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We empower local partners to build the skills, systems and institutions that underpin democracies founded on human rights and inclusion—that are representative, accountable and effective. By helping lay this foundation, we catalyze inclusive economic growth, social development community resilience and stabilization.

Our experience spans environments affected by conflict, state fragility, corruption, criminal violence and violent extremism, as well as emerging or consolidating democracies. 

We work across the program cycle from assessments and strategies to program design and implementation, to monitoring, evaluation and learning. Recognizing that both the demand and supply for good governance is necessary to provide responsive services and manage divisions in society, our approach at the tactical level places a premium on engagement between citizens and their government.

We focus on:

  • Democracy, human rights, and governance analytics and training
  • Public sector management and decentralization
  • Civil society
  • Cross-sectoral integration, incorporating political and governance dimensions into work in other sectors

MSI works closely with USAID’s Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG), and has contributed to important USAID field guides and handbooks that are still in use today. MSI also works with other USAID operating units around the world, the U.S. Department of State, and partners closely with leading think tanks and universities.