Kofi Annan, a tireless defender of democracy, believed it to be the cornerstone of peace, sustainable development, the rule of law, and the respect for human rights. Inspired by his vision, our programme advises countries on strengthening their elections and democratic processes. We support civil society organizations championing democracy and human rights while nurturing the next generation of influential leaders who will shape a more democratic future.
Projects
Elections + Democracy
→Electoral Vulnerability Index
Predicting Election-Related Violence
→Multilateralism & Democracy Roundtables
Building an evidence-based understanding of the links between multilateralism and democracy
→WYDE Civic Engagement – Centres de Responsabilité et Transparence
Renforcer la responsabilité et la transparence dans la gouvernance
→WYDE Civic Engagement – Accountability Hubs
Strengthening accountability and transparency in governance
→Electoral Integrity Initiative
Addressing electoral challenges
“Politics is too important to be left only to politicians. Democracy depends on the lively participation of organised civil society in political life.”
Kofi Annan
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Head of Democracy and Multilateralism Programmes
Declan O’Brien
Publications + Media
First published in
Multilateralism, Democracy and Security
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event in Brussels in […]
First published in
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy
The Kofi Annan Foundation and the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy convened the second in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and global governance as part of the project “Understanding the Links Between Multilateralism and Democracy to Tackle Global Challenges More Effectively”. The project seeks to further a common understanding of […]
First published in
Back to the future?
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Corinne Momal-Vanian at the 16TH EISA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM in Nairobi, 11 December 2024. Navigating political transitions in Africa It is an honour to be asked to deliver this opening speech on behalf of the Kofi Annan Foundation. For most of my career, the term “transition” […]
First published in
Democracy in Africa: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Mohamed Ibn Chambas | Episode 9
In episode 9, podcast host Ahmad Fawzi welcomes special guest Mohamed Ibn Chambas. Together, they explore trends, challenges, and opportunities for democracy in Africa. What are noteworthy examples of democratic governance on the continent? How can we restore trust in democracy, as the system best able to ensure that the voices of the people are […]
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Leadership: Then & Now | Kofi Time with Michael Møller | Episode 5
In episode 5 of Kofi Time, host Ahmad Fawzi interviews diplomat Michael Møller on Kofi Annan’s special kind of leadership. A respected leader among his peers and the public, Kofi Annan served the people of the world with courage, vision and empathy. Embodying moral steadfastness and an acute political acumen, his leadership was one of […]
First published in
Back to the future?
The following is a transcript of the speech given by Corinne Momal-Vanian at the 16TH EISA ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM in Nairobi, 11 December 2024. Navigating political transitions in Africa It is an honour to be asked to deliver this opening speech on behalf of the Kofi Annan Foundation. For most of my career, the term “transition” […]
First published in
Advancing Politics Together: Academics, Politicians, and Civil Society Call on Peers to Unite for the Future of Political Leadership
An open letter by the international Leadership Excellence in Politics (LEiP) Initiative We, the undersigned, unite with a shared commitment to restore trust in political leadership and enhance its practice to meet the unique demands of the 21st-century. In an era where trust in political institutions is waning, now is the time for leaders across […]
First published in
Mary Robinson: “The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral”
Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address during Geneva Peace Week 2024. Reflecting on Kofi Annan’s legacy and the current global leadership crisis in peace efforts, she called for greater respect for humanitarian law, and advocated for gender parity in leadership, emphasising the need for women’s inclusion in peacebuilding. Full Remarks from Mary Robinson […]
First published in
Multilateralism, Democracy and Security
Strengthening Democratic Resilience in a Changing European and Transatlantic Security Landscape The Kofi Annan Foundation, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy | Geneva Graduate Institute, International IDEA and the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will host a high-level Policy Dialogue in Brussels on 20 June. Learn more about our 20 June event in Brussels in […]
First published in
Artificial Intelligence and Democracy
The Kofi Annan Foundation and the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy convened the second in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and global governance as part of the project “Understanding the Links Between Multilateralism and Democracy to Tackle Global Challenges More Effectively”. The project seeks to further a common understanding of […]
First published in
A Review of Generative AI Use in the 2024 European Parliament Elections
Report: GenAI at the Ballot Box Since mid-2023, experts have identified the use of one or more forms of generative AI (GenAI) in nearly every national election, including elections in Argentina, Bangladesh, India, and Slovakia. Consequently, it is no surprise that concerns abound around the globe regarding the use of GenAI during elections, whether by […]
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Supporting Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expected to hold elections in December this year – a vote many see as pivotal for the country’s future. It follows a series of troubled elections which raised questions about the integrity of electoral processes and highlighted the need for various reforms. “The Catholic and Protestant churches […]
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PRESS RELEASE: The Reinforcement of democracy and public governance in West Africa
Dakar, 8 September 2022 – The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Open Society Initiative – West Africa (OSIWA), the Kofi Annan Foundation (KAF), and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized, on 6 and 7 September 2022, a colloquium on the enhancement of democracy […]
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Kofi Annan’s Lessons in Global Leadership
Sadly, principled statesmen and women who can forge bold, morally consistent responses to today’s global problems are in short supply. We must therefore safeguard and promote the virtues that the former UN secretary-general embodied. This article originally appeared in Project Syndicate on May 13, 2022. GENEVA – The world is facing a set of acute […]
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Launch of the Global Network for Securing Electoral Integrity (GNSEI)
A global network that convenes election stakeholders around a shared vision: to inspire and inform action to advance electoral integrity in the face of critical threats to democracy. During a time when democratic elections around the world face an evolving and increasingly complex set of threats and challenges, sustained cooperation among global electoral integrity stakeholders […]
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The Kofi Annan Foundation joins the European Partnership for Democracy network
We are delighted to join the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and excited to work with its members to reinforce the impact of European actions to promote and defend democracy worldwide. These are trying times for supporters of democracy. Still, the Foundation and the EPD share the conviction that democracy is the system best suited […]
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New project: Securing the Digital Environment for the 2022 Election in Kenya
The Kofi Annan Foundation is delighted to announce the launch of a new project entitled Securing the Digital Environment for the 2022 Election in Kenya, funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund. Building on the findings of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age, the project will address the potential […]
“There is no single model of democracy, or of human rights, or of cultural expression for all the world. But for all the world, there must be democracy, human rights, and free cultural expression.”
Kofi Annan