In a collaborative effort to bolster democratic transitions worldwide, Administrator Samantha Power of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Swiss Ambassador to the United States Jacques Pitteloud led a roundtable discussion with representatives from twelve like-minded development partners.
The meeting, attended by officials from Canada, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, aimed to strategize support for countries undergoing democratic openings.
Additionally, leaders from Guatemala, Moldova, and Tanzania participated, emphasising the pivotal role international partnerships play in advancing reform agendas.
Discussions centred around collective efforts to assist reformers in seizing opportunities for democratic progress, with a focus on rooting out corruption, enhancing democratic governance, and promoting equitable prosperity. Ambassador Pitteloud underscored Switzerland’s increased strategic focus on democratic openings within their holistic approach to sustainable development.
Highlighted initiatives included USAID’s Democracy Delivers Initiative, launched in 2022, which aims to mobilise cross-sectoral support for countries undergoing democratic transitions. Emphasising the importance of multi-stakeholder coalitions, participants stressed the need for collaborative efforts involving bilateral and multilateral donors, philanthropy, civil society, and the private sector.
Following the momentum generated by the Democracy Delivers Commitment to Action at the UN General Assembly and engagements like the roundtable, USAID reaffirmed its commitment to galvanising support and fostering new partnerships to strengthen democratic openings worldwide.
