UNDEF stories

On 13 March 2026, during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) convened a round table discussion with civil society partners at UN Headquarters in New York. The…

In Armenia, the youngest and most active participant of an UNDEF-supported project engaged peers to teach them soft skills and civic engagement.

Buena Data supports the digital civic engagement of Argentina's youth.

UNDEF project partner in Mali led a nationwide initiative to promote democratic oversight and transparency in the defense sector.

Celebrating 20 years of the UN Democracy Fund and brought together diplomats, UN officials, and civil society to discuss the future of democracy.

The Charity Humanitarian Centre Abkhazeti (CHCA), with the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), aims to support vulnerable groups through awareness raising and advocacy to increase social inclusion in Georgia…

The UN Office for Partnerships hosted a roundtable discussion, Building Democracies, on 19 March 2025 at the UN Headquarters, during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).

In Haiti, the Nou Pap Dòmi initiative, supported by UNDEF, works with youth to tackle corruption and impunity through the Sitwayen Pa Dòmi project.

By enabling local communities to report issues and engage with authorities, the Kosovo* Democratic Institute is driving change in municipalities for a greener, more sustainable future.

Armenian women farmers joined a UNDEF-backed event promoting leadership and climate-smart agriculture.

The Youth Association for Development aims to enhance women's political participation in Quetta, Baluchistan, a region known for its male-dominated social and political landscape.

Empowering youth to drive civic and environmental change, the Strengthening Youth Movements for Inclusion in Local Development Policy in Colombia project amplifies their voices through advocacy campaigns and innovative social…

In Albania, a transformative project supported by UNDEF seeks to establish a robust legislative framework that promotes online safety and gender equality.

The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) held its second board meeting of the year, bringing together distinguished members to set priorities for 2025, focusing on strengthening civil society projects that improve governance…

The Legal Aid Society (LAS) based in Karachi, with the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) aims to tackle major issues related to marriage practices in Sindh Province.

The UN Democracy Fund discussed women’s leadership, climate change mitigation and related issues with partners working in the MENA region.

UNDP and UNDEF organized a special webinar dedicated to deliberative democracy and how this concept can be applied to enhance citizen engagement in public spheres.

The Kosovo Democratic Institute supports civil society organizations in 12 Kosovo* municipalities to engage with local authorities in ensuring the implementation of commitments to green governance.

The Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) Ghana is achieving notable progress in encouraging young women's involvement in political parties through its project "Enhancing Young Women’s Participation in Political…

Global leaders and development experts gathered at the SDG Lounge to share insights and strategies for advancing peace and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

A panel titled “Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement" convened at UN Headquarters ahead of the International Day of Democracy.

At the recent HLPF on Sustainable Development, Juliana Uribe Villegas, Executive Director of Movilizatorio and a partner of the UNDEF, represented the voice of civil society in a pivotal discussion on the intersections…

UN Office for Partnerships Highlights Crucial Role of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions in Achieving the Global Goals.

The UN Democracy Fund discussed women’s leadership, media freedom and related issues with a group of policymakers, NGO workers, and media representatives from Kyrgyzstan.

In Brazil, UNDEF funded project gathers mothers and families of victims of police violence from different regions of Brazil aiming to place their agenda at the center of public debate.

Village Focus International's two-year project was launched in January 2023 to provide legal awareness training to local communities, enhance the legal education of law students in these critical areas, and provide pro bono…

UNDEF Civil Society (CSO) Partners held a dynamic workshop during the United Nations Civil Society Conference in Nairobi held on May 9-10, 2024.

The members of United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Advisory Board met to review and endorse a selection of projects for its 18th Round of Funding totaling over USD 7.6 million.

UNDEF hosted a round table bringing together a diverse cohort of civil society partners dedicated to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment on a global scale.

Natural Resource Governance Institute, in partnership with UNDEF, assembled a diverse group of local CSOs members from various municipalities across Kebili to equip them with advanced facilitation techniques and conflict…

UNDEF partner HakiElimu has developed and received government approval for an Action Civics Education Toolkit for an increased democratic culture among Tanzanian youth.

Haris Rovcanin, Assistant Editor of UNDEF backed Association Balkan Investigative Reporting Network Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIRN BiH), was awarded the Srđan Aleksić regional journalistic award.

UNDEF-backed project by The Women’s Law Center (WLC) aims to combat gender stereotypes, shape behaviors and redefine gender roles in an effort to identify viable, inclusive solutions to local needs.

Journalists from across the Balkans met in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in the promotion and protection of digital rights in Central Europe.

UNDEF’s annual call for proposals is now open from November 1 to November 30, 2023. Civil society organizations around the globe are invited to apply for grants up to US$ 200,000 for 2-year projects.

Arab youth researchers create a regional network to foster democratic culture through events held for an UNDEF funded project.

"Everyone has a voice: use it”, was Ms. Mohammed’s simple yet profound message, urging people worldwide to recognize their power as citizens.

International Day of Democracy event focused on the need for the values of democracy to accelerate the SDGs, particularly for climate action, and highlighted the role of youth in protecting and promoting civic space and…

The event brings together civil society representatives, UN officials, climate activists, and it highlights the role of youth in advancing civic space and recognizes their leadership in moving climate action forward.

Iraqi radio show The Green Economy is a welcome addition to the airwaves, explaining the vital environmental issues facing the country, and analyzing the government’s efforts to address them.

NGO Human Rights Platform (HRP) conducted an online webinar in support of the UNDEF funded project “Bolstering Citizen Journalism in Ukraine”. The webinar titled “How to obtain public information managed by State and…

The Amman Center for Human rights studies (ACHRS), which has received support from the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), is one of the 2023 winners of the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights.

UNDEF funded Association of Public Advisors of the Republic of Tajikistan (APART) worked to enhance the legal literacy of journalists by educating them on national and international media legislation and equipping them with…

UNDEF funded a Lebanese Civil Society Organization, KAFA, launched a national campaign, utilizing videos on social media to illustrate examples of gender-based violence and educate people about available protections.

United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Project Officer Jaime Palacios traveled to DRC to meet with the UN Country Team and partners, while forging new connections.

In May, representatives of three CSOs came to UN Headquarters to share their experiences of running citizen’s assemblies: Cynthia Mbamalu is Director of Programs at Yiaga Africa, a CSO in Nigeria, Silvia Cervellini is the co…

In Palestine, UNDEF has funded the youth organization Zimam to implement the "Incubating Young Leaders in Palestine" project.

JHR’s UNDEF-funded project in Tunisia recently began a follow-up reporting on the local government’s slow and inadequate response to the tragic and avoidable incident.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNDEF is working to strengthen young women's online and offline civic engagement.

An UNDEF project in Mexico is strengthening the political participation and leadership of women with disabilities in the development of a national disability strategy.