Democratic hopes in Africa were tempered in 2021 by civil war in Ethiopia, military coups in Sudan, Mali, Guinea, and Chad, and the entrenchment of authoritarian governments across the continent. At the same time, there was also evidence that democratic resilience and popular demands for change remain strong throughout the region. Zambia and The Gambia conducted peaceful elections with high turnouts, and Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Cote d’Ivoire all saw democratic progress. NED’s Africa program focused on supporting democratic transitions and providing support to civil society organizations and political movements working to resist closing democratic space.  

In 2021, NED maintained robust programs in three African countries where democracy is under pressure. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, NED’s civil society partners continued to fight against corruption and promote human rights, political reform, and freedom of the press. In Nigeria, NED’s partners worked to fight corruption, reduce insecurity and ethnic conflict, and promote judicial reforms and the rights of women, youth, and religious and ethnic minorities. In Kenya, the Endowment supported organizations that help citizens call for change at the local and national levels. 

As war and ethnic conflict threatened to derail Ethiopia’s democratic transition, NED provided support for media and civil society projects promoting dialogue, tolerance, reconciliation, democratic norms, and respect for human rights. In Sudan, the NED family continued to support democratic activists standing against a return to military dictatorship. 

Strengthening civil society and independent media was a priority across the continent, especially in fragile or faltering democracies such as Guinea, Somaliland, Liberia, and Burkina Faso. In Zimbabwe, NED supported organizations working to expose corruption, advance human rights, and build grassroots community networks. NED’s partners in Uganda and Tanzania focused on increasing pressure on the respective regimes to restore basic human rights and freedom of speech and assembly.  

In entrenched dictatorships in Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville, Eritrea, Eswatini, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, and Togo, NED provided assistance for incremental reformers, courageous activists, and exiled dissidents as catalysts for democratic change. 

Read more about NED’s work in Africa.

Africa Overview photo:  NED grantee Gambia Participates conducted voter education sessions ahead of the 2021 presidential elections in The Gambia.

Democratic norms and institutions were challenged by authoritarian and illiberal forces across Asia in 2021. From the democratic setbacks in countries and regions such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, which were once some of the most liberalizing countries in Asia, to the increasing use of surveillance and digital technologies to monitor citizens throughout the region, to the continuing rise of an increasingly authoritarian China and the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) desire to reach beyond its borders, democratic rights and freedoms have been both slowly eroding and quickly repressed.   

To counter these trends, the Endowment continued to support organizations working to promote democratic institutions and processes. For example, the Endowment’s efforts to work with the core institutes to promote democratic unity in the region as well as increase attention on the influence of China in the World form the basis of a strategic framework to address the challenges presented by the CCP and strengthen democratic norms and values throughout the region. 

Despite these challenges, a more positive narrative has begun to emerge – a pattern of democratic resilience and change. From the nationwide protests that swept through Burma following the February 2021 coup, to Hong Kong activists in exile regrouping to continue to fight for freedom, to innovative efforts to break through the information blockade in North Korea, it is apparent that the desire to expand civic space, advance human rights, and retain and expand democratic ideas and values remains strong throughout the region. To reinforce this movement for democratic rights, NED worked with partners throughout the region to protect independent free media, cultivate emerging leaders, improve the capacity of civil society, and promote active citizen engagement. 

Read more about NED’s work in Asia. 

Asia Overview Photo: Protesters take part in a candlelight vigil to honor those who have died during demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon on March 13, 2021. (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to compound the region’s democratic challenges, civil society and independent media remain resilient across Europe, even in the most repressive countries like Belarus. At the time, when every country in the region has been facing the big issues of corruption and disinformation, which undermine public trust in democracy and democratic values, NED supported civil society organizations promoting transparency, civic participation and good governance. In an environment rife with disinformation, which also contributes to polarization and the rise of nationalistic anti-democratic narratives, NED prioritized independent media and investigative journalism outlets, political and historical reconciliation programs, and initiatives to counter malign foreign influence.  

Ukraine remained a major focus for the Europe program in 2021, as decentralization reform created new openings for civic engagement. NED prioritized assistance to organizations promoting accountability and transparency at the local level, with an emphasis on areas where political participation and donor funding is historically low. It also continued to support independent media which constituted almost one third of all programs. 

Moldova’s new pro-reform government came to power with an ambitious agenda to implement overdue democratic political and economic reforms and faced Russia-created energy crisis and disinformation campaigns. NED partners worked to seize the democratic opening and promote greater transparency and anti-corruption reforms, while continuing their support to independent media.  

In Belarus, citizens continued to demand change after rigged presidential elections in 2020. Although the government responded with waves of ruthless repression, NED funding still served as the lifeline for civil society, media, and pro-democracy forces.  

In the Western Balkans NED’s focus on supporting civil society organizations and political actors working to counter deepening polarization that is undermining stability in countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro remained, coupled with programs on investigative journalism, accountability, and youth civic engagement.   

