The Democracy & Culture Foundation

Our Editorial Director, Kimberly Conniff Taber, hosted two insightful conversations at the Munich Security Conference: 🟩 A roundtable discussion, 'In the AI of the Storm', focusing on election integrity, the role of open-source, and AI-enhanced disinformation. 🟩 A side event focusing on global democracy after the U.S. elections with senior The New York Times' correspondents. More below 👇

Do you know a young changemaker who is making a difference in strengthening democracy in their community or beyond? This is their chance to shine! The Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize celebrates visionary young leaders driving innovation, inclusion, and impact in democratic governance. Winners receive a $10,000 monetary prize, one-year mentorship, and participation at the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum! Nominate a young leader who inspires hope and action for a better, more democratic future. 📅 Deadline: Midnight CET, 31 March 2025 👉 Learn more and nominate: https://lnkd.in/eZ7hA9v9 #KANextGenPrize #FutureLeaders #DemocracyMatters #YoungChangemakers #NextGenDemocracy Kofi Annan Foundation

A week ago we launched the first ever Creativity for Social Change Award with the Moleskine Foundation. If you know an artist and changemaker using their practice to tackle social issues please consider nominating (until 28 Feb) 👇 The award includes a €10,000 prize, access to the Creativity Pioneers Fund ecosystem, and a chance to co-curate a panel at the Art for Tomorrow conference. The members of the selection committee are Heba Y. Amin, Dimitris Daskalopoulos , Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Jeff Koons, Sebabatso Manoeli-Lesame, PhD, Simon Njami, Adama Sanneh and Kimberly Conniff Taber Learn more and submit your nomination at https://lnkd.in/ekQqi7nE

✍️ We are joining hundreds of signatories for Democracy Without Borders' Call for a UN Special Rapporteur on Democracy. While we've been exploring the threats to the state of democracy and human rights and authoritarianism rise at Athens Democracy Forum, we also acknowledge that civic space and freedoms are fiercely and increasingly restricted in many countries. The United Nations needs to do more to strengthen human rights and democracy: protecting human rights is a fundamental pillar of the UN and democracy is one of its core values. Read about the campaign here https://ow.ly/6qYG50UQoKE #UNRoD

Are you 18–24 old and determined to change the world? Participate in the 7th International Youth Think Tank Conference, April 14–17, 2025, at Georgetown University, Washington DC. Collaborate with peers, scholars, and professionals to create visionary, evidence-based policy proposals for democracy renewal and peacebuilding. Travel, lodging, and meals are covered for participants. Applications close February 15. Anyone living in the USA by the time of the conference is welcome to apply, regardless of citizenship. Read more information here: https://lnkd.in/dXaV38qY #IYTT #YouthLeadership #DemocracyInnovation #Changemakers #AgainstAuthoritarianism

Young leaders are at the forefront of transforming democracies worldwide. Do you know someone driving change, fostering dialogue, or building inclusive systems? Nominate them for the 2025 Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize! Led together with the Kofi Annan Foundation, this prestigious award highlights the work of young leaders aged 18-30 who embody courage, creativity, and commitment to democratic values. Winners receive a $10,000 monetary prize, one-year mentorship, and participation at the 2025 Athens Democracy Forum! 📅 Nominate by Midnight CET, 31 March 2025 👉 Submit nominations here: https://lnkd.in/eZ7hA9v9 Meet the finalists and winners of the 2023 and 2024 editions: Alejandro Daly, Andrew Regalado, Duaa Muhammed, B Esther Ze Naw, Nicki Becker, Maung Sawyeddollah, Namatai K., Edmilson Angelo, Rosemarie Ramitt, Nika Kovac, Archana Vijai Kumar, LLB, CLP, LLM., Anton Eremin, Christopher Wleh Sivili, Luis V. Villaherrera, Margo Vorykhava, Nisreen Elsaim, Shila Bhatta and Omar van Reenen

At the 2024 Athens Democracy Forum, Camille Grenier (Forum sur l'Information et la Démocratie) and Nishant Lalwani (International Fund for Public Interest Media) presented a workshop titled “Shaping a Whole-of-Society Approach for Information Integrity.” The session emphasized collaboration across governments, civil society, and media to combat disinformation. Key strategies included strengthening independent journalism, regulating platforms, and enhancing media literacy. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e9V3feWM #AthensDemocracyForum #InformationIntegrity #Disinformation #MediaLiteracy #Democracy

How can we bring citizens closer to policy-making? The EU-funded Orbis Project is working to answer this by developing innovative tools and methodologies for large-scale participation and co-creation. Using AI-enhanced solutions, ORBIS seeks to bridge the gap between citizens and institutions, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration. At the Democracy & Culture Foundation, the concept of Citizen Committees is central to this vision. These committees, formed through a lottery system, allow everyday people to deliberate on critical issues and provide valuable input to Ministers and Parliamentary Committees. Would you welcome Citizen Committees in your country? What role do you think they could play in shaping decisions that affect us all? 🔗 Join the conversation and share your perspective: https://lnkd.in/dYq4yEVX #orbisproject #citizencommittees #AI

🗣️"I always say that media is the hyphen that joins that composite word, democracy, demos and kratos." Achilles Tsaltas, President, Democracy and Culture Foundation Fridoon Joinda recorded engaging podcasts during the Athens Democracy Forum 2024, including a conversation with Achilles Tsaltas on democracy, journalism, and global politics for his series The Untold Podcast. Explore his platform for more interviews and discussions, featuring Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize winner Omar van Reenen and other forum highlights. #AthensDemocracyForum #FridoonJoinda #Democracy #HumanRights

The Democracy and Culture Foundation is delighted to welcome Adama Sanneh, Co-Founder and CEO of Moleskine Foundation, to our Board of Governors. With a rich background in management and cultural studies, Adama leads the Moleskine Foundation in developing educational tools and experiences that nurture critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning, particularly for youth and underserved communities. Adama’s career spans rural development in East Africa, humanitarian programs, and social innovation with the United Nations. He also serves on advisory boards for the British Council Italy, BrandAfrica, and Opera Futura. As a public speaker, writer, and cultural curator, his work explores the intersection of creativity, culture, and social change, carving out spaces for dialogue and imagination. We look forward to the valuable perspectives Adama brings to our mission. Welcome! #DemocracyAndCulture #BoardOfGovernors #CreativeLeadership #EducationForAll #CulturalInnovation