Responsive Politics

A thriving democracy needs politicians who understand and respond to the needs, demands and aspirations of its people.

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Our Goals
Our Approach
Practical Examples
Our Collaborations

Our Goals

Politicians’ responsiveness depends on two key factors. First, politics must be inclusive. Everyone’s voice should be heard and considered, ensuring that all groups have a chance to participate in decision-making. This makes the system fair and reflective of the whole society.

Second, there must be accountability: Politicians must answer to the people they serve and be held responsible for their decisions.

When these conditions are met, people feel heard and their needs are addressed. Politicians, in turn, are better equipped to make informed, legitimate decisions that improve governance. This mutual relationship fosters trust between the people and their political leaders, strengthening the foundations of democracy.

But, in many countries around the world, reality tells a different story. Polarization is deepening, and people are losing trust in politics. Many feel increasingly disenfranchised, disconnected and alienated from the democratic systems that should represent them.

At NIMD, we are committed to bridging this gap. We strive to restore trust in politics and ensure that the population is at the heart of political decision-making.

We do this by engaging directly with politicians and political institutions. We support them as they develop the skills, knowledge and mindsets needed to respond to their societies’ interests. We also work to give the population a meaningful voice in political and policy-making processes through open dialogue with politicians.

Our Approach

At NIMD, we recognize that fostering responsive politics requires engagement on different levels. That’s why we work both with politicians directly and with the political institutions they operate within, ensuring that these institutions are transparent and effective.

Across all our programmes, we tailor these strategies to create a tangible impact. This begins with an in-depth analysis of the political history, power dynamics and cultural context of each country or region. Together with national experts, we identify the best approach for making politics more responsive.

As the programme progresses, we continuously evaluate and adjust our strategies to ensure they keep meeting the needs and realities of the changing context.

This adaptive approach is at the heart of our work. Our deep understanding of the context helps us set realistic goals and determine which politicians and institutions will benefit most from our support.

Supporting Responsive Politicians

Our first objective – building the foundations for responsive politics – focuses on creating the right conditions to support responsiveness among politicians from political parties. This involves equipping politicians with the skills they need to govern responsively. But also encouraging them to think consciously about how they can put citizens at the heart of their work. Essentially, we work to foster democratic values and culture among the politicians we work with.

Our Democracy Schools are a good example. While we tailor each school to the unique needs of its country, our core goal remains the same: To equip participants with the tools to become truly responsive political leaders.

Our schools offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers political culture, key democratic theories, and practical leadership skills such as negotiation, profiling, dialogue and debating. But our approach goes beyond skill-building. We emphasize the importance of democratic values, encouraging participants to consciously prioritize the general population in their actions and decisions. This prepares our participants to uphold democratic principles, listen to their communities, and respond effectively to the needs of those communities.

Strengthening Political Parties

As the primary vehicles through which people engage with the democratic process, parties are crucial to the health of any democracy. When parties are strong and inclusive, they more effectively represent the concerns and aspirations of diverse groups within society, helping people to feel that their voices are heard and valued.

Having supported more than 200 political parties around the world, NIMD has a diverse and adaptive approach to assisting political parties – we aim to respond to the real needs of the parties. At the same time, our work is always impartial and inclusive, with the aim of bringing people together across ideological divides.

We support political parties across the political spectrum, primarily by helping them develop robust, long-term strategic plans. This involves guiding them through a process of analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Based on their findings, we work with them to create long-term action plans that enhance their performance and sustainability.

These plans enable parties to better respond to citizens’ needs while also improving their ability to adapt to challenges in the political landscape. This helps them remain resilient in the face of unexpected changes.

We also work to bring political parties closer to voters. For example, we help them draft manifestos, and develop clear and realistic policy programmes and positions. This helps voters understand what parties stand for, offering a genuine choice at election time.

Lastly, we support political parties in breaking down barriers to equal political participation, particularly for women, youth and other structurally excluded groups. We encourage them to undertake problem analysis and self-assessment, before developing gender action plans. Through this process, we highlight the importance of commitment from party leadership, and accountability through continuous monitoring and peer learning to ensure sustainable change towards more inclusive democracies.

Download our steps to more inclusive political parties.

Strengthening Electoral Institutions

Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of every democracy. When they are held in open, transparent conditions, they build trust between politicians and the public, and foster collaboration even among opposing political forces.

However, ensuring elections meet the high standards needed to cultivate this trust is a key challenge, especially in countries with young or fragile democracies, or countries emerging from conflict where the political landscape is deeply polarized.

