NDI - Burkina Faso

NDI and Three Nations in the Sahel Collaborate on Security Threats

erodriguez — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:19:27 +0000

Western Africa’s Sahel region “has for several years known an unprecedented security crisis,” according to NDI Central and West Africa Director Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh. This crisis “places strain on all people of the Sahel and simultaneously constitutes a real threat to international security and governance.” To foster a regional approach to this crisis, NDI held a forum from November 20 to December 1 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which gathered members of parliament (MPs), civil society organization (CSO) representatives and executive agency staffers from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

On the sidelines of the event, NDI representatives briefed the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (far right), on the goals of the regional Sahel security program. They underscored NDI’s regional and cross-sectoral approach to addressing security threats that fail to stay within the borders of only one country. President Kaboré voiced his support for the initiative.

Over three days, participants discussed opportunities for cross-border and multisectoral collaboration aimed at strengthening democratic governance of the security sector and promoting human security. Burkinabe, Malian and Nigerien security sector reform experts joined panelists from the African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), G5 Sahel; a regional organization established in 2014 by the governments of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger that aims to foster security and development in the region; and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to provide a practitioner’s perspective on tackling pressing security threats.

From left: Amadou Diongué (African Union Representative), Danish Ambassador Ulla Næsby Tawiah, Alfred Gouba (Burkina Faso Secretary of State for Decentralization; delivering his speech), Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh (NDI Director for Central and West Africa) and Mohamed Znagui Sid Ahmed Ely (G5 Sahel Representative)

Panelists outlined these threats, which include:

porous borders that facilitate cross-border criminality, from banditry to human and drug trafficking to terrorism;
an absence (real or perceived) of state administration, defense and security agents;
lack of social services in stretches of territory; and
a history of military rule in the region, which has weakened public confidence in the state’s ability to protect and provide for its citizens.

Working in small groups, the MPs, CSO representative and executive branch personnel brainstormed robust approaches to face these multifaceted security threats.

“More than ever, it’s time to come together as one to fight terrorism for, as we face this threat together, we are condemned to win or to perish together,” said Abass Malam, a civil society representative from Niger, appealing to the other country participants for mutually reinforcing, coordinated initiatives.

Members of Parliament from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger during a Group Work Session

Participants also acknowledged and highlighted women’s roles in mitigating security risks. They encouraged greater integration of gender into security management in a region where women constitute approximately 52% of the population.

“Who more than a woman, a spouse and a mother can better advise her husband or her children not to go to war or engage in acts of terrorism?” queried MP Marie Laurence Ilboudo, member of the Defense and Security Commission of Burkina Faso’s National Assembly.

At the end of the forum, participants issued a joint declaration detailing recommended steps to take to increase human security in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Recommendations for MPs included establishing regular consultations, updating the legal framework so that security threats can be effectively managed while respecting human rights and harmonizing legislation across all three countries to facilitate cooperation between security services.

CSOs were tasked with playing a more prominent role in security sector governance, putting in place a platform for CSOs in the three countries, holding more awareness-raising activities on human security, and building relationships between national and local organizations.

Executive agencies were called on to increase the number of frontier posts manned by security agents, reinforce coordination between border management authorities, build working relationships with the legislative branch, put in place basic infrastructure in border regions, and take women into account in security sector governance.

Participants in Plenary at the Regional Sahel Security Forum

Following the joint declaration, the three countries’ program partners engaged the press to relay the forum’s recommendations. As journalists raised concerns about implementation of these recommendations, partners reiterated their will and commitment to work in synergy on joint security governance initiatives within and beyond borders.

Burkinabe Participants from Civil Society, the Executive Branch and Parliament Formulate Proposals and Recommendations to Improve Security

Bringing together MPs, civil society representatives and executive agency staffers from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger allowed participants to create and adopt mechanisms for collaboration by sector and by country, as well as across sectors and countries. They successfully developed a roadmap for continued regional cooperation: the will continue to hold similar dialogue sessions on a recurring basis, organize joint activities that bring defense and security forces together with civilians - especially in border zones - and establish a multi-actor framework to discuss security issues.

Adopting a multisectoral, cross-cutting and regional strategy, as forum participants successfully committed to do in Ouagadougou, presents the most robust method to combat the transnational threats facing those who call the Sahel region their home.

The forum was conducted as part of a program supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark under the framework of the Danish Regional Stabilisation and Peace Programme, which is also funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ambassador of Denmark to Burkina Faso, Ulla Næsby Tawiah, and the Secretary of State for Decentralization, Alfred Gouba, representing Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Interior Security, provided opening remarks.

Published on December 27, 2016

West African Leaders Develop Principles for Effective Democratic Executive Branch Transfers of Power

jfrant — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 18:18:42 +0000

Cabo Verde media covered the conference for both radio and television.

Leaders from across West Africa met in Cabo Verde last month to discuss regional guidelines for democratic handovers of power after democratic elections. The November 21-22 gathering represented a significant and timely effort to begin developing international norms and standards around executive branch transitions.

NDI partnered with the Cabo Verde government to host more than 15 current and former government officials from eleven countries, including former Presidents Amos Sawyer of Liberia, Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic and Pedro Pires of Cabo Verde. Representatives from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal also participated in the two day conference, along with several international experts on executive transitions. Meetings focused on how to build upon good practices in political transitions throughout the region.

“The focus of this conference is so germane to the situations in African countries, particularly to Liberia -- one country that stands in anticipation of its first peaceful transition of power from an outgoing active administration to a newly elected and incoming one next year,” said Anthony Kesselly, who serves in the Office of the Vice President of Liberia.

