Making Democracy The only rule of the game! 

The Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) is a board-led, non-profit, non-governmental, civil society organization registered under the Authority for Civil Society Organizations with registry number 4307, according to the Civil Societies Law 1113/2019. CARD acquired its legal personality on 24 July 2019. CARD aspires to see Ethiopia being a place where human rights are respected and democratic culture flourished. Since its foundation, CARD has been operating with a mission of advancing a conducive civic, media, and digital space for the respect of human rights and cultivation of democratic mass culture in Ethiopia. Read More...


Who We Are

CARD is a non-profit organization that is working to build up democratic mass cultures in popular movements through awareness creation, organizing, and advocacy embedded with human rights values. 

CARD’s Vision 
​​​​CARD aspires to see Ethiopia being a place where human rights are respected and democratic culture flourished. 

CARD’s Mission 
​CARD works for the advancement of civic, media, and digital space to cultivate democratic mass culture in Ethiopia.


CARD’s Core Objectives 
CARD, as legally registered for, and is mandated to: 

  • To work for the advancement of democratic culture in Ethiopia by promoting democratic values, raising awareness and creating platforms for democratic practice.

  • Conducting timely monitoring, documentation, reporting and advocacy activities to advance transparency and accountability in governmental and non-governmental institutions;

  • Conducting policy research, consultation and lobbying to bring about necessary changes;

  • Providing professional and technical support to democratic institutions;

  • Monitoring, documenting, and reporting on the state of police detention centers, prisons, and court proceedings in accordance with Ethiopian law to ensure the respect of human and democratic rights.

  • Advocating the advancement of media space and capacity building to raise professional and ethical standards in journalism.

  • Advocating for and supporting the respect of digital rights and the safety of digital technology users.

  • Observing elections and providing civic and voters’ education.

Programs