In a new strategic overview, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) underscores the enduring relevance of democracy support as both a moral obligation and a long-term investment in global stability, prosperity, and resilience. The report positions democracy as a system that delivers tangible benefits, including economic development, civic accountability, and peace, contrasting sharply with authoritarian regimes that centralize power and suppress civic freedoms. NED highlights its flexible, locally anchored grantmaking model as key to its effectiveness, often reaching civil society actors in repressive and high-risk environments. The report emphasises that in a global context shaped by strategic authoritarian coordination, particularly by China, Russia, and Iran, democracies must actively invest in civil society as a vital counterweight. NED calls on the donor community to prioritize grassroots support, long-term partnerships, and rapid-response mechanisms that reinforce local ownership and democratic agency. Read more here.
Source: NED