While there are international standards for assessing the quality of the election process, from the campaign period until election day, an international framework for evaluating or improving the transition process does not exist. Political transitions are difficult, especially if the roles and responsibilities of the incoming and outgoing administrations are unclear. Uncertainty presents a host of potential triggers for conflict and dispute, diverting very limited human resources from the task of governing, during a period when expectations for citizens may be particularly high.

“We have to move away from the norm of ‘Who wins, wins everything and who loses, loses everything,’” said Pedro Pires, former President of Cabo Verde.

The participants brought a wealth of experience to the table for what is the first step in a longer process of developing internationally recognized standards around democratic transitions of the executive branch. They presented on specific topics of expertise, covering the mechanics and processes involved in areas such as: the legal and regulatory framework, governing executive branch handovers of power; approaches to engaging other branches of government on policy priorities such as economic stability and national security; inclusion and diversity in a new administration; and strategic communications, particularly for the first 100 days in office.

Pictured from left: Animata Malle-Sanogo, former president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; Amos Sawyer, former President of Liberia; Pedro Pires, former President and Prime Minister of Cabo Verde; Catherine Samba-Panza, former President of the Central African Republic; and Jose Maria Pereira Neves, former Prime Minister of Cabo Verde.

The conference came at a time when there is particular interest in the ongoing executive branch transition in the US. NDI support for executive branch transitions is an important and growing element of Institute programing of NDI support for executive branch transitions --- both through the development of adequate legal and procedural frameworks for executive transitions and specific "transition team" assistance to potential incoming administrations.

“We live at a time where citizen demands of their government are extremely high. Newly elected presidents or prime ministers can’t afford to take months or even weeks to get up to speed and begin to govern. The negative impact of a slow, protracted transition -- or worse, serious missteps during an administration’s early days in office -- on lost economic development is something that most countries simply can’t afford,” said Scott Hubli, NDI’s director of governance programs.

The Principles on Democratic Executive Branch Transitions, which was agreed to by participants at the gathering in Cabo Verde, provides a crucial framework for transitions in the region and for future work by NDI and experts around the world to support the development of norms and standards for future incoming and outgoing administrations.

“The framework of principles, established by representatives of countries in the region, is an important step in providing a roadmap for governments to minimize the potential for disputes and to ensure respect for the voters’ preferences,” said Jodi White former Chief of Staff to Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and President of the Public Policy Forum, who participated in the Cabo Verde conference.

NDI will convene an international symposium in Washington, D.C., to add additional perspectives and approaches on this topic beyond just the West African context. The Institute will bring experts from across the world who have experience with executive branch transfers of power and will seek to engage with executive transition initiatives of the following 2016 U.S. presidential election.

“A smooth and successful transition following an election, is of singular importance to the health of any democracy and to the public’s trust in its institutions,” White said.

Published on Deceber 19, 2016

Helping Women and Youth Be Competitive Candidates as Burkina Faso Vote Brings Political Transition to an End

jfrant — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:05:10 +0000

On May 22, 2016, with the holding of local elections, Burkina Faso’s 19-month political transition came to an end. With 2.6 million of 5.5 million registered voters casting ballots (a participation rate of 47.65%), Burkinabe went to the polls to elect local councilors, who are responsible for government at the commune level and who will later convene to elect mayors from among their ranks.

A woman running for a local councilor seat in Burkina Faso asks for the floor during an NDI training. The trainings were well-attended despite 100 degree weather during the country's hot season.

With the aim of increasing women and youth representation in local leadership by making them more competitive candidates under a Swiss Development Cooperation-supported program, NDI trained a total of 1,049 women and youth who stood for election to become local councilors. At 20 trainings across the country – in Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Ouahigouya, Dédougou, Kaya, Dori, Tenkodogo and Gaoua – a total of 674 women and 405 youth candidates from 12 political parties and 5 independent groups benefitted from NDI’s training on how to speak about the issues and challenges linked to these elections, the processes of preparing, organizing, and managing an electoral campaign, and communications, public speaking and media relations.

“The training was very enriching, it allowed me to better understand the role that I can play in my community even if I am not elected.” - NDI Training Participant and Candidate in Local Elections

Participants at an NDI training in Burkina Faso for youth and women candidates act out door-to-door campaigning.

Feedback from the participants noted that they found the practical examples and sharing of experience with more seasoned participants allowed them to understand the themes of the training, stating that “the knowledge acquired on planning campaign operations will allow me to lead an effective campaign.” One participant added that, “I am running for the second time in the municipal elections; the new tools and new knowledge that I have acquired will allow me to better orient my campaign” while another was prepared to take her knowledge forward, regardless of the election outcome, stating that “the training was very enriching, it allowed me to better understand the role that I can play in my community even if I am not elected.” To further share these skills, NDI staff also created a candidate guide specifically tailored to municipal candidates and printed and distributed 10,000 copies to candidates and their affiliated organizations.

Women and youth candidate training sites across the country.

To contribute to the transparency and credibility of the vote, NDI trained 235 master trainers from 12 political parties to act as pollwatchers, with support from the Embassy of Denmark in Burkina Faso and the U.S. Agency for International Development. These master trainers then trained their party delegates, who were deployed to polling places across the country on May 22. Engaging party delegates to monitor closely the voting steps conferred legitimacy and reinforced parties’ and the electorate’s confidence in the process. NDI printed and disseminated 40,000 copies of the party delegate manual to a total of 65 political parties and groups and three civil society organizations.

