As the world bid 2020 goodbye and geared up for the start of a new year, many have had their eyes on the future challenges and successes for technology in 2021.

This week, the European Commission is unveiling its European Democracy Action Plan, which will include potential

Following the Google antitrust lawsuit launched in October, Facebook will likely be the next technology giant to face

Civic organizations, government, and activists are becoming more adept at using digital technologies to engage on community issues, participate in public discourse, and stay connected. This civic technology-- such as online petition platforms, feedback mechanisms, and collaboration tools-- can improve government service delivery, bring transparency to opaque decision making, and create a strong social fabric and network of participation. (tldr: we think civic tech is pretty cool.)

Training citizens is a critical, but often challenging, part of NDI programs. With the rise of smartphone technology in recent years, some barriers can be overcome through remote, or distance, learning. In one recent example with the Zambia election process, NDI hosted in-person trainings at major cities in the provinces. In-person trainings are a common, but extremely costly, methodology, often demanding over half of a budget.

Over the past decade, the landscape for expanding democratic principles has been shifting from a relatively stable environment where successful programs supported the electoral process, fostered citizen participation and advocated for open governance to an unstable world where the traditional tools for building democracy are no longer right for addressing a narrowing space for public expression.

We all remember sitting in the classroom, teacher in the front and class clowns in the back. Traditional education and training have followed the same format for centuries, but now technology is changing the game.