Dr Annika Silva-Leander is Head of North America at International IDEA where she oversees International IDEA’s outreach and partnerships in the region, including relations with US and Canadian stakeholders, including civil society organizations, think tanks and academic institutions, as well as Global Affairs Canada, its engagement with the United Nations, and coordination of the Global Democracy Coalition. She is also International IDEA’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, representing International IDEA at the UN General Assembly as a leading voice and advocate on democracy.
In her UN role, she leads International IDEA’s democracy advocacy and research at the UN, focusing on the nexus between democracy and sustainable development.
Between 2018 and 2021, Silva-Leander was the Head of the Democracy Assessment Unit in Stockholm, where she led International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy report, as lead author, editor and Programme head. She also oversaw the production of the annually updated Global State of Democracy Indices and the implementation of the Covid-19 Global Monitor on Democracy and Human Rights. From 2015 to 2018, she worked as the Senior Adviser to the Secretary-General of International IDEA.
Prior to joining International IDEA, Silva-Leander worked for 10 years as a Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, on civic engagement and poverty reduction in Asia, Latin America and Africa. During her nine years in Asia, she worked for the World Bank, UNICEF and UNDP.