Nine of the 12 parties winning the most seats in the local elections received direct assistance from NDI as beneficiaries of the Swiss-funded program, while one more received indirect support from NDI and two more benefitted from the sharing of NDI’s publications. Of the 19,212 seats being contested, provisional CENI results indicate that the party of President

Kaboré, the Mouvement du Peuple pour le Progrès, has won the clear majority, 11,167, while the presidential runner-up’s party, the Union pour le Progrès et le Changement, won 3,051 seats and ex-President Blaise Compaoré’s party, the Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Changement, won 2,134 seats- meaning that the local council representation mirrors the results of elections for the National Assembly. These municipal elections cap Burkina Faso’s transition to democracy, with the next elections scheduled in 2021; yet citizen pressure and civil society advocacy and monitoring will continue to contribute to the Institute’s efforts to consolidate this nascent democracy by building lawmaker’s capacity and supporting civil society to be heard by these newly-elected officials.

NDI staff member Michel Ouoba outside a polling station.

On election day, NDI Burkina Faso staff deployed to polling places around three key cities: Ouagadougou (visiting 55 polling stations); Bobo-Dioulasso (23 polling places); and Fada N’Gourma (17 polling stations). The Institute’s observers attended the opening of 13 polling places (10 in Ouagadougo, one in Bobo-Dioulasso and two in Fada N’Gourma) and the closing of 7 polling stations (four in Ouagadougou, one in Bobo-Dioulasso and two in Fada N’Gourma), in addition to the results of five other polling stations in Bobo-Dioulasso observed by local partners. CODEL, a civil society coalition that NDI trained and supported to carry out a domestic election observation mission and conduct Burkina Faso’s first-ever parallel vote tabulation in the country’s last elections, deployed three domestic observers in each of Burkina’s 368 communes.

While these elections served as the capstone to a process that began in October 2014, the enthusiasm and interest that had marked voters’ participation in the November 2015 presidential and legislative elections was noticeably lacking. By contrast, this election saw violent clashes in some parts of the country- mobs attacked and destroyed local offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), causing the cancellation of the vote in three communes (Beguedo, Zogoré and Bouroum-Bouroum) and in a number of villages, including Tioussa in the commune of Bokin, Badara Sambla in the commune of Karangasso-Sambla, and 11 other villages in Dapelogo. Protests stemmed largely from the exclusion of certain voters from voter registration lists following a recent, partial electoral redistricting that prevented some Burkinabe from casting their votes at the polling places newly created by the CENI, and the invalidation of certain parties’ candidate lists.

View of a polling place and ballot boxes for the local elections that capped Burkina Faso's political transition.

Incidences of fraud and vote-buying were also recorded before and during election day. While in Ouagadougou’s Karpala neighborhood to observe a party pollwatcher step-down training, NDI Resident Program Director François Traoré and Senior Program Officer Abdramane Diallo came upon a man being arrested for buying voter I.D. cards from their owners for 1,500 FCFA, and were able to confirm that police arrived to quell the unrest.

This unrest is not unexpected, however; Burkinabe have spoken out for the need for a more responsive government, and the desire to see President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré carry out his pledges, including economic development, job creation, access to water and electricity, and constitutional reform. Increasing the diversity of those involved in political life, including women and youth, is key to ensuring their voices are heard and that government is increasingly responsive to citizens’ concerns.

High Expectations for Democracy in Burkina Faso After 2015 Elections

njankowicz — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 20:55:57 +0000

November 29, 2015 marked a historic day in Burkina Faso, as the freest, fairest and most competitive elections took place since the country’s independence from France in 1960.

Election observers at the CODEL Situation Room discover that parallel vote tabulation results confirm the Independent National Electoral Commission's official, preliminary results. November 30, 2015 Credit: Kevin Adomayakpor, NDI Cote d’Ivoire.

November 29, 2015 marked a historic day in Burkina Faso, as the freest, fairest and most competitive elections took place since the country’s independence from France in 1960. Burkinabe have awaited this day since massive demonstrations in October 2014 drove out former president Blaise Compaoré, who first came to power in a coup d’état in 1987. From November 2014, a transitional government led the country in preparation for joint presidential and legislative elections scheduled for October 11, 2015. An attempted coup d’état in September by dissatisfied members of Compaoré’s élite guard, the Régiment de sécurité présidentielle,

threatened to derail the process before widespread protests against the seizure of power and internationally-brokered negotiations reversed the takeover. Elections were postponed to November 29, and spirits ran high as the campaign kicked off, lasting through election day. Ultimately, approximately 60% of registered voters cast ballots.

When all the votes were tabulated, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of the Mouvement du peuple pour le progrès (MPP) was elected president with 53% of the vote. Zéphirin Diabré, who received almost 30% of the vote as the Union pour le changement (UPC) candidate, promptly conceded defeat and congratulated Kaboré. Kaboré’s election signifies the first time Burkina Faso has seen power pass from one civilian-led government to another. While the country has long had a vibrant civil society, many citizens, youth in particular, felt that these elections offered a new opportunity to become politically active, as articulated by Aboubacar Ouattara, a participant in NDI-sponsored election day activities: “In the past, we, the youth, did not like to get involved in the elections because we didn’t have confidence in the system. Now things are changing and it is freely that we commit ourselves.”

To provide Burkina’s citizens with high-quality, impartial information on the quality of their election, NDI supported civil society to undertake two complementary, nationwide election monitoring initiatives. Working in concert with organizations Diakonia and One World, NDI provided assistance to la Convention des organisations de la société civile pour l’observation des élections domestiques (CODEL) to implement a pilot parallel vote tabulation (PVT).

