GCRD Board Advances Strategy, Partnerships, and Global Impact
The Board of Trustees of the Global Centre for Rehumanising Democracy (GCRD) convened on April 29, 2026 to review the organisation’s strategic direction and advance key priorities across governance, partnerships, and programme development.
The meeting marked an important step in GCRD’s institutional growth, with the Board endorsing a refined strategic framework structured around civic dialogue, AI for the common good, and rebuilding trust in democracy. Together, these pillars define GCRD’s integrated approach to addressing the erosion of trust in democratic life: generating independent research, developing practical tools to counter disinformation, and equipping leaders through education and formation.
Central to the discussion was the continued development of the Democracy Discourse Index (DDI), GCRD’s flagship initiative for tracking and analysing democratic health through public discourse across diverse national contexts. The Board reviewed progress to date and plans to scale the platform’s analytical capacity, including the expansion of coded datasets to support AI-enabled insights. Trustees underscored the importance of ensuring that technological innovation remains grounded in ethical principles and public purpose.
The Board also considered a range of current and prospective funding opportunities, including applications to major international funding bodies and exploration of philanthropic partnerships in the United States and beyond. Trustees reaffirmed the importance of pursuing diversified funding streams while maintaining alignment with GCRD’s mission, values, and independence.
Partnership development featured prominently in the meeting, with updates provided on ongoing collaboration discussions. These engagements reflect GCRD’s commitment to building cross-sector partnerships that connect research, policy, and practice at a global level.
Looking ahead, the Board will reconvene in the summer to undertake a deeper review of the DDI and to further refine GCRD’s strategic positioning and communications, including thematic priorities for external engagement.
Statement from the Board Chair
Dr. Margee M. Ensign, Chair of the GCRD Board, said:
“This meeting marked an important step in strengthening both the strategic clarity and institutional foundations of GCRD. We are building an organisation that not only produces rigorous research, but also actively engages with the challenges of disinformation, democratic trust, and ethical leadership in a rapidly changing world.
“The Board is committed to ensuring that our growth is grounded in strong governance, clear values, and a deep sense of public responsibility. We are particularly encouraged by the progress of the Democracy Discourse Index and the emerging partnerships that will expand our global impact. As we move forward, our focus will be on sharpening our strategy, deepening our work, projecting our voice and securing the support needed to sustain and scale our mission.”
The meeting was attended by:
Margee Ensign
Doug Barry
Peter de Clercq
Chika Jacob
Antonio Garcia
Kendall Isaac
Jacob Udo-Udo Jacob (Executive Director)
About GCRD
GCRD is an independent, non-partisan organisation dedicated to rebuilding trust in democratic life through research, innovation, and leadership development. Working at the intersection of governance, technology, and civic dialogue, GCRD advances practical solutions to democratic distrust, strengthens civic dialogue, and supports the formation of leaders committed to human dignity and the common good.
