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Today, the Ford Foundation joined the Rockefeller Foundation in support of USAID’s flagship “Democracy Delivers” event at the 2023 UN General Assembly. The event brought together US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, USAID Administrator, Samantha Power, philanthropic and business leaders, and heads of state of countries experiencing promising democratic openings. The gathering highlighted progress made over the past year and mobilized new partners in a collective effort to support the political and economic reforms needed to turn moments of democratic opening into lasting democratic realities. 

The Ford Foundation committed $20 million over four years to support openings for democracy. Grants will include limited, new engagements in Moldova and Zambia that will focus on civic engagement for democracy, and extensions to ongoing work in Tanzania and Nepal that will advance connections between democracy-oriented actors, and grantmaking at these moments of opportunity. The commitment includes funding for Ford’s long standing work to strengthen the pillars of democracy and foster government responsiveness to citizens working across borders to strengthen accountability, participation and democratic values by fostering engagement between people and their governments. 

Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation issued the following statement:

“At the Ford Foundation, our longstanding commitment to strengthening the pillars of democracy and fostering greater responsiveness in government has led to a strategic focus on civic engagement. We support citizen-led organizations and movements from Johannesburg to Jakarta as well as national and international nonprofits forming a united front to protect civic space.

“And now, we are committing $20 million over four years to support openings for democracy, seizing on the opportunity of this unique moment. The funding will sustain our core work in this area, further our ongoing efforts in Tanzania and Nepal, and will also go to new engagements in Moldova and Zambia.

“We recognize the importance of being nimble and going where we are most needed. And I am grateful to join this effort with friends and allies who believe, as Ford does, that right now, there is no greater need—and no greater opportunity than investing in democracies that deliver a better future for us all.”