Price, Buchanan Welcome New HDP Executive Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2019) – Chairman David Price (D-NC) and Co-Chair Vern Buchanan (R-FL) announced Derek Luyten will serve as Executive Director of the House Democracy Partnership (HDP). Derek has more than a decade of experience working with emerging democracies, most recently serving as the Regional Director for Asia at the International Republican Institute (IRI).

Chairman Price and Co-Chair Buchanan welcomed Derek's new role:

"The House Democracy Partnership is proud to welcome Derek Luyten as the new Executive Director," said Chairman Price. "Derek's extensive experience with emerging democracies, both in the field and as a senior leader at IRI, makes him uniquely well suited to this new role. As Executive Director, Derek will assist HDP members in fulfilling the partnership's mission of promoting and strengthening democratic institutions in our partner countries in a bipartisan manner."

"I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Luyten as the new Executive Director of the House Democracy Partnership," Co-Chair Buchanan said. "He brings unparalleled experience and expertise in international affairs that will be integral to our bipartisan mission. Chairman Price and I look forward to working with him as we seek to strengthen U.S. relations with emerging democracies across the globe."

As Executive Director, Derek will be responsible for coordinating program activities among the 21 HDP partner countries, and HDP's implementing partners at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Biography, Derek Luyten

Derek Luyten most recently worked to assist development organizations build strategic partnerships with global technology firms to ensure that democracy is embraced as a core design principle. Luyten also worked in the international development sphere - conducting political assessments, capture opportunities, and impact evaluations.

Prior to this, Luyten served as the Regional Director for Asia at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where he was responsible for overseeing more than $11M annually in U.S. and foreign government grants and guiding program development and implementation in 15 countries throughout Asia. He also spearheaded an organization-wide effort to collaborate with tech companies interested in preserving electoral integrity and defending against online disinformation, resulting in IRI's first partnership with a global tech company.

Previously, Luyten was the Director for IRI's Thailand and Malaysia programs based in Bangkok, overseeing programs on public opinion research and political and civic engagement. Luyten also worked in a variety of posts throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), including Country Director in Morocco implementing local governance programs and nearly three years on the Iraq program as the Director for Political Parties and Research. While working in MENA he established new programs in Tunisia and Libya after the start of the Arab Spring, touching down in Tunis just days after the fall of the Ben Ali regime to conduct assessments, identify potential partners, and secure new avenues of funding.

Over the years Luyten served as a foreign election observer twelve times and as a political appointee in the Treasury Department in the office of the US Treasurer. Luyten is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish and earned a master's degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.

House Democracy Partnership Background

The House Democracy Partnership, founded in 2005, is a bipartisan commission of the House of Representatives that works to promote responsive, effective government and strengthen democratic institutions by assisting legislatures in emerging democracies. The Partnership is assisted by the US Agency for International Development, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute.