Who We Are

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is the global leader in election assistance and democracy promotion.


IFES promotes democratic stability by providing technical assistance and applying field-based research to the electoral cycle in countries around the world to enhance citizen participation and strengthen civil societies, governance and transparency.

Every IFES project is staffed by national and international personnel while partnering with local election management bodies and civil society organizations. This homegrown approach ensures that the expertise offered by IFES fits the needs of the country or client and the benefit of assistance outlasts the life of the project. Our work is nonpartisan and also includes projects that:

 

Help citizens participate in their democracies
Increase politicians' accountability to the electorate
Strengthen government institutions

 

Since its founding in 1987, IFES has worked in 133 countries - from developing democracies, to mature democracies.

 

IFES is a non-governmental organization; registered as a 501(c)3 in the United States.


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An Introduction to IFES

Bill Sweeney, President/CEO
In this two-minute video, Bill Sweeney, IFES president and CEO, gives a quick overview of IFES and the work we do.
Watch An Introduction to IFES »

 

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