Political parties at the center of democracy support
DIPD’s new strategy focuses on political parties to support democracy through partnerships in developing countries
- DIPD's new strategy is based on an updated view of the world around us, states Kasper Sand Kjær. Kasper is head of the board in DIPD and Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Party.
- Democracy is under pressure globally; new as well as old democracies are challenged. We must reach out and work with partners in developing countries to strengthen democracy. We need to do so for two reasons. Partly because it is so important; democracy is the best guarantor of freedom, stability, equality and peace. And partly because in Denmark we are good at it, the chairman points out with reference to the knowledge and experience that the Danish political parties have after more than a hundred years of democratic rule.
- DIPD is a community of Danish parliamentary parties who believe that we can do more for democracy globally if we work together and have a common organization, Kasper Sand Kjær explains.
- It makes sense across the board that we exchange experiences to raise the quality of international democracy support.
Partnerships
A key element in DIPD's new strategy is moving from more short-term project work to long-term partnerships. The partnership approach means that each partnership formulates its own focus and sets its goals within DIPD's strategy.
- The partnership approach ia a qualitative boost for DIPD's work, stresses Charlotte Flindt Pedersen, who is deputy chairman of the DIPD board and CEO of the Danish Foreign Policy Society.
DIPD insists on equality in the partnerships. Both parties contribute to the partnership with knowledge, experience and resources.
- We have respect for the political and societal context in which the parties' partner organizations operate. These are dynamic contexts that often change. This requires flexibility, trust and openness in the relationship between the partners, director of DIPD Lisbeth Pilegaard explains.
Kasper Sand Kjær wants the partnerships to be firmly anchored in the political parties. He emphasises the importance of DIPD's partnerships being based on active members of political parties.
- We are adjusting the framework for DIPD's work to provide better space for member engagement, he says
- It needs to be very apparent that active membership is a ticket to influence.
DIPD goals
Five overall goals will govern DIPD’s work in the strategy period:
1. Political parties formulate and communicate political solutions
DIPD will work to ensure that political parties in developing countries formulate political solutions to significant challenges, and that they communicate their policies and engage in dialogue with citizens. Formulating political solutions to significant social challenges is a core task for political parties, and DIPD will strengthen their capacity to develop relevant policies and support equitable political dialogues.
2. Political parties are inclusive and engaging organizations
DIPD will work for more inclusive and engaging political parties. Engaging citizens and securing political influence is a core task for political parties, and DIPD supports democratic representation through political parties. This is done, among other things, by working determinedly with gender equality and young people in politics, as well as ethnic and geographical representation.
3. Political parties are democratic organizations
DIPD will work to ensure that political parties in developing countries are well-organized, transparent and internally democratic, fostering inclusive and active member participation at the local and national levels. Political parties being well-functioning organizations is a prerequisite for members to be able to involve themselves and gain influence, and for the organizations not to become personality-driven and opaque.
4. Political parties participate in cross-party cooperation and dialogue
DIPD will work to promote cross-party cooperation and dialogue between political parties in developing countries and between these and Danish parliamentary parties, in order to contribute to well-functioning multiparty democracies. Through cross-party cooperation, DIPD will support, for example, constitutional and decentralization processes as well as a larger emphasis on gender equality and youth policies.
5. DIPD will learn from and document our results
In support of the first four goals, DIPD will base our work on learning, relevant knowledge and research. We will systematically document and communicate our results, facilitate cross-party learning and support exchange of experience across partnerships and with our international partners.
Positive outcomes of the strategy process itself
- It is important to me that there is a unified board behind this strategy, says former first deputy chairman of the board Michael Aastrup Jensen. Michael is a Member og parliament for the Liberal Party. He is currently the Liberal Party's spokesperson on foreign affairs.
Chairman Kasper Sand Kjær also appreciates the strategy process. The process has involved parties in parliament, stakeholders and experts from organizations and institutes, DIPD employees and board members.
- It has been a healthy process. We have shared many reflections and insights that we will take with us, whether they have been included in the paper or not. It has been a true democratic conversation, the chairman concludes with a smile.