In Central Europe and other EU member states such as Hungary, the Europe program funded regional initiatives to counter disinformation and increased foreign malign influence from Russia and China, as well as  promote accountability and human rights. 

Europe Overview photo: Members of a local electoral commission count ballots at a polling station during parliamentary elections in Chisinau, Moldova on July 11, 2021. (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images) 

Learn More about NED’s work in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) continued to face a range of democratic challenges in 2021. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing conditions such as weak governance and widespread inequalities. Human rights defenders, journalists, and activists faced threats from hostile governments and criminal actors. Citizens expressed dissatisfaction with elected leaders through elections in 2021, reshaping governments and political alignments across the region.  

In 2021, the LAC program at NED prioritized support for civil society in the countries under authoritarian regimes–Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, focusing on sustaining domestic democratic actors, raising international awareness, and forging solidarity in the fight for democracy and human rights. 

In 2021, the LAC program expanded its work in Central America, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and sub-regional programs. The Endowment honored four Central American civil society organizations advancing democracy, the rule of law, accountability, and transparency with the 2021 Democracy Award. 

NED worked to strengthen democratic transitions and counter democratic backsliding in Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay and explored new programs in Guyana and countries in the Caribbean. In Haiti, the Endowment supported civil society efforts to counter corruption, defend civil rights, and strengthen checks and balances. In stable democracies facing deconsolidation threats—including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina—NED partners worked to strengthen citizen participation and counter attempts to weaken independent democratic institutions.  

Regional programs in 2021 addressed global challenges, such as pervasive corruption, kleptocratic practices, and growing online disinformation. NED partners also worked to address increasing foreign malign influence in Latin America.  

 LAC Overview photo: Human rights defenders from Colectivo de Derechos Humanos Nicaragua Nunca Más march in protest of the Nicaraguan government’s repressive actions. Image courtesy of Nicaragua Nunca Más.

Learn more about NED’s work in Latin America and Caribbean.

In 2021, NED continued to prioritize fragile and nascent democracies in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) while also responding to emerging crises. Democratic progress and reform were challenged across the region as the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the president froze parliament and invoked emergency powers in Tunisia, and economic and financial crises challenged Lebanon. Elsewhere in the region, ongoing conflict, violent extremism, worsening economic conditions, and rising authoritarianism have shaken public confidence in democratic governance and institutions. While these developments are discouraging, citizens in the region continue to call for reforms, and NED remains a committed supporter of the resilient civil society organizations across the MENA region.  

In the immediate aftermath of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the Endowment focused our efforts on the protection and security of our grantees, evacuating and resettling vulnerable Afghan partners, and continuing to support Afghan civil society inside the country and in exile to protect the democratic gains earned over the past two decades. 

Tunisia’s democratic transition was curtailed after President Kais Saied’s seizure of power in July. NED continued to support Tunisian civil society efforts to protect democratic institutions, safeguard rights and freedoms, and promote a return to Tunisia’s democratic path.  

While the 2021 parliamentary elections in Iraq did not produce fundamental changes, they resulted in seats for reformists and new parties that emerged from the 2019 anti-corruption protests. NED efforts there have focused on building public confidence in democratic institutions through strengthening accountability and governance and empowering a new generation of leaders capable of advancing democratic reforms. In Lebanon, NED supported independent media and partners advocating for anti-corruption reforms in the midst of economic and political crises.  

NED partners worked to protect and defend civic space and independent media in countries experiencing an authoritarian resurgence and backsliding, including Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, and Morocco. NED continued its support to democratic actors from the regions’ most repressive authoritarian states- Iran and the Gulf States– to promote democratic values and accountability. 

NED also supported organizations in countries experiencing conflict, including Libya, Syria, and Yemen, to prepare democratic actors to contribute to post-conflict political transitions, as well as groups protecting space for democratic freedoms in Algeria, Jordan, Mauritania, and the West Bank and Gaza. 

MENA Overview photo: NED grantee Association Jeunes pour Jeunes (Youth for Youth) holds trainings on governance and accountability in Morocco. (Photo courtesy of Association Jeunes pour Jeunes) 

Learn more about NED’s work in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

At a moment of existential threat to independent journalism, the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) promoted and informed a growing global effort to safeguard news media as a pillar of democracy throughout the world.   

In 2021, autocrats took advantage of the ongoing global health crisis to impose harsh new restrictions on media. These growing pressures on independent journalism demand a decisive response.  

In October, CIMA published Tipping Point: Democratic Erosion and the Assault on Press Freedom, which underscored the need to bolster democratic institutions by supporting independent media. The report made it clear that attacks on journalism and democracy are on the rise. To weather this crisis, NED President and CEO Damon Wilson and CIMA Senior Director Nick Benequista called for increased financial support to media.  

