Democracy International, Inc. (DI) designs, evaluates, implements, and provides technical assistance for democracy and governance programs worldwide. Founded in 2003 by leading experts in international democracy promotion, DI offers expertise in election processes and election monitoring, political party organizing, local government and decentralization, legislative strengthening, civil society development, strategic communications, and rule of law programming.

In July of 2009, DI deployed core staff and long term observers for an international observation of the Presidential and Provincial Council Elections in Afghanistan. In August, core staff and long term observers were joined by a delegation of short term observers. In total, DI deployed 60 international observers for the August 20 elections. DI also planned an international observation of the aborted presidential runoff election. Presently, DI maintains on ongoing election observation mission in Afghanistan where DI core staff now focus on issues of electoral reform and observation of the 2010 parliamentary election process.

The purpose of this ongoing mission is to evaluate the degree to which the conduct of the election and the broader political and legal contexts conform to accepted international norms of election administration, human rights, and democratic representation. The credibility of these upcoming elections is vital to the consolidation of democracy in Afghanistan and a critical component in the Afghan people’s ongoing struggle for peace.