Creation of a Regional Democracy Development Coalition

About this project

<p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">The overall goal of the project is to empower the <strong>innovation of Estonian democratic institutions</strong>. In the light of growing global challenges, it is important that democratic institutions are able to <strong>remain relevant</strong> in the new context (compared to, for example, how parliaments around the world tended to be sidelined during the pandemic) and continue to fulfill their <strong>responsibilities </strong>(including human rights protection).</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">Therefore, a <strong>coalition </strong>of regional democracy development organizations and researchers will be launched during this project to bring international experience and <strong>expertise </strong>to Estonia, to enable the exchange of <strong>best practices</strong> and ideas, and to promote systematic <strong>international cooperation</strong> on democracy innovation.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify"><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif">The project has been created in collaboration with The Oslo Center (TOC) and is being implemented in cooperation with another partner from <strong>Norway </strong>- The Christian Democratic Party of Norway (KrF). Their long-term expertise in the development of democracy creates strong preconditions for the implementation of the project. During the project, another 10 non-governmental organizations engaged in democracy development (e.g. e-Governance Academy, Estonian Cooperation Council) and research institutions (e.g. TÜ, TLÜ) from Estonia and other countries around the region (eg Demo Finland, Alliance of Democracies) will be <strong>involved in the coalition</strong>.</span></span></p>

Bilateral cooperation results

The Norwegian partner was critically important, especially towards the beginning of the project - because they helped DD to get their foot in the door in the first network (PPPN), which in turn led DD to the next partners (Demo Finland, Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy) and networks (mainly EPD) and finally towards the end of the project connected DD with almost all major European democracy networks (FIDE, DR&amp;D, Nets4Dem). The Norwegian partner helped to legitimize DD in the international community of democracy organizations and to navigate communication and cooperation with them on an ongoing basis. The plan is to continue mapping the Norwegian democracy ecosystem with the partner when the new larger Norwegian Democracy Center is established.

Project partners

• Kristelig Folkeparti Donor project partner· Norway