PVT is a proven, statistically-based methodology employed by citizen election observers around the world to independently verify election results and to provide trustworthy information on the quality of election day processes. By sending election observers to a statistical sample of polling stations, citizen organizations like CODEL can make rapid, precise assessments about elections in their home countries.

For its pilot PVT exercise, CODEL deployed 251 observers to monitor at a representative, random sample of polling stations across Burkina. CODEL deployed an additional 5,750 observers across the country on election day in a non-statistical manner. Using its observation data, CODEL was able to boost public confidence in the election commission’s work and to clearly demonstrate that the process was credible. “It is the first time in Burkina Faso that an observation was led with a scientific approach,” noted CODEL President Halidou Ouédraogo with pride.

Concurrently, NDI supported its partner RESOCIDE, a network of more than 35 civil society organizations, to organize and carry out an election observation mission through a larger coalition known as ICODE. On election day,1,048 ICODE observers deployed to 302 communes across Burkina. ICODE monitored whether polling places opened on time, if campaign materials were displayed, whether the secrecy of the vote was respected, if polling stations were adequately staffed, and if ballots were counted in a fair and open manner. As ICODE spokesperson Serge Dao noted, “Our on-the-ground findings allowed us to inform the CENI [Independent National Electoral Commission] of anomalies in the process so they could quickly correct them.” As the elections unfolded on November 29, ICODE’s call center for observer reporting and CODEL’s situation room allowed for real-time information gathering and data analysis - another first for Burkina Faso.

In the months leading up the landmark election, NDI in Burkina Faso worked with members of 17 parties from across the political spectrum, including the MPP and UPC. As a result of this work, these parties incorporated citizens’ priorities into their policy positions and campaign messages.

NDI also helped youth civil society organizations develop and hone their advocacy skills so they can better communicate to politicians the issues that youth face. Seven parties, among them the MPP and UPC, took part in the discussions that NDI organized between youth CSOs and political party leaders. From these exchanges resulted the Youth Appeal for Political Renewal in Burkina Faso, an advocacy document outlining the importance of healthcare, good governance, youth employment and human rights.

The Coalition Burkinabé pour les Droits de la Femme (Burkina Faso Coalition for Women’s Rights), an NDI local partner, organized workshops for leaders in Burkina Faso’s two largest cities, Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. The aim of the two workshops was to increase the number of women nominated for and elected to public office. From 17 parties, a total of 132 political leaders, of which 107 (81%) were women, benefited from sharing their visions for Burkina Faso. Together they crafted proposals for social initiatives that promote women’s rights and physical and economic security. NDI Burkina Faso will continue to work with a wide array of parties as the new government is constituted.

NDI Central and West Africa Director Chris Fomunyoh, Senior Resident Country Director Aminata Kassé and NDI Resident Program Director Dany Ayida sat down with Mr. Kaboré and Mr. Diabré shortly after the election results were announced. Mr. Kaboré, upbeat upon receiving the news of his victory, thanked NDI for our key role in furthering the transparency of the electoral process in Burkina Faso.

Mr. Kaboré, as the former head of the National Assembly, brings political experience to the office of president. He demonstrates the political savvy and know-how of the MPP, many of whose members left the former ruling party under Compaoré in order to reinforce the efforts of the opposition and civil society, ultimately leading to Compaoré’s exit. Voters acknowledged this experience, recognizing the prominent MPP role in the transitional government this past year. The MPP ran as social democrats who rejected the politics of Compaoré’s party in their mission to promote prosperity, growth, good governance, and social cohesion in Burkina Faso.

Optimistic, Mr. Kaboré nonetheless acknowledges the weight of his mandate. The Burkinabe people, and thus the new government, face many challenges. Mr. Kaboré will have to hold discussions with stakeholders, particularly the country’s youth, to gather information on their concerns and determine actions to address them. High expectations await President Kaboré, but he is well-suited to meet them, as he is widely viewed as an accessible changemaker.

Many citizens, both participants in and observers of the election, felt a sense of pride in what their country had accomplished.They were also gratified by their own role in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. As student Emilie Ouedraogo remarked, “To participate in the ICODE call center and contribute to the transparency of the elections is for me a real reason to be proud. I never thought to be useful to my country in this way.” Fellow ICODE volunteer Raymond Boly echoed this sentiment: “I learned a lot as a participant in this project and in helping the other youth to achieve their mission. It is an experience that I cannot forget.”

Burkinabes’ pride in the success of these elections is well-merited, as it marks the first time one civilian government has yielded power to another. It was also the country’s first election free from interference by the incumbent government. Rule of law has taken hold in Burkina Faso, as indicated by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s ability to release the presidential results within 24 hours of the vote, the peaceful climate on election day, and the fact that all sides accepted the results without contestation. Burkina Faso can serve as an example in West Africa and the African continent more generally for democratic transitions and elections to come.

While the high expectations Burkinabe have for the incoming president and parliament remain to be tested, the future of democracy looks bright in Burkina Faso.

Published on December 11, 2015.

Africa: 'Decisive Moment for Democracy' - John Kerry

smajestic — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 19:02:07 +0000

Source:

All Africa

Article Link:

Published Date:

10/06/2015

Last May, I shared in an extraordinary moment. I had the privilege, together with many leaders from across Africa, of bearing witness to the first peaceful, democratic transition of power between two parties in Nigeria.

