posted: January 25th, 2018

Winning at Social Media

NDI RPPI continued to support efforts of SEE political parties to improve their digital communication with constituencies. In 2016/17 particular emphasis was put on parties’ youth forums, aiming to help them to effectively Interact with young people through social media channels. Program titled ‘Winning at Social Media’ included two phases – four webinars and concluding seminar held in Ohrid, Macedonia, gathering 16 unique participants from 10 political parties’ youth forums.

The purpose of webinars was to enable peer-learning among participants and speakers related to folloing topics: ‘Strategic Communication: Communicating Strategically Vs. Posting, Commenting and ‘Liking’ (led by Ms. Olga Marie Brathaug, Information Advisor with the Norwegian Young Christian Democracy); ‘Delivering Messages through Social Media and Measuring the Success’ (led by Klaas Valkering, Board member in charge of communication with CDA Youth Organisation from Netherland); 'Creating and Scheduling Contents for Social Media as Well as with Storytelling' (led by Ms. Jasmina Sofić, Digital Strategist with the Youth of Swedish Social Democratic Party) and 'Social Media Channels, Target Audiences and Key Communication Messages' (led by Prof. Dr. Mario Voigt, Professor of Digital Transformation and Politics).

posted: January 25th, 2018

Dear Friends,

As 2017 draws to a close, NDI wishes to express appreciation to our partners, friends and supporters who have been champions for democracy around the globe.

Every day, we are privileged to work with exceptional women and men whose tireless efforts make the world a more peaceful and democratic place. Whether in Burma, Colombia, Kenya, Syria, Tunisia or Ukraine, brave democrats have struggled to safeguard elections, reject radical extremism, build a more transparent government and deliver fundamental freedoms for their people.

In this interconnected world, the advance of democracy is more important today than ever before. Problems in fragile states transcend borders and regions, especially when it comes to terrorism, disease and the flow of refugees.

NDI salutes our democracy partners. We recognize your important efforts and wish you the best in this holiday season.

In our 35th year, NDI will continue to work for democracy and make democracy work.

Sincerely,

Madeleine K. Albright
Chairman

Kenneth Wollack
President

posted: January 23rd, 2018

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized the Southeastern Europe Political Party Forum in Durres, Albania on November 17-19. This gathering was the launch of NDI’s global 21st Century Party Program in addition to continuation of its Integrity program that began in 2016. The forum introduced following topics that are highlighted in Institute’s Reflect, Reform, Reengage Blueprint document: ideology in the 21st century, modern political representation, and paying for democracy. Also, candidate selection, political party talent management and internal oversight were the focus of the Forum’s Integrity part. More than 40 participants had an opportunity to discuss specific regional challenges they face within each of the topics with renown political practitioners and organizers, prioritizing specific types of reform that would help their parties to become more modern organizations. Further, they were able to select one reform activity to work on after the event with NDI's technical support and in partnership with party experts from throughout Europe. The Institute organized the forum under the auspices of its Southeastern Europe Regional Political Party Initiative (RPI) with Washington DC based Political Parties Team and funding from the National Endowment for Democracy. Participating parties came from Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.