The OECD Reinforcing Democracy Initiative

Executive summary

At the OECD Public Governance Committee Ministerial in 2022, ministers committed to bold action to build trust and reinforce democracy. This action has been guided by the five pillars of the Reinforcing Democracy Initiative and their respective action plans: combatting mis- and disinformation; enhancing participation and representation and openness in public life, and its annex on gender equality; stronger open democracies in a globalised world; governing green; and digital democracy.

This Monitoring Report delves into the richness of that action by drawing on OECD survey data, evidence, and policy analysis, as well as submissions by countries and cases collected via an online public call in 2024. It also identifies gaps in action and points to a set of common priorities for the future.

Key findings

Public Governance for Combatting Mis- and Disinformation

Governments increasingly recognise the urgency of strengthening information integrity and have started to act in three main areas: enhancing transparency and accountability, fostering societal resilience to disinformation, and improving governance measures to uphold the integrity of information ecosystems.

Notably, some are moving beyond self-regulatory approaches to improve the transparency of online platforms and their content moderation. Many governments are working to slow the decline in independent and pluralistic media and to build capacity – both amongst the general public and within government – to effectively tackle mis- and disinformation.

Nonetheless, action has been slow given the rapid rise of mis- and disinformation and their damaging effects over the past decade. Governments need to work together and with all of society to deliver comprehensive and constructive solutions. The OECD Council Recommendation on Information Integrity, currently under development, will provide a global standard for action in democratic settings.

Enhancing Representation, Participation and Openness in Public Life

Countries are making progress in implementing participatory processes at all levels of government, developing policy frameworks to ensure civil society engagement and improving access to information. Efforts are also being made to enhance representation in elected bodies and the public service to ensure that these institutions reflect societal demographics.

Nevertheless, there is still no clear understanding, nor clear way forward, in making participation fully compatible with, and fully meaningful in, representative democracy. The institutionalisation of meaningful and transparent participation mechanisms has been slow. There is thus a need to take citizen participation to the next level, institutionalising citizen participation and evaluating what works best for different policy decisions. Strengthening citizens’ civic skills and civil servants’ capacity to undertake and evaluate participatory processes is crucial. While evaluation of these processes has become more common, further research is needed on their impact. The upcoming OECD Barometer will help measure meaningful citizen participation.

More broadly, OECD data show significant scope remains for further action to protect and promote civic space, strengthen integrity in policymaking and boost the representation of underrepresented groups. While some progress has been made with regard to women and young people, barriers to representation remain for other under-represented groups such as visible minorities, second generation migrants and indigenous people (where applicable).

A special focus on gender equality 

Countries are working to remove legal and policy barriers to women’s participation in electoral and policymaking mechanisms, while addressing gender stereotypes, gender-based violence, and sexual harassment, which prevent women and girls from fully engaging in public life. Countries are also increasingly adopting gender mainstreaming and gender budgeting.

However, such measures alone are not enough. Despite decades of progress, gender gaps in political representation and participation persist across OECD countries. Countries must work together to develop evidence-based policies, using more granular data to identify areas requiring attention. New challenges, such as tech-facilitated gender-based violence, need to be tackled urgently. The biennial OECD Gender Equality Forum provides a platform for addressing gender gaps in the context of the dual transition.

Stronger Open Democracies in a Globalised World

Governments are strengthening governance capacities to address global challenges through international co-operation, taking better account of transboundary impacts, and developing new reporting mechanisms for global commitments. At the same time, they recognise that intensifying foreign interference is changing the landscape of international relations, with consequences for the democratic model of governance. In response, OECD countries are strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks for lobbying, including political finance from foreign sources; applying pre- and post-public employment restrictions on senior public officials and ensuring protections for media and civil society organisations.

However, the scale of the problem requires greater co-operation amongst democracies to better understand foreign interference and design appropriate policy responses to strengthen democratic resilience. These include countering corruption, controlling lobbying, reinforcing information integrity, better integrating diasporas, further regulating political finance or better screening foreign direct investments, and minimising trade and debt dependence on single foreign actors. Nonetheless, it is important to safeguard legitimate foreign influence efforts to foster transparent international relations.

Governing Green

Countries are using tools such as green budgeting and green public procurement to ensure that government actions align with green objectives. Governments are also monitoring and reducing their own greenhouse gas emissions and environmental footprints. Finally, some are attempting to build public consensus and trust in government’s ability to drive the green transition through, for example, public communication, citizen participation and engagement with civil society.

However, much more is needed for governments to accelerate the transition to a green economy. Democratic governments need to garner public understanding and support for policies that may be seen as contentious or inequitable. They can take action to improve governance processes, such as permitting for green infrastructure; making use governance tools such as procurement more strategically; and employing public communication and citizen engagement to build trust and buy-in.

Transforming Public Governance for Digital Democracy

Governments are using digital tools, including civic tech, to enhance both in-person and online participation in policymaking. They are also addressing regulatory gaps in election integrity, political advertising, and online campaign finance. Digital identification systems and open data are being deployed to improve public services.

However, the public sector often lags in adopting the necessary technologies needed to meet the expectations of a digital democracy. The rapid spread of mis- and disinformation demonstrates the urgent need for more decisive government action. Public institutions can improve their ability to harness digital tools, such as AI, to provide better services and enhance their own efficiency.

Moving forward, together

Beyond offering an impressive array of specific country examples, this Monitoring Report underscores the need for continued peer-learning and collaboration internationally. It has focused on action in OECD Member countries. Going forward, peer-to-peer learning under the Reinforcing Democracy Initiative will bring together a wider group of countries, including non-Members, to break new ground for democracy.