Promoting Democratic Governance, Person to Person.
Our Partners
The Institute for Representative Government is funded via a competitive proprosal process by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Programming is organized in partnership with the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute under a common mission of advancing democracy worldwide, increasing mutual understanding between the government of the United States and foreign governments, and fostering bipartisan cooperation through international legislative exchange.
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US Department of State
As mandated by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) works to build friendly, peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges, as well as public -private partnerships.
In an effort to reflect the diversity of the United States and global society, ECA programs, funding, and other activities encourage the involvement of American and international participants from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities. Opportunities are open to people regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Bureau is committed to fairness, equity and inclusion.
Artists, educators, athletes, students, youth, and rising leaders in the United States and more than 160 countries around the globe participate in academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges. ECA serves as part of the Public Affairs arm of the U.S. Department of State. Through public-private partnerships and tax payer funding the bureau manages a host of professional, academic, cultural and athletic exchanges.
Learn more at www.eca.state.gov. Alumni of IRG programs are encouraged to stay connected at alumni.state.gov/
International Republican Institute
Established in April 1983, the International Republican Institute (IRI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties become more issue-based and responsive, assisting citizens to participate in government planning and decision-making, and working to increase the role of marginalized groups in the political process - including women and youth. IRI encourages democracy in places where it is absent, helps democracy become more effective where it is in danger, and shares best practices where democracy is flourishing. Through workshops by volunteer experts from all over the world on multi-party political systems, democratic governance practices, women’s empowerment, civil society development, youth leadership, strengthening electoral processes and public opinion research.
IRI is a 501(c)(3) and receives funding through grants from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, the National Endowment for Democracy, a number of European foundations and aid agencies and other Western countries, and the United Nations. currently active in more than 85 countries
National Democratic Institute
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization that works on five continents with political parties, governments, parliaments, and civic groups to establish and strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote citizen participation, openness, and accountability in government. Since its founding in 1983, NDI has worked with local partners in 132 countries and territories, bringing together individuals and groups to share best practices in international democratic development that its partners can adapt to the needs of their own countries. The programs of the Institute have been supported by more than 160 organizations, including the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, other international development agencies, and private donations.