I traveled to Lagos earlier this year to emphasize that for the United States, Nigeria is an increasingly important strategic partner with a critical role to play in the security and prosperity of the region. I also said that it was imperative that these elections set a new standard for democracy across the continent.

There is no question that this is a decisive moment for democracy in Africa. Later this month, four countries – Guinea, Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, and the Central African Republic – are scheduled to hold presidential elections, and soon after we hope to see elections in Burkina Faso. People across Africa must seize this opportunity to make their voices heard; and leaders across the continent must listen.

Voters are Committed to Democracy in Burkina Faso Ahead of October Elections

kcyr — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 15:20:03 +0000

Focus group moderators and NDI field team, Burkina Faso

In the run up to Burkina Faso’s first ever multi-party legislative and presidential elections on Oct. 11, voters report being most concerned about their daily economic and social well-being. They also revealed that they want to contribute to the democratic process alongside their elected leaders and take an active role in the country’s reform process, according to focus group research conducted by NDI in February.

The research aimed to identify citizens’ public policy concerns so they could be shared with candidates seeking to understand voters’ priorities as they develop their campaign platforms.

“Election campaigns are privileged moments of dialogue between political actors and citizens,” said Aminata Kassé, NDI’s country director in Burkina Faso. “By organizing these focus groups, one of our goals was to help ensure that the true interests of citizens are at the center of debate.”

View Burkina Faso Focus Group Research Here»

Four hundred participants from seven of 13 regions across Burkina Faso took part in the study, with a total of 32 focus groups each composed of 11 to 17 participants. Most groups were split by gender, including 13 groups composed of men, 15 of women and four mixed. The research was conducted in partnership with the Center for Citizens’ Monitoring and Analysis of Public Policies (Centre de suivi et d’analyses citoyens des politiques publiques - CDCAP) and NDI focus group research specialist Andrea Levy.

The researchers asked participants about the current political climate in Burkina Faso, their expectations for the future, key gaps in social and economic development, attitudes about democracy and the operation of the political system, and the role of women and youth in politics.

Most participants considered the country to be heading in the wrong direction, citing worsening socio-economic and political conditions. Corruption, lack of integrity among leaders, gaps in health and education programs, and pervasive ethnic favoritism among political leaders were among their top concerns.

While most participants held a generally positive view of the transitional government, which was put into place following the ouster of President Blaise Compaoré in October 2014, many had doubts about its ability to deliver on promises, particularly pledges regarding raising standards in health and education.

“I think it is too early to judge the transitional government. It has not yet been able to implement its plan,” said a young woman from the Est region near Fada N’gourma in the northeast of the country.

Most respondents expressed a commitment to vote, engage elected officials in public debates, and support campaigns and voter education programs. The Burkinabe people demonstrated a strong grasp of political processes, and a large majority did not consider Burkina Faso to be a full-fledged democracy.

“Democracy is a permanent quest. We have democratic institutions that do not function democratically,” said a middle-aged man from the Boucle du Mouhoun, a region in the northwest of Burkina Faso.

Most participants understood the role of political party platforms in representing citizens’ interests. Many said that parties need to do more to embody the will of the people instead of making false promises to secure votes.

The research also found that most citizens see the need for a new constitution to impose stricter presidential term limits, curb the powers of the executive branch, ensure greater separation of powers between the branches of government, and enforce the law and administer justice fairly.

Respondents unanimously recognized the need to expand both the number of seats in parliament and roles available for women and youth in politics. Women and youth make up the majority in Burkina Faso, representing 51 and 60 percent of the population, respectively, but only 19 percent of parliamentary seats are held by women. Participants stressed that leaving a constituency of this size out of the political process would hinder the country’s path to political and socio-economic development.

“Women are part of society. If we decide to do politics by putting aside half of the society, it is not going to work out,” said a young man from the Est region.

“The youth is the spearhead of a country, and it is very normal for it to be part of politics. If the youth is excluded from politics, then there are no politics,” said a young woman from Kaya, the largest city of central-north region of Sanmatenga.

NDI will use the research in policy development workshops with political parties to draw attention to voters’ priorities, emphasizing that the Burkinabe people are eager to play an integral role in shaping their country’s democratic development.

“Public opinion research ensures greater participation by citizens in the political process and helps make parties more responsive to the citizens.” said Levy.

Published on July 6, 2015

Civic Updates

vrao — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 17:55:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Resource Type:

