The Global Assembly is a convening and celebration that unites democracy advocates from around the world to recognize democratic resilience and foster greater unity in addressing today’s challenges. At the 12th Global Assembly, nearly 600 civil society leaders, political actors, and thinkers from 100 countries and territories will come together to exchange insights, engage in peer learning, and showcase their courage and determination to the world.

Global Assemblies have been held in New Delhi, India (1999); Sao Paulo, Brazil (2000); Durban, South Africa (2004); Istanbul, Turkey (2006); Kyiv, Ukraine (2008); Jakarta, Indonesia (2010); Lima, Peru (2012); Seoul, South Korea (2015); Dakar, Senegal (2018); and Taipei, Taiwan (2022).

The decision to hold the Global Assembly in South Africa was taken by the Steering Committee in May 2023, following an assessment trip by the Secretariat to meet with various civil society groups. This will mark the second time South Africa hosts the Global Assembly, with the first held in Durban twenty years ago.

South Africa's journey from apartheid to democracy is a powerful testament to dialogue and collective action—principles at the heart of the World Movement’s mission. In Johannesburg, we can learn from South Africa’s resilience and celebrate its progress while openly discussing the complexities of sustaining democracy. The World Movement is a modern manifestation of social movements that have historically fought to end injustice. The anti-apartheid movement has been a key inspiration for those who are today fighting for more free, just, and inclusive societies. The 12th Global Assembly will be a special occasion for the global community of democracy advocates to reflect on the historical achievements of the anti-apartheid movement and join the people of South Africa in celebrating South Africa’s democratic progress.

South African democracy is strong today because of the power of its citizens to fight for their rights. Vibrant civil society and independent media keep the society informed and engaged in the country’s democratic processes. Communities are renewing their efforts to realize democratic dividends. And, government officials are working within the system to strengthen institutions and deepen democracy.

For these reasons, democracy advocates from other countries can learn from South Africa’s experience in defending and expanding freedom and civic engagement. They can also build solidarity with the people of South Africa in tackling ongoing challenges to democracy by sharing expertise and innovating practical solutions.

Nearly 600 leaders from civil society, political society, think tanks, labor unions, and the business sector have been invited to attend the Assembly. They are leading voices in:

• expanding civic space through legal advocacy; • promoting inclusive governance by strengthening women and youth political participation;
• defending the integrity of the information space;
• improving digital technologies based on democratic principles and human rights values; and,
• cultivating the next generation of democracy champions.

A list of countries represented at the Global Assembly is available here.

Chaired by Maria Ressa of the Philippines, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the Steering Committee of the World Movement for Democracy guides the 12th Global Assembly programming. The day-to-day planning and organization are being provided by the Secretariat staff at the Washington, DC-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and by partners in South Africa. The South Africa-based civil society partners include Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, Defend Our Democracy, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA), and the In Transformation Initiative.

NED serves as the World Movement Secretariat, providing administrative and financial support to World Movement initiatives. Supported by NED and other international donors, the World Movement for Democracy was launched in 1999 and is a global network of democracy advocates who have come together to build solidarity, facilitate learning, and mobilize political and public support for democracy. It is led by an international Steering Committee. Chaired by Nobel Peace Laureate Maria Ressa, the World Movement provides practical help to civil society leaders who are working to build more just societies, consolidate emerging democracies, and strengthen established democracies. More information about the World Movement’s Steering Committee can be found here.

More information is available here about the National Endowment for Democracy’s grantmaking in South Africa. Over a ten-year period from 1985 to 1995, NED’s grantmaking focused on providing the resources and support to allow South Africans to move towards their own vision of democracy.

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is not an arm of the U.S. government nor does it carry out the aims of the U.S. government. NED is an independent, bipartisan, nonprofit nongovernmental grantmaking organization dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world—including political parties, trade unions, free markets and business organizations, as well as the many elements of a vibrant civil society that ensure human rights, an independent media, and the rule of law. NED provides financial and moral support, in addition to knowledge to accelerate democratic learning, to non-governmental groups who are working for democratic goals in more than 100 countries.

NED is led by an independent Board of Directors, which is solely responsible for the selection of members. There are no government-appointed Board members or government officials on the Board. NED’s board reflects a diverse range of viewpoints across the political spectrum and includes representatives from business, labor, academia, and national security. This ensures expertise relevant to NED’s mission – to empower democratic actors on the ground and support local efforts for democracy that are firmly rooted in the aspirations, culture, and realities of its grantees to work towards sustainable and long-lasting impact.

As a publicly funded independent nonprofit that supports democracy in over 100 countries, including non-democratic states, NED often faces attacks on its mission and work, especially from authoritarian regimes. Efforts to impugn NED’s reputation often stem from specific actors who oppose the democratic aspirations of peoples around the world. Conspiracy theories about NED started and have been repeated since our founding. Authoritarian governments propagate such conspiracy theories as they, by definition, question the legitimacy of any form of dissent and view their own citizens who seek freedom and democracy as a threat to their regime’s power.

NED believes that basic political freedoms are universal and we are proud to support those struggling for human dignity around the world. NED’s founding documents clearly articulate NED’s commitment to working in the world’s least free countries. Our Statement of Principles and Objectives reads that NED “will not neglect those who keep alive the flame of freedom in closed societies.” NED’s support is in response to the requests and aspirations of citizens in these countries and is not imposed upon them.

For over 40 years, NED has worked to advance democracy in every region of the world, irrespective of alignment with short-term U.S. foreign policy imperatives. NED’s singular mission and independent structure allow it to pursue its work unencumbered by short-term policy demands and competing interests.

