Civic education is the bedrock of a thriving democracy–it empowers citizens to engage, participate, and hold institutions accountable. In an era of rapid change and growing challenges to democratic governance, it is more critical than ever that civic education programs are designed using evidence-based methodologies and best practices to maximize impact and inclusivity, and address evolving challenges and opportunities in democratic governance. 

NDI’s Civic Education Program Guidance is designed to help democracy and governance practitioners design and deliver more effective, responsive, and inclusive civic education programs and interventions. The guidance draws on research on adult learning principles and civic educational professional evidence-based practices, lessons learned and recommendations from NDI programs, and the work of other democracy and governance assistance organizations. 

The main features of the guide include: 

• An overview of the fundamentals of civic education and NDI’s approach; 

• Considerations for innovation and adaptation of civic education content and methodologies to respond to emerging democratic governance challenges and opportunities; 

• Evidence-based practices and recommendations for designing high-quality civic education programs; 

• A template to guide practitioners through the key principles and steps for designing evidence-based programs; and  

• Additional resources and examples of evidence-based strategies and practices. 

The guidance is available in English, French, and Spanish.