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
→WYDE Civic Engagement – Accountability Hubs
Strengthening accountability and transparency in governance
→Electoral Integrity Initiative
Addressing electoral challenges
→Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
Recognising exceptional leadership in defending, renewing and promoting democracy
→Elections & Democracy in the Digital Age
Defending Democracy in the Digital Age
→Electoral Vulnerability Index
Predicting Election-Related Violence
“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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Partner with us for an ongoing or future project.
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Head of Democracy and Multilateralism Programmes
Declan O’Brien
Publications + Media
First published in
Democracy, Multilateralism and Migration
In the sixth and final issue brief of our project on the intersection of multilateralism and democracy, we explore how migration governance and democratic principles are deeply intertwined. The Kofi Annan Foundation and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy have published the sixth issue brief from our joint project on how democratic principles and multilateral cooperation intersect across major global challenges. Authored by Valerio Simoni of the Instituto de Ciências Sociais at the Universidade de Lisboa, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, and the Global Migration Centre, this issue brief focuses on migration as a key site where both democracy and multilateralism are under pressure. The…
First published in
Remaking of the Global Trade Order: The Search for a New Compass
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the Athens Democracy Forum, an annual international conference that brings together global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and activists to discuss the state of democracy. The roundtable explored the upheaval in the current global trading system, seeking to understand why the old system has failed, and how a new one, centred…
First published in
Issue Brief | Democracy and Trade: The Search for a New Compass
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of a broader public backlash against globalization and international trade. Built on the promise to deliver prosperity for all, many of the existing trade and investment rules have also intensified inequalities and exposed countries to global shocks. Especially, the distributional effects of global trade have left many groups in…
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 […]
First published in
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 […]
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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” has meant a transition from authoritarian rule to democracy. That is why it came as a bit of a shock to realize, when I read the conference’s excellent concept note, that is now means the exact opposite. Something has gone wrong, ladies and gentlemen, and…
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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 all sectors to come together and bridge the gap between public expectations and the actions of political leaders. At this pivotal moment, we—18 representatives from academia, politics, civil society, and leadership development—invite our colleagues, peers, and funders to join us in this mission. Expectations or…
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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 Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address, 15 October 2024. These remarks were first published by The Elders. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen It is an honour and a pleasure to be with you here tonight in my capacity as Chair of The Elders to deliver the Kofi…
First published in
Democracy, Multilateralism and Migration
In the sixth and final issue brief of our project on the intersection of multilateralism and democracy, we explore how migration governance and democratic principles are deeply intertwined. The Kofi Annan Foundation and Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy have published the sixth issue brief from our joint project on how democratic principles and multilateral cooperation intersect across major global challenges. Authored by Valerio Simoni of the Instituto de Ciências Sociais at the Universidade de Lisboa, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, and the Global Migration Centre, this issue brief focuses on migration as a key site where both democracy and multilateralism are under pressure. The…
First published in
Remaking of the Global Trade Order: The Search for a New Compass
On 2 October 2025, the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Graduate Institute’s Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, in partnership with the Centre for Trade and Economic Integration (CTEI), convened the fifth in a series of thematic roundtables exploring the intersections of democracy and multilateralism. The session was held as part of the Athens Democracy Forum, an annual international conference that brings together global leaders, policymakers, scholars, and activists to discuss the state of democracy. The roundtable explored the upheaval in the current global trading system, seeking to understand why the old system has failed, and how a new one, centred…
First published in
Issue Brief | Democracy and Trade: The Search for a New Compass
The existing trade order is unravelling at a breathtaking pace. The World Trade Organization and the rule-based trade system that promoted economic integration and globalization for much of the last 80 years is under extreme pressure from trade wars and increasing geopolitical frictions. Yet, rising protectionism and isolationism are also symptoms of a broader public backlash against globalization and international trade. Built on the promise to deliver prosperity for all, many of the existing trade and investment rules have also intensified inequalities and exposed countries to global shocks. Especially, the distributional effects of global trade have left many groups in…
First published in
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 conducted a major study of the state of election preparations in May, which revealed serious problems, some technical, and some deliberate, which call into question the integrity of the process. The people of the DRC will not brook another fraudulent election.” – Jean Bosco Lalo,…
First published in
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 and good governance in West Africa. The colloquium brought together around sixty participants, including experts and practitioners in governance and peacebuilding, and representatives of think tanks and research organizations. The colloquium was enhanced by the presence of Mr Kabiné Komara, former Prime Minister of the…
First published in
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 crises without recent parallel: a war in Europe that could escalate into a nuclear conflict, skyrocketing food prices that are hitting the poor the hardest, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the climate emergency. We need principled statesmen and women to forge bold, morally consistent responses to…
First published in
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 is urgently needed. The Global Network for Securing Electoral Integrity (GNSEI or Network) convenes election stakeholders around a shared vision: to inspire and inform action to advance electoral integrity in the face of critical threats to democracy. Specifically, GNSEI brings together leading international electoral integrity…
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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 to deliver human rights, human security, and development, and while it can appear chaotic, at its heart, democracy is far more resilient and more capable of delivering positive change, than any alternative. “The Foundation and the European Partnership for Democracy share the conviction that democracy…
First published in
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 impact of the internet, social media and digital technologies, both positive and negative, on electoral integrity and confidence in the electoral process in Kenya for the 2022 elections. The project will convene and facilitate a dialogue with key stakeholders to work for conditions of trust.…
“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