Kofi Annan Foundation
An independent Swiss not-for-profit foundation working to build peaceful, democratic and resilient societies.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Kofi Annan Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded and legally incorporated in Switzerland in 2007 by Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. It carries forward Annan’s public-service priorities through work on peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and international cooperation. The Foundation’s underlying approach is that security, development, accountable governance and human rights are mutually dependent. Its work therefore extends beyond conventional conflict mediation. It convenes political leaders, practitioners, researchers, civil-society organisations and young people; provides advice and advocacy; supports dialogue and reconciliation; and develops recommendations intended to help governments and institutions address systemic risks. Its stated mission is to help build societies that are peaceful, democratic and resilient. Three connected areas define much of the organisation’s activity. First, it promotes youth leadership and participation, arguing that young people should have a meaningful role in public decision-making rather than being treated only as beneficiaries of policy. The Foundation has supported international youth dialogue and leadership initiatives, including Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE, a series launched in 2013 on leadership, employment, democracy, elections and the post-2015 development agenda. In 2023 it introduced the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize to recognise young activists advancing democratic values; Namatai Kwekweza was the inaugural recipient. Second, the Foundation works on elections and democracy. It advises on electoral integrity, legitimacy and the prevention of election-related violence. Its work includes the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, established with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. The commission’s 2012 report, Deepening Democracy: A Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide, examined weaknesses in electoral systems and proposed measures for governments, electoral management bodies, regional and international organisations and civil society. The Foundation’s broader democratic-governance work addresses political finance, public trust, unequal political participation, winner-takes-all systems and the misuse of elections to legitimise authoritarian rule. Third, the Foundation supports international cooperation and efforts to respond to global challenges that cannot be solved by individual states. It works with international and regional organisations, foundations, universities and civil-society groups, using expert networks and convening power to form coalitions around difficult issues. In April 2024, it launched the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security, a seven-member initiative focused on hunger, food insecurity and weaknesses in the global food system. The commission released its final report in February 2025. The Foundation is funded by a mixture of public and private donors. It states that it takes care to ensure that funding sources are credible and that contributions are politically untied. It is not a listed company and does not sell conventional consumer products. Its principal offerings are policy advice, mediation support, convening, research, advocacy, leadership development and recognition programmes. The organisation remains active internationally, with its work reflecting Annan’s belief that durable peace requires development, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
History
The Kofi Annan Foundation was founded and legally incorporated in Switzerland in 2007 by Kofi Annan after his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations. The institution was created to give practical expression to Annan’s conviction that peace, development, accountable institutions and human rights cannot be separated. Its work is based on the proposition that long-term development depends on security, that security depends partly on development, and that prosperity is not sustainable without the rule of law and respect for human rights. From its establishment, the Foundation operated as an independent international not-for-profit organisation rather than as a commercial enterprise or a United Nations body. It developed a model centred on convening and influence: bringing specialists and decision-makers together, supporting dialogue, encouraging political leadership and publishing recommendations for governments, civil society and businesses. Its principal areas became peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights and the rule of law. Youth participation became an important strand of the Foundation’s work. Annan supported One Young World and served as a counsellor at its inaugural summit in 2010 and again at the 2012 summit in Pittsburgh. In 2013, the Foundation launched Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE, a programme of conversations with young people from different parts of the world. The dialogues addressed youth leadership, unemployment, democracy, elections and priorities for the post-2015 development agenda. The initiative reflected the Foundation’s view that young people should participate in shaping public policy and should be supported as leaders and advocates. Electoral integrity and democratic resilience formed another major strand. The Foundation worked with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to establish the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security. The commission brought together experienced public figures and experts to examine how electoral systems could promote stability rather than intensify conflict. In 2012, it issued Deepening Democracy: A Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide. The report addressed conditions before, during and after elections and made recommendations for states, election-management institutions, international and regional organisations and civil society. The Foundation’s subsequent work continued to focus on election-related violence, political finance, public trust, democratic legitimacy and the risk that elections could be used to give authoritarian systems a democratic appearance. The organisation also continued to use commissions and partnerships to address issues beyond elections and conflict mediation. It collaborates with international and regional organisations, universities, foundations and civil-society groups, seeking to connect expertise with political action. In 2023, it created the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize, with Namatai Kwekweza as its first winner. In April 2024, the Foundation launched the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security, a seven-member body tasked with examining hunger and food insecurity and proposing systemic reforms. The commission’s final report was released in February 2025. The Foundation is supported by public and private donors. It states that it screens funding sources and seeks contributions that are politically untied. Its continuing role is that of an international convenor, adviser and advocate working at the intersection of peacebuilding, democratic governance, sustainable development and human rights.
