Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy
Nederlands English
Knowledge Centre

NIMD operates within a worldwide knowledge network, made up of democracy assistance organisations, political parties, governments, development agencies, democracy experts and political activists. We believe that sharing what we learn extends the impact of our collective efforts. The Knowledge Centre is an ever-expanding library of publications, videos and other materials allowing visitors to leverage lessons from democracy assistance work around the world.


Spotlight: Case Studies

Democracy: testimonies of a work in progress is a series of case studies compiled by NIMD partners. In their own words, they provide an account of the results that they have achieved with support of NIMD in the past year.

Published together with our annual report 2008, the stories are organised around some key policy concepts that inform contemporary debates on international cooperation. Accordingly, each story is both a living example of the work that we support, and a testimony to the policies in which we believe to achieve effective international cooperation.

Introduction: Making democracies perform better

Introduction: Making democracies perform better

Case Study - 2009
Without more accountable governments and better performing political systems, the international endeavour to deliver on the Millenium Development Goals is destined to fail. Facilitating the political reforms necessary to make democracies perform better is NIMD’s core business.
Mali: Making political parties perform better

Mali: Making political parties perform better

Case Study - 2009
Since the elections of 2007, quite a few political parties have formed parliamentary groups. In some cases these coalitions are evolving in plans to merge.
Guatemala: Shared Municipal Agendas make local governments more accountable

Guatemala: Shared Municipal Agendas make local governments more accountable

Case Study - 2009
Only in a democracy, can leaders be held accountable for the way they use their power through a system of both formal (e.g. legislation) and informal (e.g. publicity) checks and balances.
Ghanas DCSP: A home-grown democratic agenda

Ghana's DCSP: A home-grown democratic agenda

Case Study - 2009
NIMD’s approach to democracy support is exemplified by the Democratic Consolidation Strategy Paper (DCSP) of the political parties in Ghana.
Indonesia: Democracy School educates a new generation of politicians

Indonesia: Democracy School educates a new generation of politicians

Case Study - 2009
One of the lessons learned from the Democracy School programme in Indonesia is that political education helps enable a new generation of politicians to bridge divides between politics and society.
Kenya: Building bridges of understanding between ethnic constituencies

Kenya: Building bridges of understanding between ethnic constituencies

Case Study - 2009
In the aftermath of election violence in 2008 NIMD’s Kenyan partner, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD-K) created the Building Bridges of Understanding project. It aims to promote understanding between different ethnic communities through community exchange visits and dialogue.
Ghana: ‘Poor but bold’, women advance political participation

Ghana: ‘Poor but bold’, women advance political participation

Case Study - 2009
Democratic development does not comply to a singular template that can be readily exported. It is an incremental process that needs to grow from within. In this context NIMD has learned that exchanges with peers from other countries are valuable. They contribute to comparison of political practices,
Georgia: VoteMatch: Dutch voting tool helps parties define programs

Georgia: VoteMatch: Dutch voting tool helps parties define programs

Case Study - 2009
In the run up to the parliamentary elections in May 2008, the NIMD programme in Georgia has helped political parties define their programmes, using VoteMatch, an online voting tool developed by the Dutch Institute for Political Participation.
The European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)

The European Partnership for Democracy (EPD)

Case Study - 2009
In 2008 NIMD helped launch the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), an organization founded by some fifteen civil society organizations, that aims to harmonize democracy support initiatives within the European Union.