The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program seeks to accelerate the learning, sharpen the strategies, build the capacity, and strengthen the resolve of the world’s most committed and courageous defenders of democracy. Housed within the world’s preeminent democracy grantmaking organization, the program has two decades of experience supporting more than 400 fellows from over 100 countries. Against the backdrop of an intensifying global assault on democracy, the Reagan-Fascell Fellows Program brings together a diverse group of democracy advocates each year to exchange insights and experiences, incubate new ideas, and identify innovative paths forward in the struggle for freedom.
Through their experience at NED, Reagan-Fascell Fellows come to see themselves as part of a global movement for democracy. The fellowship offers them the opportunity to situate their projects within a broader comparative context and draw lessons from the work of the NED family of institutes. Likewise, the fellows, in turn, inform and illuminate the wider work of the democracy assistance community. This multi-directional learning—and the solidarity that emerges from sharing ideas and experiences across borders—lies at the heart of the Reagan-Fascell program.
The 2023–2024 Fellows:
During their time in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy, the 2023–2024 cohort of Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows brought an impressive wealth of experience, sharp strategic vision, and a spirit of solidarity to the NED family.
The Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 Reagan-Fascell Fellows included human rights defenders, journalists, civil society leaders, and artists from 12 different countries across the world. The 2023–2024 Fellows innovated new ideas, expanded their professional networks, and developed plans for greater strategic impact in the struggle for democracy around the world.
The following are a few highlights from the 2023–2024 cohort’s vital contributions to the cause of democracy and human rights around the world.
Understanding Foreign Authoritarian Influence:
Dr. Donika Emini (Kosovo) researched the role of the local enablers of foreign authoritarian influence in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership Region. She developed the concept of “kingpins”: local leaders who adopt autocratic methods to maintain power and strengthen authoritarian control, while simultaneously benefiting from partnerships with democratic actors. Listen to Donika’s arguments on the Power 3.0 podcast.
Batsugar Tsedendamba (Mongolia) connected with Reagan-Fascell alumni from across the world to discuss challenges posed by authoritarian influence in their home countries. This comparative analysis informed his research on Russian and Chinese influence in Mongolia and Central Asia. Read more about Batsugar’s research on his Power 3.0 blogpost.
spearheading Technological Innovation:
Luiz Fernando Toledo (Brazil) built an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot to support journalists in accessing government records in Brazil, where the legacy of military dictatorship has left behind a pervasive culture of state secrecy. The chatbot, accessible here, helps to guide journalists and the public through the process of requesting government data. Read more about Luiz’ process for building the chatbot on Muckrock.
Combating Kleptocracy Through MUSIC:
Martial Pa’nucci (Congo-Brazzaville) wrote and produced “MDFC” (Music for a Democratic Future in Congo), a 12-track hip hop album that advocates for freedom of expression, while denouncing the dictatorship and kleptocracy that undermine his country.
Championing Inclusivity:
Dr. Joyce Bazira (Tanzania) interviewed 35 community radio journalists across rural Tanzania about how their coverage of women in politics serves to counteract the longstanding exclusion of women from decision-making. Joyce directed a short documentary highlighting the victories and challenges facing community radio journalists across the country.
Bassam Alahmad (Syria) reexamined the decade-long peace process in Syria through the lens of civil society participation and inclusion. He powerfully advocated for a reimagined peace process, centering on the Syrian people, not on geopolitical interests. Read Bassam’s reflections on the Syrian transition in his report on the Syrians for Truth and Justice website, and his article on Just Security.
Defending the Integrity of the Information Space:
Mike Navallo (Philippines) interviewed Taiwanese and Brazilian Reagan-Fascell alumni and experts about how they responded to online influence operations around elections in their respective countries. These insights helped to inform his recommendations for how Philippine society can protect the information space in future elections. Learn about Mike’s research in a conversation on the Power 3.0 podcast.
Civil Society Strategizing:
As part of a wider effort to counter collaboration among global authoritarian powers, Felix Maradiaga (Nicaragua) conducted research and developed a guide on how to build a transnational network of pro-democracy activists.
Hayriye Ataş (Turkey) and Diana Medvednikova (Kazakhstan) met with a wide array of U.S. civil society organizations to discuss their approaches to advocacy. Their insights sparked new ideas for how their organizations can approach advocacy in their home countries.