The National Endowment for Democracy began its grantmaking in Gaza and the West Bank immediately following the Oslo Accords of 1993, and its grantmaking to Palestinian civil society groups has been uninterrupted to this day. The war in Gaza has had a direct impact on NED partners. Many partners have lost family and colleagues. Many partners have fled their homes and have had their offices destroyed. NED’s team is in constant contact with grantees to maximize their safety and connect them with available resources. NED supports those who aspire to build a better future through democratic means, and we will continue to support the values that bind us as a global community.

At the upcoming Global Assembly, the World Movement’s Steering Committee will give one of its Democracy Courage Tributes to Palestinian civil society, recognizing their collective efforts to keep their aspiration for democracy alive. The award will be accepted by PalThink, a Gaza-based nonprofit working to promote freedom and nonviolent civic engagement.

The World Movement for Democracy’s Global Assembly is designed to address a broad range of issues that affect democracy and human rights globally, not just in any one region or conflict. It is a forum for democracy advocates from all over the world, and the programming for the 12th Global Assembly reflects those pressing challenges, including authoritarianism, civil rights abuses, economic inequality, and threats to democratic institutions. This global focus is key to fostering solidarity and enabling democrats to learn from one another's experiences.

Participation is by invitation only. If you do not receive an invitation and are interested in attending, please email assembly@ned.org. Attendance is limited, but we will be happy to consider your interest.

Participation is by invitation only. If you have received an invitation, you can respond by clicking on the link that says, "RSVP." You will then be taken to the website registration page. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the registration site in languages other than English.  If you need assistance, email us at assembly@ned.org.

Please RSVP by the deadline indicated in your invitation letter. If you need additional time, email us at assembly@ned.org and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule for responding.

To cancel your registration, please email us at assembly@ned.org.

Upon registration, you will be asked to create an account to access more details about the Global Assembly. As we approach the Assembly, you will receive a notification to sign up for workshops through the account. Please note that due to capacity limits in the workshop rooms, selections will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Interpretation for Arabic, English, French, and Spanish will be provided at the Assembly to the extent possible. Please note that not all languages will be offered at every workshop. Available interpretation for workshops will be indicated on the workshop sign-up platform.

The World Movement for Democracy is committed to an environment free of harassment, discrimination, and all forms of misconduct. Help us make the Twelfth Global Assembly a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive space. We will reserve the right to remove any person who violates our Code of Conduct. All participants attending the Assembly are subject to applicable law, including South African law.

To learn more, please download our Code of Conduct (linked).

To learn more about the World Movement for Democracy's Global Assemblies, please visit our website.

Sign up for Democracy News! Our  bi-weekly e-newsletter contains updates and news stories from our participants, as well as announcements of opportunities to participate in events, competitions, and fellowships sponsored by various organizations. Click here to subscribe.  If you have items you would like to consider including, please email us at world@ned.org.

You can also stay updated on World Movement for Democracy activities and opportunities by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. We encourage you to visit the World Movement for Democracy’s website to learn more about our initiatives and resources.

The National Endowment for Democracy, which serves as the Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy, is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, NED makes more than 1,000 grants to support the projects of non-governmental groups abroad who are working for democratic goals in more than 90 countries. 

Since its founding in 1983, the Endowment has remained on the leading edge of democratic struggles everywhere, while evolving into a multifaceted institution that is a hub of activity, resources and intellectual exchange for activists, practitioners and scholars of democracy the world over. Learn more at www.ned.org.

For all other inquiries, please email assembly@ned.org.

Participation is by invitation only. If you do not receive an invitation and are interested in attending, please email assembly@ned.org. Attendance is limited, but we will be happy to consider your interest.

Participation is by invitation only. If you have received an invitation, you can respond by clicking on the link that says, "RSVP." You will then be taken to the website registration page. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the registration site in languages other than English.  If you need assistance, email us at assembly@ned.org.

Please RSVP by the deadline indicated in your invitation letter. If you need additional time, email us at assembly@ned.org and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule for responding.

To cancel your registration, please email us at assembly@ned.org.

Upon registration, you will be asked to create an account to access more details about the Global Assembly. As we approach the Assembly, you will receive a notification to sign up for workshops through the account. Please note that due to capacity limits in the workshop rooms, selections will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Interpretation for Arabic, English, French, and Spanish will be provided at the Assembly to the extent possible. Please note that not all languages will be offered at every workshop. Available interpretation for workshops will be indicated on the workshop sign-up platform.

The World Movement for Democracy is committed to an environment free of harassment, discrimination, and all forms of misconduct. Help us make the Twelfth Global Assembly a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive space. We will reserve the right to remove any person who violates our Code of Conduct. All participants attending the Assembly are subject to applicable law, including South African law.

To learn more, please download our Code of Conduct (linked).

To learn more about the World Movement for Democracy's Global Assemblies, please visit our website.

Sign up for Democracy News! Our  bi-weekly e-newsletter contains updates and news stories from our participants, as well as announcements of opportunities to participate in events, competitions, and fellowships sponsored by various organizations. Click here to subscribe.  If you have items you would like to consider including, please email us at world@ned.org.

You can also stay updated on World Movement for Democracy activities and opportunities by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. We encourage you to visit the World Movement for Democracy’s website to learn more about our initiatives and resources.

The National Endowment for Democracy, which serves as the Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy, is a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. Each year, NED makes more than 1,000 grants to support the projects of non-governmental groups abroad who are working for democratic goals in more than 90 countries. 

Since its founding in 1983, the Endowment has remained on the leading edge of democratic struggles everywhere, while evolving into a multifaceted institution that is a hub of activity, resources and intellectual exchange for activists, practitioners and scholars of democracy the world over. Learn more at www.ned.org.

For all other inquiries, please email assembly@ned.org.