The ongoing global democratic erosion has led to the emergence of new threats to independent journalism in the digital sphere. In August, CIMA launched Spyware: An Unregulated and Escalating Threat to Independent Media. The report explored the chilling effect of the growing commercial spyware industry on media all over the world. In light of the interest in this topic, CIMA hosted a follow-up public event and partnered with Fundamedios to host a Spanish-language event. 

Throughout the year, the importance of cross-border collaboration emerged as a key theme of CIMA’s research and convenings. In March, CIMA launched The Untapped Potential of Regional Cooperation for Media Reform in Southern Africa. Based on the results of consultative research, the report made the case for the creation of a regional coalition to advocate for media reform in Southern Africa.  

In May-July 2021, CIMA hosted the fifth in its series of regional consultations. The consultation brought together experts from across Southeast Europe, highlighting new approaches to confront media capture and growing authoritarian influences in the region’s media sector.   

CIMA Overview photo: Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash. Creative Commons 2.0 license.

Learn more about the Center for International Media Assistance. 

The International Forum for Democratic Studies at NED is a leading center for analysis and discussion of the theory and practice of democracy around the world.  

In 2021, the Forum published a total of 22 publications on four main issue areas: authoritarian influence and sharp power, the democratic response to illiberal forces in the information space, transnational kleptocracy, and the impact of emerging technology on democratic norms and institutions. The Forum published three Global Insights essay collections and released three reports in the Sharp Power and Democratic Resilience series. The Power 3.0 blog featured articles on topics including disinformation, reputation laundering, and cybersecurity. The Forum also launched two public newsletters— Pandemic Ploys, which tracks authoritarian manipulation and democratic responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Digital Directions, which examines authoritarian manipulation and democratic resilience in the digital domain.  

The 18th Annual Seymour Martin Lipset Lecture on Democracy in the World was delivered by Ronald Deibert, director of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School for Global Affairs and Public Policy on December 1, 2021. Deibert spoke about the rise of digital subversion tactics such as surveillance and disinformation and the threat to democracy. The Forum also hosted five additional public events and several private events and workshops on kleptocracy, the information space, and research conducted by fellows. 

To increase the understanding of authoritarian sharp power, the Forum launched the Sharp Power Research Portal, an interactive digital tool with – at its launch – over 750 resources in five languages. The Portal serves as a resource hub for journalists, researchers, activists, and policymakers seeking to understand how authoritarians are influencing societies and institutions beyond their borders.  

Forum initiatives also include publishing the Journal of Democracy, the academic journal on democratization, and administering fellowship programs for democracy activists and researchers. In 2021, the Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows program hosted democratic activists and scholars hailing from countries around the world including Nigeria, Georgia, Armenia, Tibet, Cameroon, Uganda, and Iran. The Forum also hosts the Democracy Resource Center library and coordinates the Network of Democracy Research Institutes (NDRI), a global think tank network. 

Forum Overview photo: Futuristic globalization interface. (iStock via Getty images)

Learn more about the International Forum for Democratic Studies. 

Launched in 1999 by the National Endowment for Democracy, the World Movement for Democracy is a global network of democrats including activists, practitioners, scholars, policy makers, and funders who collaborate to promote democracy. The World Movement Secretariat at NED facilitates information sharing, networking, and solidarity building to bolster democratic movements and leverage support provided by democracy assistance organizations. 

In 2021, the World Movement held its 10th Global Assembly, bringing together hundreds of democracy advocates from around the world. The assembly included a virtual Global Exchange in July, as well as national and regional discussions focused on empowering civil society actors in democratic transitions and mobilizing global solidarity for democracy activists in severely restrictive environments.  

Throughout the year, the World Movement galvanized support for civic activists who faced extraordinary challenges. After the February coup in Burma, the World Movement organized a social media campaign including a video from Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Prize winner and Chair of the World Movement’s Steering Committee. In addition, the World Movement continued the #SetThemFree campaign, which builds solidarity for prisoners of conscience in crisis or activists being threatened with government persecution. In 2021, the campaign advocated for Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara and Cuban activists. 

Through video interviews and podcasts, the World Movement’s Crossover Initiative documented and shared experiences of activists who transitioned from civil society activism to governance. The project featured activists from Nicaragua, Mexico, East Timor, Bosnia, and others who have sought to open political space for advancing democratic reforms. 

Each year, the World Movement selects youth leaders from across the world to participate in the Hurford Youth Fellowship. The 2021 cohort included Patricia Zanella from Brazil, Nishchhal Kharal from Nepal, Stefani Spirovska from North Macedonia, and Marr Nyang from The Gambia. To illustrate youth perspectives of democracy, the fellows jointly launched the Democracy Through My Eyes series, a collection of photos taken by youth activists around the world to represent democracy in their communities. 

World Movement Overview photo: “In Our Hands” was selected as a featured photo by a panel of Hurford Youth Fellows as part of the Democracy Through My Eyes photo series. (Photo by Jamaima Afridi, Pakistan)

Learn more about the World Movement for Democracy.