The Netherlands Democracy Coalition (NDC) Positive Outcome Story: When Lobbying Yields Progress: The Investigation of a Democracy Fund in the Netherlands

The Netherlands Democracy Coalition (NDC) has since its inception been working with policymakers, practitioners, politicians and activists to create better and more comprehensive policies to defend and improve democracy. Our manifesto presents sixteen points to improve democracy, which were discussed and improved at a large conference in November 2022. One of the recommendations emerging from the conversations was to establish an independent Democracy Fund. 

Following the conference, research investigating the phenomenon of democracy funds was initiated, and in March 2023 a subsequent session for further discussion was arranged, during which most political parties and civil society organizations endorsed the idea. Ideally, the Democracy Fund would provide financial support to initiatives to defend and promote democracy initiatives both in the Netherlands and abroad. It should help improve cooperation and align programmes that focus on trustworthy information, transparency, legitimacy and accountability, and foster synergies between state-building and peacebuilding. The fund should facilitate joint projects of government actors (Ministries, but also local governments) and civil society organisations. As many of the existing granting schemes are not flexible enough to provide financial support to pro-democracy movements in authoritarian contexts, since movements often lack – for strategic reasons – official governing bodies, legal registration or bank accounts; a Democracy Fund should be able to foster pro-democracy movements and initiatives in a flexible manner.

The NDC lobbied for the Democracy Fund – both with members of Dutch parliament and foundations affiliated to political parties. The lobby was, at least partly, successful as by February 2024, a resolution was adopted in the Dutch parliament that called upon the government to investigate the creation of a Democracy Fund. Although, there was no mention of including the Netherlands itself, the development was considered a positive step in the right direction, and proof that lobbying can indeed bear fruit.    

We are currently closely following the implementation of the  resolution, in contact with members of parliament and staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As currently a new Dutch government is about to take office and quite a few changes can be expected, it is important to keep the pressure on.