Civic Update

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Issue 50: A Matter of Political Space (April 2016)	1.06 MB
Issue 49: Social Movements (January '16)	1.22 MB
Issue 48: Peace, Security and Democratic Resilience (August '15)	818.41 KB
Issue 47: Integration (April '15)	1011.57 KB
Issue 46: The Infomediary Role of NDI Partners (Jan. '15)	339.19 KB
Issue 45: The Role of Dialogue in Deepening Democracy (Sept. '14)	1.84 MB
Issue 44: Taking Advantage of Political Entry Points to Improve Meaningful Engagement (May '14)	1.12 MB
Issue 43: Political Inclusion of LGBT Population (Jan. '14)	1.43 MB
Issue 42: Radio as an Effective Communication Tool (Aug. '13)	1.48 MB
Issue 41: The Use of ICT to Enhance Citizen Participation (May '13)	1.57 MB
Issue 40: Supporting Inclusion of Marginalized Ethnic and Religious Groups (Dec. '12)	1.87 MB
Issue 39: Public Opinion Research (Sept. '12)	1.69 MB
Issue 38: Youth Programming (May '12)	1.83 MB
Issue 37: Mainstreaming Persons with Disabilities (Jan. '12)	1.72 MB
Issue 36: Organizational Development (May '11)	1.1 MB
Issue 35: GOTV, Voter Information & Voter Education (Jan. '11)	1.04 MB
Issue 34: Structuring and Maintaining Partnerships (Sept. '10)	306.87 KB
Issue 33: Political Process Monitoring (May '10)	419.89 KB
Issue 32: Defending Space for Citizen Participation (Aug. '09)	204.87 KB
Issue 31: Best Practices for Meaningful Citizen Engagement (April '09)	540.61 KB
Issue 30: Context Matters (Jan. '09)	311.87 KB
Issue 29: Voice, Space and Accountability (Aug. '08)	869.11 KB
Issue 28: Communications Tools (May '08)	207.88 KB
Issue 27: Using Information and Communications Techonologies (Jan. '08)	486.89 KB
Issue 26: Working with Marginalized Populations (Sept. '07)	283.24 KB
Issue 25: Ten Years of Civic Updates (July '07)	258.56 KB
Issue 24: Making Democracy Deliver (Feb. '07)	413.86 KB
Issue 23: Positive Partnerships with Local Groups (May '06)	268.06 KB
Issue 22: Political Activism for People with Disablities (Dec. '05)	458.7 KB
Issue 21: Local Fundraising and Volunteer Recruitment (July '05)	221.65 KB
Issue 20: Tips from NDI Practioners (April '05)	561.26 KB
Issue 19: Get Out The Vote (Dec. '04)	496.75 KB
Issue 18: Involving Youth in the Political Process (July '04)	277.27 KB
Issue 17: Monitoring as a Driver of Change (Feb. '04)	488.58 KB
Issue 16: Citizen Surveys and Other Organizing Tools (Nov. '03)	546.03 KB
Issue 15: Making University Connections (Aug. '03)	579.18 KB
Issue 14: Focus Groups (May '03)	334.74 KB
Issue 13: Civic Forum (Nov. '02)	279.56 KB
Issue 12: Coalition Building (Jan. '02)	195.45 KB
Issue 11: Assessment Methods (Aug. '01)	84.74 KB
Issue 10: Partnership Approaches (April '01)	109.87 KB
Issue 9: What's Voting All About? (Oct. '99)	82.5 KB
Issue 8: Global Seminar on Advocacy and Democracy Development (June '99)	481.85 KB
Issue 7: How Civic Programs Increase Women's Participation in Processes (Dec. '98)	962.34 KB
Issue 6: Post-Conflict and Ethnic Divided Societies (July '98)	120.75 KB
Issue 5: Assessing Programs (March '98)	81.99 KB
Issue 4: Training (Nov. '97)	98.85 KB
Issue 3: Resources and Communication (July '97)	74.43 KB
Issue 2: Advocacy (April '97)	94.31 KB
Issue 1: Program Highlights from Around the World (Feb. '97)	121.71 KB

Diagnostic Sur Les Priorites Des Citoyens Burkinabe (Report on the Priorities of Burkinabe Citizens)

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 17:52:50 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

06/10/2015

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

French

National Democratic Institute

English Description

NDI, with the generous support of the Royal Embassy of Denmark and the Embassy of Taiwan, partnered with the Centre for Citizens’ Monitoring and Analysis of Public Policies (Centre de suivi et d’analyses citoyens des politiques publiques - CDCAP) to conduct a series of "focus groups" across Burkina Faso in February 2015. The focus groups solicited citizens’ attitudes towards elections, democracy and development priorities in an effort to sensitize Burkinabe political leaders. Thirty-two groups of citizens (focus groups) were set up across seven regions of the country, allowing the participants to exchange ideas freely in a neutral and non-partisan setting. The main points of discussion were: the current political climate in the context of the transition; the prospects for socio-economic development and improving the population’s well-being; the future of the country and the establishment of more democratic and inclusive institutions for all citizens, including women and youth. The results of these discussions have been summarized in the following pages.

Description française:

Afin de mettre à la disposition des dirigeants politiques Burkinabés des informations fiables sur les attitudes des citoyens à l’égard des élections, de la démocratie et des priorités de développement, le NDI en partenariat avec le Centre de suivi et d’analyses citoyens des politiques publiques (CDCAP), a mené une série de « focus groups » à travers le pays en février 2015 grâce au généreux soutien de l’Ambassade Royale du Danemark et de l’Ambassade de Taiwan. Trente-deux groupes de citoyens (focus groups) ont été organisés dans sept régions du pays et ces exercices ont permis aux participants d’échanger librement et sans contrainte dans un cadre neutre et non partisan. Les principaux axes de discussion portaient sur : la situation politique nationale dans le contexte de la transition ; les perspectives de développement socio-économique et l’amélioration du bien-être des populations ; ainsi que sur l’avenir du pays et la mise en place d’institutions plus démocratiques et inclusives de l’ensemble des citoyens, notamment des femmes et des jeunes. Les résultats de ces discussions ont été rassemblés dans les pages qui suivent.

French

Attachment	Size
Brochure Diagnostic sur les priorité des citoyens	1.42 MB

Campaign School Graduates Help Lebanese Youth Consider Outreach Strategies

Fri, 08 May 2015 22:03:32 +0000

Despite the possibility of spillover violence from Syria, a vacancy in the presidency and postponed parliamentary elections. young Lebanese party activists are eager to find ways to enter politics.

