Democracy International

🎉 Big news—DI's headquarters are moving! We are now at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1000, Bethesda, MD 20814. This new spot reflects our exciting growth and provides the perfect backdrop as we continue working toward a more peaceful and democratic world for all. Here is to new milestones and continued progress! #GrowingTogether #DIMoves #NewHQ

Democracy is something we build together—at home and abroad. This Election Day, our U.S.-based HQ office will be closed so our team can take time to participate in our democratic process. This isn’t just a day off; it’s a commitment to the very principles we work to strengthen globally. By casting our ballots, we’re shaping the future of our communities and demonstrating the power of democratic values, both in our work and in our personal lives. If you live in the U.S. and are registered to vote, we encourage you to make your voice heard this Election Day! 🗳️ Every vote matters. Every voice counts. #ElectionDay2024 #CivicDuty #Vote

Youth voices led the way at the 2024 Amio Jitte Chai-DIUDC National Debate Festival, where DI’s USAID-funded Strengthening Political Landscape program partnered with Daffodil International University-DIU to foster democratic dialogue in Bangladesh. This energetic, three-day event gathered students from across the country to explore citizen priorities through debate, a video message competition, theater performances, and engaging workshops. With more than 64 teams participating and prominent civil society voices in attendance, the festival showcased youth perspectives on issues that matter most to them, culminating in a policy dialogue on “Democracy on Campus: Youth Preparations & Expectations.” Panelists highlighted the importance of regular student union elections, tolerance, and inclusivity as pillars for a vibrant democratic future on campuses. Read more: https://buff.ly/48pdyNk #Bangladesh #YouthVoices #DebateForDemocracy #AmioJitteChai2024 #YouthLeadership #FutureLeaders

We’re proud to have had our Social and Behavioral Science and Learning team lead two dynamic discussions at the American Evaluation Association conference recently on advancing social and behavioral science (SBS) in Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) programs. In a roundtable discussion, DI’s team shared insights from three programs and discussed ways to improve evaluation and learning for SBS-based development programming. It was an exciting opportunity to show how SBS can help elevate DRG efforts toward meaningful, lasting change and how we can effectively evaluate and learn from those efforts. In a Think Tank session, our team tackled the challenge of measuring behavioral shifts—a complex task in any SBS-based program due to the many factors that influence or shape attitudes, norms, and values. In collaboration with attendees, our team facilitated discussions on how to explore solutions—ranging from refining evaluation methods to amplifying local voices in diverse cultural contexts. DI’s leadership in these sessions reinforces our commitment to advancing SBS-informed evaluation practices and driving innovative, evidence-based approaches to DRG work. #AEA24 #DRG #SBS #InternationalDevelopment #Evaluation #Learning #Democracy #HumanRights #Governance

🌐 Advancing democracy through the lens of social behavioral science! DI's Social and Behavioral Science & Learning team attended the “Norms and Behavioral Change: Democracy Under Threat” conference at the University of Pennsylvania. The event brought together global experts to discuss the most pressing research on democratic backsliding and political polarization. As a panelist, DI's Director of Social and Behavioral Science & Learning Dr. Michael Sweigart, Ph.D. offered key insights on the role of democratic norms in developing democracies. DI is proud to contribute to these vital discussions, where social and behavioral science meets our mission of advancing democratic principles worldwide. #BehavioralScience #Learning #DemocracyPromotion #DemocraticNorms #PoliticalPolarization

Empowering Local Governance in Kosovo! USAID's Social Contract Activity, implemented by DI, hosted an insightful workshop to advance the Social Contract Agenda for the Fushë Kosova/Kosovo Polje Municipality. This initiative, active in multiple municipalities, provides a powerful platform for citizens and local leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, address key community challenges, and strengthen governance transparency. Mayor Burim Berisha and Deputy Mayor Besnik Osman of Fushë Kosova/Kosovo Polje Municipality expressed their appreciation for the initiative’s positive affect on citizen-leader dialogue in their municipality. Eric Bjornlund, President and CEO of DI, engaged directly with participants, talking about the critical role of transparency and active citizen engagement. Mayor Shaqir Totaj of Prinzen Municipality met with Eric to discuss the Social Contract Agenda's progress. Mayor Totaj proudly shared how this initiative is fostering inclusive governance in Prinzen, showcasing successful participatory budgeting efforts and revisions to public award regulations! #CommunityEmpowerment #ParticipatoryBudgeting #Collaboration #Kosovo

We are hiring! DI is looking for a Finance and Operations Manager to join the USAID Positive Pathways Activity in Jamaica. In this role, you will oversee HR and office operations, ensure compliance with tax and insurance regulations, manage vendor relationships, and foster a positive work environment. You will also be responsible for managing contracts, overseeing office infrastructure, and supporting employee development to ensure full alignment with DI's core mission and values. 📍 This position is based in Kingston and is open to Jamaican residents only. Learn more and #apply here: https://buff.ly/3BTx5JD #Jamaica #Hiring #FinanceCareers #InternationalDevelopment #DevelopmentCareers #DevelopmentJobs #PositivePathways

We're hiring! DI is seeking a Deputy Chief of Party for its USAID-supported Protection, Inclusion, and Empowerment Activity in Armenia. In this role, you will work alongside our Chief of Party to lead program operations, from administration and logistics to finance and partnerships, while driving collaboration and excellence across the team. Learn more and apply here: https://buff.ly/4eRk8P9 #DCOP #DeputyChiefofParty #USAID #Armenia #Protection #Inclusion #Empowerment #Democracy #DevelopmentJobs #DevelopmentCareers #InternationalDevelopment #InternationalDevelopmentCareers

Delivering the COP’s welcome remarks at the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), a sub-awardee of the Performance Accountability Activity (PAA), validation workshop on service delivery monitoring indicators (scorecards) at its multi-purpose conference room in Accra. Key stakeholders from the health, agriculture, fisheries, education, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sectors convened to share their insights and expertise on the developed monitoring indicators and encourage stakeholder buy-in. USAID/Ghana Performance Accountability Activity (PAA) is a five-year project aimed at supporting the Government of Ghana (GoG) to deliver high-quality local public services and enhance accountability to civil society. PAA strengthens civil society oversight and feedback on government performance in public service delivery, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, education, fisheries, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). PAA works closely with the Government of Ghana partners, including Ministries, State Agencies, and District Assemblies, to ensure that public services are more responsive to citizens' needs and delivered with greater accountability. Using a behavior-led approach, PAA is being implemented by Democracy International through 12 implementing Partners. 😀 Excited about PAA because I see Progress, Results and Success!!!

Building trust through community collaboration! In Pristina, Kosovo, citizens recognized the need for a vibrant play space, and with support from the USAID Social Contract Activity, which is implemented by Democracy International (DI), their vision has come to life. Recently, the community and local government transformed the open space outside the Botanika kindergarten into a lively playground. DI’s President and CEO Eric Bjornlund joined Pristina's Deputy Mayor Jehona Lushaku Sadriu, Botanika's Director Kadrija Asllani, local council leaders, parents, and children to celebrate the unveiling of the transformed facilities. This newly renovated, community-driven playground exemplifies how collaboration between citizens and local governments fosters a brighter future for generations to come. Deputy Mayor Sadriu reaffirmed the city’s commitment to enhancing citizens' quality of life through such partnerships, while Director Asllani expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the USAID Social Contract Activity team for their crucial role in making this project a reality. #DemocracyDelivers #Pristina #SocialContractAgenda #Kosovo