The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) on 22 February 2010 honoured Dr Ntombemhlophe Bam for her outstanding contribution to IDEA’s work in her capacity as a member of the IDEA Board of Advisors until 2009. She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2003.

International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation that supports sustainable democracy worldwide and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Its mission is to support sustainable democratic change by providing comparative knowledge, and assisting in democratic reform, and influencing policies and politics.

South Africa is one of IDEA’s original 14 founding member states. The other 13 were: Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Today, representing six continents, the number of member states has grown to 23.

Presently, International IDEA is governed by a Council composed of its Member States and assisted by a Board of Advisors. The Secretary-General of IDEA, Mr Vidar Helgesen, who is on a visit to South Africa, presented Dr Bam with the award in Pretoria.