Montenegro achieved formal independence through a peaceful referendum in 2006, gained NATO membership in 2017, and is currently a candidate for European Union membership. Montenegro has been ruled by one party for the past 20 years, however, and this centralization of power has created challenges in relations between the government and the opposition, electoral competition, the rule of law and independent media.

NDI supported Montenegrin democracy activists beginning in 1997, assisting an array of democratization initiatives including political party building, legislative process strengthening, parliamentary and institutional reform, and election monitoring. NDI helped the Center for Democratic Transition become a flagship civic organization promoting government transparency and helped make public legislative hearings and constituency outreach common practice. NDI ended its in-country assistance in 2011, and continues to work with political and parliamentary partners in regional programs.