At NIMD, we have extensive experience in supporting electoral processes, including through tailored training programmes for election officials, candidates and observers.

NIMD is working with electoral management bodies (EMBs), who are responsible for overseeing all aspects of elections – from determining voter eligibility and validating candidates, to conducting polling and tabulating votes.

Our support includes strategic planning assistance; specialized technical advice; and research and comparative analysis on electoral processes and the cost of elections. By addressing potential capacity and technical gaps, we provide long-term assistance that helps EMBs think strategically and act effectively. Through this work, we aim to enable EMBs to take up their crucial role of implementing inclusive electoral legislation, ultimately contributing to the development of a strong and inclusive democracy.

Strengthening Parliaments

Robust parliaments are crucial for effective democracies because they serve as the primary institutions for translating the will of the people into laws and policies. Democratic parliaments ensure that diverse voices are heard, debates are open and transparent, and laws reflect the needs and aspirations of the entire population. By holding the executive branch accountable and providing a platform for meaningful policy discussions, these institutions help create a more responsive and balanced political system, as citizens’ concerns are addressed through the effective implementation of legislation and better governance.

At NIMD, we use several strategies to support parliaments to fulfil their democratic role. First, we provide parliaments with tools and training to enhance legislative, policy analysis, and oversight skills. We also give advice on parliamentary rules, procedures and systems, and provide expert support to parliamentary committees.

What’s more, our political actor dialogues bring together political parties and elected representatives outside of the parliamentary setting. Here, all parties speak with an equal voice, and seek to find consensus on policy issues and build trust along the way. The connections established through such dialogues can have a positive effect for coalition-building and collaboration between parliamentary caucuses once the participants return to parliament. With increased trust, parties are more likely to engage in dialogue and consensus-building within parliament, putting the needs of the population above party rivalries.

Lastly, NIMD aims to bridge the gap between parliaments and the general public. We promote initiatives that increase public access to parliamentary proceedings and information, encouraging transparency and public participation in the law-making process. By fostering stronger engagement between parliaments, civil society, and citizens, we help ensure that parliaments remain responsive and accountable.

Through these efforts, we aim to create more effective, transparent, and responsive parliaments that uphold democratic values and better serve their citizens.

Amplifying the voice of the population

In any democracy, it is crucial that politicians hear the voices and aspirations of their people. When politicians truly listen, they can craft policies and actions that resonate with and benefit their communities. In other words, if we want to support responsive politics, we must bridge the gap between politicians and the population.

That’s why NIMD’s multi-stakeholder dialogues are so important. We bring together diverse groups from society who have a stake in the political process, and create a space where they can engage directly with politicians and policymakers. These dialogues provide an invaluable opportunity for people to share their opinions and needs, giving them a meaningful voice in shaping political and policy decisions.

But, more than that, the multi-stakeholder dialogues also serve as a critical platform for holding politicians accountable. By bringing different groups into direct conversation with political leaders, these dialogues ensure that politicians not only hear the concerns of the people but are also challenged to justify their decisions and actions. This open exchange promotes transparency and helps build trust, as it creates a sense of shared responsibility in the political process. In doing so, it strengthens the democratic fabric, ensuring that politics remains rooted in the needs and aspirations of the society it serves.

Practical Examples

Ethiopia: Providing a channel for direct citizen participation

One of our key recent achievements in Ethiopia has been the development of a mobile application for the Caffee, the regional parliament of Ethiopia’s Oromia region. This interactive app is designed to strengthen democratic governance and foster greater engagement between citizens and their elected representatives. With this tool, citizens have direct access to the profiles of all 504 MPs, giving them crucial information about the policies, actions, and voting records of their representatives.

Moreover, the app enables users to communicate directly with their MPs, providing valuable feedback on parliamentary activities.

The app represents an important tool to bridge the gap between people and politics, giving citizens an opportunity to meaningfully influence politics, and providing politicians with the input they need to be more responsive to the needs and concerns of their constituents.

Burundi: Strengthening political parties

In 2025 and 2027, Burundi will navigate key elections. These elections offer an important opportunity to strengthen trust in democratic institutions and practices and make needed electoral reforms.

Alongside other activities, we’re working closely with political parties in the run-up to the elections. We give them extra tools to develop or update their political programmes, strengthen internal democracy and improve their organizational structure.

Through this work, we hope to help parties provide a true choice to the people of Burundi in the upcoming elections.