National Democratic Institute (NDI)

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through programme implementation, including capacity development/training , research and policy development. Its specific programme areas include citizen participation, political parties, democracy and technology, women’s political participation, elections and democratic governance.

NDI’s political party development programmes combine many techniques and strategies, ranging from consultations at the highest levels of party leadership to hands-on, interactive training in political organizing for local party activists. They also incorporate cutting-edge tools like public opinion polling and membership databases that can enhance party activities and understanding of public concerns. The Institute’s political party programmes fall into five general areas: comparative research, party systems, internal organization and structure, elections and campaigning, and legislative performance. This work is supported through development and application of a number of political party assessment tools, including the elaboration of standards and political party baseline assessment frameworks.