents, countries 1. Planned Outcomes 2015 8 and contexts) electoral authorities, constituent Progress Reports assemblies, civil society, governments or other advanced delayed stakeholders are progressing to build stronger on track cancelled democracies. The reports also gives an account Annexes 9 3 Overview 4 International IDEA Annual Results Report 2015 www.IDEA.int Overview TOC 1 Overview Featured Results 2 Global Level 3 Africa 4 Asia & the Pacific 5 Latin America & the Caribbean Latin 6 In this section West Asia & North Africa West 7 Link icons Link to International IDEA website Link to external website Institutional Management 8 Direct link to document Video link ARR Internal document link Annexes 9 5 Overview Foreword Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland I am pleased to welcome International IDEA’s Throughout the year, we worked intensely Annual Results Report for 2015, which in cooperation with Member States and the presents the activities and outcomes achieved Secretariat to promote democratic accountability by the organization during the period in which at the global, regional and national levels. Switzerland was the Chair of the Council of Switzerland and International IDEA jointly Member States. organized several high-impact events on the From a democracy perspective, 2015 was linkage between democracy and sustainable characterized by both progress and setbacks. The development, including a high-level event in year saw continued challenges for democratic the margin of the United Nations General transitions in North Africa and the Middle Assembly meeting in September, on ‘Engaging East, but also witnessed positive signals and People for Sustainable Development’ with the achievements, such as the successful elections participation of the President of Switzerland, in Myanmar, the long-awaited adoption of a Simonetta Sommaruga. This event was timely, constitution in Nepal and the vitality of citizens in that it was organized ahead of the milestone and civil society organizations in demanding adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable accountability and democratic governance from Development. Switzerland understands that the their governments. positive transformations for people and their livelihoods envisioned by the 2030 Agenda rest The emphasis of Switzerland on democracy in on the accountability of institutions to their its foreign policy and development cooperation citizens, and on making sure that development is based on the long-standing experience of our progress is properly measured, communicated citizens with semi-direct democracy and active and monitored. participation in shaping policies and decisions. Building on this solid foundation at home, The Annual Democracy Forum hosted by our international cooperation in 2017–20 will Switzerland in November in Bern provided continue to strengthen the rule of law and the opportunity to advance understandings democratic participation globally. of the roles of key accountability actors and mechanisms, and to show our commitment to In 2015 Switzerland chose ‘Accountability as the 2030 Agenda. It offered a platform to discuss a Central Element of Deepening Democracy’ with Member States, academic experts and civil as the theme to accompany our role as Chair society representatives the important role of in the belief that giving citizens a voice to hold democratic accountability in monitoring progress their representatives and government officials on delivering the Sustainable Development accountable is an indispensable step towards Goals (SDGs). The Forum also spurred consolidating democracy. Only by making increased interaction between Swiss civil society democracy an everyday reality and an essential organizations and International IDEA, and the quality in the relationship between citizens and related #DemocracyMatters campaign supported their institutions can we nurture democratic by Switzerland reached more than 10 million cultures and improve service delivery to those people and inspired discussion on accountability citizens in most need. as a central element of deepening democracy. 6 International IDEA Annual Results Report 2015 www.IDEA.int Overview TOC Overview 1 On 15 September in Stockholm, on the We welcome International IDEA’s support for International Day of Democracy, I was pleased countries in democratic transitions, and the to represent Switzerland at the 20th anniversary fact that it makes use of its global comparative Featured Results of International IDEA. The Ministerial Council knowledge while also learning from the 2 meeting gave