People create change. We help institutions preserve it.
We empower people to build, protect, and expand our shared democratic space, regardless of political opinions, religious beliefs, personal backgrounds or preferences. We focus on amplifying the voices of those often excluded from the democratic process: women, youth, minorities and marginalised groups.
Our support is grounded in the globally agreed democratic principles enshrined in international law and standards. While we are not bound to any party or ideology, we are committed to pluralism and not neutral in defending democracy and human rights whenever they are attacked.
We work to make democracies more inclusive, participatory, legitimate and effective at responding to people’s needs.
We envision a world where informed people engage in free and authentic debate, driving real change through the institutions of democracy.
Anchored in international law and standards, we work towards societies in which everybody can equally participate in their democracy, regardless of social status, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, ability or political opinion.
To make societies more democratic we focus on five key areas: elections, digital democracy, the rule of law, public participation and local governance.
We are…
We operate independently from any political party and their agendas, free from the pressure of interest groups. Our reputation as an honest broker enables us to bring together diverse social actors —across ideologies, backgrounds, and cultures—for open, frank and meaningful dialogues.
We are committed to fostering inclusive societies and apply this principle in everything we do. In our dialogues, we ensure that every voice is heard, focusing on amplifying the voices of vulnerable groups that might have little access to the political process.
Thanks to an ongoing evaluation of our impact, we adjust our programmes to ensure they align with time-tested methodologies. In doing so, we consider the unique political and cultural traditions of the communities we serve.
With our wide-ranging expertise, agile structure, and committed global and local teams, we remain flexible in our approach. This enables us to respond swiftly to emerging political trends and crises.
Breathing new life into democracy requires fresh and creative approaches. We are agile in responding to the challenges of a rapidly evolving world and bold in proposing practical solutions to today’s challenges.
We invest time and energy in the issues we address and in the communities we want to transform. We do so by establishing local offices in many of the countries we work in and developing strong, lasting relationships with our partners.
With a presence in five countries and an HQ, we reach all levels of government and society: global, national, regional and local.
Our Story
Democracy Reporting International (DRI) was founded in 2006 by an international group of experts on democratic governance and elections.
Recognising a gap in a field that was dominated by big intergovernmental organisations and commercial consultancies, they decided to form a non-governmental, independent organisation that could analyse democratic developments and advise on constitutional and electoral frameworks quickly and flexibly.
Over the years, DRI has broadened its work from research and analysis to direct engagement with partners on the ground to improve democratic structures and safeguards across the countries where we work. It has evolved from a part-time hobby for a handful of people to an organisation with around 100 staff, spread across eight countries and three continents.
Looking back at the last two decade, we celebrate the milestones that have brought DRI to where it is today.
Timeline
Democracy Reporting International gGmbH Elbestraße 28/29 12045 Berlin, Germany
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