Building Democratic Resilience: Insights from TED’s First Training Module
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This November, TED launched the first of its four training modules. Titled Building Democratic Resilience, this first module enabled participants to revisit key elements of democratic resilience and democratic backsliding, drawing on established indices and frameworks such as those of Freedom House, V-DEM, CIVICUS Monitor, and EU SEE in a micro-learning session. They also explored the role of civil society in the different phases of a project, the various dimensions of the rule of law, and the online dimension of human rights.
The theoretical concepts covered in the micro-learning session were tested through projects and real case studies contributed by TED members. One case study presented by UNESCO highlighted the Media4Peace initiative, which illustrated how addressing harmful online content can help support peace in both in-conflict and post-conflict settings. This outcome was achieved through research, multi-stakeholder dialogue on content moderation, and the development of peacebuilding narratives with civil society organisations and youth groups.
Another case study, shared by IDLO, examined Access to Justice in Uganda, underscoring the importance of working with vulnerable groups and strengthening community-level justice mechanisms. In Bolivia, Oxfam showcased its capacity-building work with political parties and the electoral body to promote more inclusive elections—made possible through a clear division of labour among the EU Delegation, Member States, and UN actors.
Participants in the training module were invited to reflect on division of labour, cooperation modalities, and intervention priorities through a case study set in the fictitious Republic of Tabora. In this imaginary context, constitutional amendments had eliminated presidential term limits, while a small elite consolidated wealth and media control. Rising economic disparities, gender-based exclusion, entrenched corruption, and increased restrictions on civil society had fuelled public discontent, culminating in youth-led protests driven by Generation Z actors.
During the exercise, participants assumed the roles of the United Nations, EU Member States, and Non-Governmental Organisations. Several key insights emerged, including the guiding principle that each actor operates within the boundaries of its own mandate. Suggested initiatives included designing increasingly integrated programmes, collaborating with regional institutions, and using mechanisms like basket funds to involve a broader range of stakeholders in addressing issues related to social media, youth, and women.
105 participants took part in this first module, including Civil Society Organisations, Member States and EU institutions. The micro-learning session, together with the case study and practical exercise, enabled participants to reflect on their own work in complex settings. It encouraged them to consider how best to assess the actors as well as the contexts in which they operate, and how to adopt a more holistic approach to interventions—where the dimensions of the rule of law, civic participation, and human rights online are interconnected.
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