- 2025
Food Security Commission final report released
[2]The Foundation published the final report of its food-security commission, presenting a proposed roadmap for addressing systemic failures.
- 2024
Commission on Food Security launched
[2]The Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security was established to examine hunger, food insecurity and weaknesses in international food-governance systems.
- 2023
NextGen Democracy Prize introduced
[2]The Foundation launched the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. Zimbabwean human-rights activist Namatai Kwekweza was the first recipient.
- 2013
Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE launched
[2]The Foundation began a series of international youth dialogues addressing leadership, employment, democracy, elections and development priorities.
- 2012
Global Commission report on electoral integrity
[2]The Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security published Deepening Democracy, a set of recommendations for improving the integrity and credibility of elections worldwide.
- 2010
Kofi Annan participates in the inaugural One Young World summit
[2]Annan served as a counsellor at the inaugural summit of One Young World, reflecting his support for youth leadership and global civic engagement.
- 2007
Foundation established in Switzerland
[1]Kofi Annan founded and legally incorporated the independent, not-for-profit organisation in Switzerland.
Products and positioning
An independent international foundation focused on peacebuilding, democratic governance, youth participation, human rights and multilateral cooperation.
Youth dialogue and leadership · 2013
Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE
A series of dialogues launched in 2013 that gave young people an international platform to discuss leadership, unemployment, democracy, elections and development priorities. The programme represented the Foundation’s effort to connect youth voices with wider policy debates and encourage young people to act as civic leaders and advocates.
Democracy and electoral integrity
Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security
A commission created jointly by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to examine how credible elections can support peace and security. Its work produced recommendations for governments, electoral authorities, international institutions and civil society.
Democracy recognition programme · 2023
Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
A prize launched in 2023 to recognise and support young activists who have advanced democratic values or democratic practice. Namatai Kwekweza, a human-rights activist from Zimbabwe, received the inaugural award.
Policy commission · 2024
Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security
A seven-member commission launched in 2024 to investigate hunger and food insecurity and propose a roadmap for improving the international system’s response. Its final report was released in February 2025.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize
Global
The Foundation launched an award programme to highlight young people working to strengthen democracy.
Outcome. Namatai Kwekweza was selected as the first winner.
- 2013Kofi Annan Dialogues: LIVE
Global
The Foundation convened young people from different regions to discuss public challenges including leadership, employment, democracy, elections and the post-2015 development agenda.
Outcome. Created a platform for youth perspectives and proposals within international policy discussions.
Brand decisions
2024
Establish a commission on food securityStrategyBackground
Persistent hunger and food insecurity exposed weaknesses in international cooperation and food-governance systems.
Action taken
The Foundation launched the Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security, bringing together seven leaders in food security and governance to develop a reform roadmap.
Aftermath
The commission released its final report in February 2025.
2012
Publish a global strategy for improving electoral integrityStrategyBackground
The Foundation and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance used the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security to examine election-related violence, political distrust and weaknesses in democratic processes.
Action taken
The commission issued Deepening Democracy: A Strategy for Improving the Integrity of Elections Worldwide, with recommendations directed at governments, electoral bodies, international organisations and civil society.
Aftermath
The report became a central reference point for the Foundation’s continuing work on credible elections and democratic resilience.
Sources2 sources
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