Forty of them, representing five political parties, gathered outside Beirut last month for a campaign school for future candidates and campaign teams to learn how to build outreach strategies and create messages that address voter interests.

Despite the possibility of spillover violence from Syria, a vacancy in the presidency and postponed parliamentary elections, young Lebanese party activists are eager to find ways to enter politics.

The young attendees, ages 18 to 25, brought together by NDI, came from the Free Patriotic Movement, Future Movement, Kataeb, Lebanese Forces and Progressive Socialist Party.

The Lebanon campaign school is part of a regional program launched in 2012 and supported by the U.S. State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). To date, 244 political activists from 12 countries have graduated from the regional schools. Fifty of them have also taken part in Training-of-Trainers (TOT) programs that provide the skills needed to deliver similar sessions for their own parties in their home countries.

Drawing on an 11-module curriculum and agenda, NDI’s Lebanon staff, along with campaign school graduates from Jordan and Tunisia, presented best practices in collecting and using data on voters and supporters, message development, public speaking, campaign strategy and action planning. By stepping out of their daily political environment, participants were able to focus on skill-building, rather than their party’s positions, and build new relationships across party lines.

“Through the campaign school, I learned how to develop a strategy and plan effectively, which I will incorporate in my party’s plan for municipal council elections scheduled for next year,” said a campaign school graduate from the Free Patriotic Movement, who is currently serving as vice-president of a municipality. He and other graduates attended the campaign school to share how the experience shaped their current political work.

In an election simulation, participants were divided into fictitious parties that competed in mock parliamentary elections. The mock parties chose campaign roles for each member, set vote goals, developed and carried out voter targeting plans and worked through the night to prepare a campaign plan that was presented to the larger group.

“As a member of my party’s youth organization, I focus on our strategy for university elections. The simulation was the best way for me to learn about skills. When we applied them, we saw the impact,” said a campaign school graduate from the Progressive Socialist Party during his remarks at the opening panel session for the school.

On the simulated election day, candidates took part in a debate, where they squared off on issues such as education, employment, how to engage youth and build trust with potential voters. Polls then opened and participants voted for their preferred party and candidate, under the watchful eye of party observers.

For the closing ceremony, NDI invited current youth wing leaders from each of the five parties to encourage the aspiring politicians and witness the election results announcement. Also, NDI trainers shared feedback with groups on how to improve their campaigns.

“I’m a different person. I’ve improved my skills to maximize resources and work as a member of a team. As a result, I am now responsible for women’s engagement in my party. I also benefited from learning about different cultures and working together to present a strong campaign plan,” said a graduate who was recently appointed as head of Kataeb’s women’s wing.

With student elections approaching in the fall, and municipal council elections constitutionally mandated in May of 2016, young Lebanese party activists have an opportunity to use their drive and creativity to contribute to effective campaigns and recommit to democracy in Lebanon, in the midst of pressing national and regional challenges. NDI will continue to work with Lebanese political parties throughout the summer as they prepare for their own youth camps to motivate their young activists for the year ahead.

Published on May 8, 2015

Sandra Pepera

skincaid — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:41:17 +0000

Sandra Pepera is a career diplomat and international development professional. Before joining NDI as its director for Gender, Women and Democracy in 2014, she spent thirteen years as a senior officer at the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), including leading programs in the Caribbean, Rwanda-Burundi and Sudan. Prior to joining DFID, Sandra spent time in British domestic politics; lecturing in political science and international relations at the University of Ghana; and as a political analyst in the Political Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat. She has a portfolio of skills and experience which include strategy development, political and risk analysis, diplomacy, general management and corporate governance.

Much of Sandra’s career has been spent working in or on transitional economies, focusing on the building of resilient and inclusive institutions. She led work on women and politics at the University of Ghana and in outreach public policy during the period of intense and unstable political transition in the early 1990s. This included participating in a program that supported the ANC Women’s League during South Africa’s transition from apartheid to majority democratic rule in 1993.

Sandra is a member of the Cambridge Sustainability Leaders Network, the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Global Board Ready Women initiative, and the International Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Journal for International Affairs (the Round Table). She holds the Financial Times Diploma for Non-Executive Directors, and serves as a trustee for the pension fund of an intergovernmental organization.

NDI’s Pat Merloe Testifies Before Congress on U.S. Election Support in Africa

blesswing — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:32:58 +0000

NDI Director of Electoral Programs Pat Merloe testified at a hearing, “U.S. Election Support in Africa” on March 18 before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

“Support for democratic elections in Africa should build longer-term democratic political dynamics that result in responsive, accountable governance,” Merloe said. “International election observation can play an important role in achieving peaceful, credible elections in Africa.”

Watch the hearing »

Read Pat Merloe’s full statement here »

Read more:

NDI's Christopher Fomunyoh Testifies Before Congress on "Nigeria on the Brink?"

Experts to Discuss Critical African Elections at NDI

Published on March 18, 2015

Attachment	Size
See the 2015-2016 calendar for African elections	60.27 KB
See a map of 2015-2016 African elections	129.47 KB

Burkina Faso President Steps Down in the Face of Popular Protests

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 19:56:32 +0000

President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso stepped down today following days of massive popular protests against attempts to eliminate a constitutionally mandated term limit.

“The Burkinabe people have sent a strong message to their leaders about efforts to extend their stay in power through constitutional changes” said NDI President Kenneth Wollack. “Timely and strong international support is now needed to help ensure a peaceful and inclusive democratic transition process.”

President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso stepped down today following days of massive popular protests against attempts to eliminate a constitutionally mandated term limit.

