Democratic Governance

More countries than ever before are working to build democratic governance. Their challenge is to develop institutions and processes that are more responsive to the needs of ordinary citizens, including the poor, and that promote development. UNDP helps countries strengthen electoral and legislative systems, improve access to justice and public administration and develop a greater capacity to deliver basic services to those most in need.

Our Goals

Through its programmes, UNDP brings people together within nations and around the world, fostering partnerships and sharing ways to promote participation, accountability and effectiveness at all levels. We aim to build effective and capable states that are accountable and transparent, inclusive and responsive — from elections to participation of women and the poor. more

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Facts and Figures

UNDP supports one in three parliaments in the developing world and an election every two weeks.
In 2010, UNDP helped over 130 countries and devoted US$1.36 billion* in resources to democratic governance, making UNDP the world's largest provider of democratic governance assistance.
*Total spending tabulated as of August 2011

Our Stories

  • UNDP in Tunisia


    The country’s national elections on 23 October were the first since its independence in 1956. More

  • UNDP in Liberia

    Women's role in peacebuilding

    Nearly 1.7 million Liberians, almost half of them women, will have a chance to vote in this week’s elections, the first organized nationally since the end of the country’s civil conflict in 2003. More

Projects and Initiatives

Local Governance in Cambodia

Few countries have faced such monumental challenges as Cambodia following the Khmer Rouge regime. Shattered infrastructure, hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and limited subnational governance capacity remained barriers to stability long after the 1993 elections. more

Georgia: Justice for All

Kakha Kisishvili might have gone to jail for a theft he did not commit. Emma Esiava, who had fled from conflict in Abkhazia, might have lost her apartment and ended up on the street. Both escaped these injustices because they were able to seek free help from Georgia’s Legal Aid Service. more

Featured Publications
2010 Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund Annual Report

The 2010 Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund (DGTTF) annual report highlights our ongoing support to 67 country projects awarded under the 2009 and 2010 DGTTF Call for Proposals; our evaluations, analysis and lessons learned from past projects; and continuous promotion of South-South exchange on successful pilot experiences.

Anti-Corruption for Development Newsletter - Issue 6

The sixth volume of the Anti-Corruption Newsletter highlights some of the major anti-corruption activities carried out by UNDP during the first half of 2011. It features details about the UNDP study titled “Illicit Financial Flows from the LDCs: 1990-2008” and more.

Study on the Socio-economic Impact of Pre-trial Detention

UNDP. in partnership with the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI); Country Offices in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Guinea Conakry; as well as various Civil Society Organisations and National Human Rights Commissions, has engaged in research on the socio-economic impact of pre-trial detention in West Africa.

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