LIBRARY

Internal Democracy

Best Practices of Effective Parties: Three training modules for political parties


NDI developed a series of modules for use by party trainers, on internal democracy, transparency and outreach. These modules aim to help parties examine and improve current organizational practices and institute new practices as needed.

Links for trainers

Erica Breth's picture

A good training includes auditory, visual and kinesthetic methodologies. See below for links to movies that can be used in training as well as free sites for creating your own online courses.

Movies for party training
Tips on using movies for training includes lesson plans
Leadership films

Create Online Courses
Dokeos e-learning select "create a free course"


Presidential debate via youtube 23 July

Erica Breth's picture

In case anyone still doubts how much technology is changing politics, on July 23, the Democratic candidates for president are going to debate issues and answer questions posed by citizens via youtube! In other words, whoever has a video camera on their computer can submit a question.

See more in The New York Times.


Building Effective National Party Websites: Key Objectives & Best Practices


The web can be an important tool for political parties to help them inform, educate, and connect with the voting public. This report outlines key objectives and best practices in the establishment or modification of party sites and offers some specific examples of how political parties from different countries employ some of these practices on their own sites. Used effectively, these can help a political party utilize the web as part of a larger strategic plan in developing an effective campaign and party presence, whether the site is in the initial design or revamp stages. This report first identifies three shared objectives for political party sites then describes best practices in three categories: design, delivery, and management – including some useful steps leading up to election day. The final section offers some examples of how these practices are put to use in different party websites in several democracies.

Strengthening Legislative-Executive Communication on Poverty Reduction Strategies


Originally introduced by the international financial institutions (IFIs) in September 1999, poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) are country-drafted, strategic economic documents intended to establish a multi-year framework for national poverty reduction. PRSPs serve as the basis for debt relief and concessional lending in roughly 70 countries. They provide a framework for the use of the resources freed through Heavily
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) debt relief initiatives, as well as a basis for concessional financing through the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Youth Reform and Organisation


Presentation touching on issues of youth participation in the Labour Party in England.

Triangle of Best Practices of Effective Parties

flashv4 Around the world, healthy parties develop and maintain democratic internal structures, promote and enforce transparency and accountability, and consistently revitalize their membership through outreach to new sectors.

The Triangle of Best Practices of Effective Parties moves beyond the theoretical by identifying the best practices that political parties can adopt to improve their performance.