President Compaoré, who first took power in 1987 through a military coup, was term limited and required to vacate the presidency at the end of his term in 2015. Instead, he sought to amend the country's constitution so he could run again.

In an unprecedented response, more than a million people took to the streets to protest and set the National Assembly building on fire to prevent an Oct. 30 vote on amending Article 37 of the constitution.

Both the White House and members of Congress have issued statements of support for the Burkinabe democrats.

On Oct. 28, Senator Chris Coons, D-DE, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, called on Compaoré and the National Assembly to withdraw plans to amend the constitution, citing the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The charter “explicitly rejects constitutional changes in order to maintain power for the benefit of the incumbent as ‘illegal,’ and an amendment to Article 37 is a clear violation of this principle,” Coons said.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-CA, in an Oct. 29 statement, described Compaoré’s effort as a “misguided move that betrays his fellow citizens. A constitution is the bedrock of a functioning democracy and amending it to benefit one individual would directly sabotage good governance.”

On Oct. 28, the U.S. State Department said, “…The United States emphasizes that constitutionally mandated term limits provide an important mechanism to hold heads of state accountable, ensure peaceful and democratic transfers of power, and give new generations the opportunity to compete for political office and elect new leaders.”

And the White House, on Oct. 30, said it was “deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Burkina Faso resulting from efforts to amend the constitution…. We believe democratic institutions are strengthened when established rules are adhered to with consistency.”

Following Compaoré’s departure, the chief of the armed forces took over as head of state until elections can be held. The African Union (AU) has issued a statement saying it has sent "a high-level Team that will form part of a Joint Delegation comprising the AU, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations to Burkina Faso to consult with all the Burkinabe stakeholders."

NDI has had an office in Burkina Faso since 2004, working with Burkinabe democratic activists in political parties and civil society. Institute programs have helped them advocate successfully for the adoption and application of a quota law for women candidates; improve the role of women and youth within political parties and local councils; aid women councilors in leading community efforts to solve local problems; and advance community-based efforts to hold government accountable for delivering adequate public services.

Published Oct. 31, 2014

Experts to Discuss Critical African Elections at NDI

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:09:17 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/25/2014

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The implications for democracy of 30 African elections slated through 2016 will be discussed next week by senior Africa experts during a briefing and roundtable discussion at the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at NDI, 455 Massachusetts Ave., NW. It is cosponsored by NDI and the Constituency for Africa (CFA).

Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and a member of the NDI Board of Directors, will open the forum. Panelists are Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI regional director for Central and West Africa programs; Keith Jennings, NDI regional director for Southern and East Africa programs; Jeffrey England, NDI deputy director for Middle East and North Africa programs; and Richard Klein, senior advisor for NDI Elections. Kenneth Wollack, NDI president, and Melvin Foote, president of the Constituency for Africa, will provide welcoming remarks.

Thirty African countries are slated to hold elections between now and the end of 2016. They are Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

The conduct of the elections and their outcome could help consolidate nascent democratic institutions and practices across Africa. But if they are viewed as flawed, the elections could result in violence, protracted conflict and democratic backsliding.

The event is part of the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs discussion series sponsored by the CFA.

The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Every year, CFA holds the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs series in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend. The program is named for the late Commerce Secretary, Ronald H. Brown, who was a leader in forging ties between the U.S. and Africa.

###

WHAT: NDI/Ron Brown Roundtable Discussion on “Critical Elections in Africa 2015/2016”

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.

WHO: Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs;

Kenneth Wollack, NDI president; Mel Foote, president of the Constituency for Africa (CFA);

Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI regional director for Central and West Africa programs;

Keith Jennings, NDI regional director for Southern and East Africa programs;

Jeffrey England, NDI deputy director for Middle East and North Africa programs; and

Richard Klein, senior advisor for NDI Elections

Moderated by
Jennifer Cooke, director, CSIS's Africa program

WHERE: National Democratic Institute, 455 Massachusetts Ave, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001

Attachment	Size
Event invitation.	115.24 KB

Empowering Women for Stronger Political Parties: A Good Practices Guide to Promote Women's Political Participation (Now available in Burmese)

fstovall — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 14:31:07 +0000

Author:

Julie Ballington

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute United Nations Development Programme

Published Date:

10/31/2011

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

Arabic, Burmese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Urdu

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Russian

Urdu

Attachment	Size
Read the manual (English)	2.49 MB
Read the manual with case studies (English)	3.45 MB
Read the manual (Arabic)	1.9 MB
Download the poster (Arabic)	1.18 MB
Read the manual (Burmese)	4.59 MB
Read the manual (French)	2.57 MB
Download the poster (French)	670.54 KB
Read the manual (Russian)	2.82 MB
Download the poster (Russian)	256.16 KB
Read the manual (Spanish)	2.59 MB
Download the poster (Spanish)	680.95 KB
Read the manual (Urdu)	3.74 MB
Read the manual with case studies (Albanian)	10.91 MB

Equal Access: How to Include Persons with Disabilities in Elections and Political Processes

dleonard — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 14:59:44 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/06/2014

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

Arabic, English, French, Indonesian, Russian, Spanish, Uzbek

English

Arabic

Spanish

Russian

Attachment	Size
Download the manual in Arabic	2.54 MB
Download the manual in English	3.24 MB
Download the manual in French	2.36 MB
Download the manual in Indonesian	16.34 MB
Download the manual in Russian	2.37 MB
Download the manual in Spanish	16.87 MB
Download the manual in Uzbek	3.85 MB