NIMD

25/08/2026

! Today we meet Dr. Mulualem Tegegnework, alumnus of NIMD-Ethiopia's Ethiopian Democracy Academy.

By day he's a dentist, but he's also (depending on the day) chairman of an Ethiopian political party, a poet and a father. At the Academy he sat across from politicians from every party and came away with something he didn't expect the realisation that despite their different affiliations, they all wanted the same things. Justice, freedom, equal opportunity, a country that works for everyone.

That cohort didn't just graduate and move on. They went on to found the Ethiopian Visionary Leaders Association, where alumni from different political parties still meet for coffee and dialogue, and show up for each other when politics gets hard.

His advice to young people considering public service is to enter into politics to give, not to get. Some lessons, it turns out, are worth taking well beyond the classroom.

Did you once sit in a NIMD Democracy School classroom yourself? Comment below!

19/08/2026

: We're looking for a Finance and Compliance Specialist to join our team in The Hague!

Are you:

🔸An experienced financial professional with a background in international development or the non-profit sector
🔸Skilled in financial project management, budgets, reporting and audits
🔸Comfortable working with donors, partners and colleagues from different cultures
🔸Someone who wants to contribute to more inclusive democracies around the world

Yes! Then find out more about how to join the team and apply before 12 September 2026👇
https://nimd.org/vacancy/finance-and-compliance-specialist/

18/08/2026

For over 20 years, Fundación Arcoiris 🌈 has been a driving force for LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion in .

We are proud to highlight the Fundacion's incredible leadership, including their legal representative, Norma Solorzano, a recent alumna of the . The Democracy School in Honduras is jointly implemented by NIMD El Salvador and NIMD Honduras, made possible with the support from Embajada de los Países Bajos en Costa Rica.

In July, Fundación Arcoíris hosted the 2026 National Forum for Human Rights in favor of LGBTQ+ people,. Over two impactful days,
the event drew over 300 attendees from across the country to celebrate community and resilience, also featuring a vibrant cultural evening of music and art.

The event brought together: 31 LGBTQ+ organizations, International human rights organizations, National media outlets and Community leaders.

Together, we continue building bridges for a more inclusive and democratic society.

18/08/2026

A shared commitment was made to peaceful and inclusive elections in Burundi ahead of the 2027 Elections.

That was the outcome of NIMD Burundi's two day workshop on 22 and 23 July, bringing together 60 participants: 13 public authorities and institutions, 10 elected officials, 5 former dignitaries, 11 political parties, 10 civil society organizations, 4 religious denominations, 3 universities and 4 media outlets, to reflect on democratic governance ahead of the May 2027 presidential election.

Discussions on institutional accountability, electoral preparedness and social cohesion were enriched by senior political figures including former National Assembly Speaker Léonce Ngendakumana, former CNDD-FDD president Jérémie Ngendakumana, former Vice President Yves Sahinguvu and former Senate Speaker Emmanuel Sinzohagera.

Each group committed to a specific action. For example, where political parties will work to prevent conflict and curb hate speech during campaigning, media outlets committed to neutral, balanced coverage, with 18 outlets joining a new bimonthly civic debate. Religious leaders pledged to promote peace and social cohesion through their platforms and civil society organizations will lead election monitoring and civic education.

The participants left with a collective commitment to keep this dialogue going and support an inclusive electoral process for Burundi.

This workshop was organized under the FIPP Project, Foundations for an Inclusive and Peaceful Politics in Burundi, funded by the Embassy in Burundi.

13/08/2026

A package deal: a Roadmap, an advocacy tool, and four country plans behind it!

In July 2026, young leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Somaliland and Uganda gathered in Addis Ababa to launch something they had written themselves, the East Africa Youth in Politics Roadmap, a shared call to move beyond symbolic inclusion.

Alongside it came a Youth Advocacy Toolkit, again for youth, by youth.

It's built on the simple premise that young people are already active in politics. They're organizing in parties, leading in communities, mobilizing online, and pressing institutions to respond to their concerns. The challenge isn't a lack of interest or capability. It's that political systems too often limit their ability to influence decisions in meaningful, lasting ways. The toolkit is intended to help close that gap.

In each of the four countries, that regional vision is also becoming a Country Action Plan, translating the Roadmap's commitments into steps shaped by each country's own politics, laws and election calendar.

Read the Roadmap and the toolkit, and meet the Youth Ambassadors behind them via link in comments. Tag a young advocate who should see this!

⚡ Part of the Civic Engagement programme, powered by the European Union and the European Partnership for Democracy and implemented by NIMD, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and Demo Finland

🌐NIMD-Ethiopia, Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy - Kenya, NIMD Uganda, Somalia

European Union in Ethiopia European Union in Kenya European Union in Uganda European Union in Somalia

05/08/2026

For Carolina Sarmiento, signing 's 2016 peace agreement was only the beginning. As a former combatant, political prisoner, and member of the Comunes party, she has spent the years since fighting for the promises in that agreement to actually be delivered, especially for women.

Instituto Holandés para la Democracia Multipartidaria NIMD Colombia accompanied her through much of that journey via the multiparty roundtable set up under the programme, a space where women from opposing parties met, disagreed, and still built solidarity. When a fellow councillor came under attack, it was relationships forged at that table that brought support across party lines.

Carolina is clear about that there is still some way to go, but also clear about what has changed. Namely, more women in political leadership than ever, and a network that didn't previously exist.

Read her story here: https://nimd.org/nimd-colombia-closing-the-gap-between-what-was-promised-and-what-has-been-built/

30/07/2026

What happens when young people are given not just a voice and a seat at the table, but the pen?

Young leaders from , , and launched the East Africa Youth in Politics Roadmap in Addis Ababa on 24 July, a plan they wrote themselves over the past year.

Seven goals for 2030, from lower campaign costs to safer for young women, each with someone named as responsible for delivering it.

Read more: https://nimd.org/a-roadmap-for-youth-by-youth-in-east-african-politics/

⚡ Part of the Civic Engagement programme, powered by the European Union and the European Partnership for Democracy, and implemented by NIMD, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and Demo Finland

🌐NIMD-Ethiopia, Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy - Kenya, NIMD Uganda, NIMD Federal Republic of Somalia

European Union in Ethiopia European Union in Kenya European Union in Uganda European Union in Somalia

27/07/2026

21/07/2026