A Stanford University initiative funded by VélezReyes+ to strengthen democratic governance in Latin America.
The Democracy Action Lab (DAL) is a Stanford-based initiative that bridges academic excellence with innovative entrepreneurship to strengthen democracy.
Led by Professors and the Lab connects scholars, policymakers, and civic leaders to understand how democracies erode—and how they can be rebuilt from within.
DAL works hand in hand with local actors to identify, test, and scale effective responses to democratic backsliding.
Its mission: to ensure that knowledge doesn’t stay in the classroom, but becomes a force for change.
Support for democracy in Latin America has fallen from 63% in 2010 to 52% in 2024.
Meanwhile, two out of three citizens express dissatisfaction with how democracy works, and more than half say they wouldn’t oppose an undemocratic government if it solved their problems.
We know much about the causes of democratic erosion—but less about how to effectively reverse it.
The Democracy Action Lab was created to change that: connecting evidence with action to rebuild trust in institutions and prove that democracy can deliver results.
A network of leading academics placing Latin American democracy at the center of global research.
The Consortium ensures that the region’s realities, challenges, and innovations shape the global debate on democratic resilience.
The first accelerator dedicated to democratic entrepreneurs—innovators from government, civil society, and the private sector developing ideas to make democracies work better.
Through mentorship, access to evidence, and practical tools, the Garage helps these initiatives test, refine, and evaluate their impact.
At VélezReyes+, we believe that defending democracy requires collaboration between those who study it and those who work to defend it. Our partnership with Stanford’s Democracy Action Lab reflects this conviction.
By partnering with DAL, we are helping expand its reach to Latin America—where democratic resilience is being tested, and where innovation, evidence, and commitment are urgently needed.
Together, we are building bridges between researchers and practitioners to generate solutions that strengthen institutions, renew civic trust, and ensure democracy delivers for everyone.
