NDI - In-Country Perspectives

Notes from Benghazi: Local Elections

fgalleto — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:04:14 +0000

Libyan voters went to the polls in Benghazi May 19 to elect members of the city’s local council. It was the first election held there in more than four decades. Though NDI did not field an international observation mission, Megan Doherty, NDI resident senior program officer in Libya, was accredited to observe the vote. Here she shares her informal observations of the voting process.

Women wait to vote in Benghazi. Photo by Megan Doherty.

Voters turned out in ample numbers in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to elect 41 members to the city’s local council. According to local election authorities, 441 candidates stood for election. While there were no reliable estimates of the size of Benghazi’s voting population, 200,000 citizens reportedly registered.

Local authorities declared a public holiday to encourage citizens to vote. At midday and afternoon prayers, imams in local mosques also urged people to participate in the polls and to vote their conscience. Security forces were deployed throughout the city and in front of polling stations to maintain order.

The vote followed a two-week campaign that saw candidates using posters, leaflets and, to a lesser extent, in-person gatherings to court voters. Some candidates complained that despite the two-week campaign period, the Benghazi local election commission did not share official candidate and campaign regulations until one week before election day.

With Elections in Sight, Libyans Concerned About Security, Country's Direction

As the political transition proceeds in Libya, leaders continue to struggle to meet public expectations on key issues such as security, political reform and standard of living, according to a new public opinion study by NDI.

From April 10 - 20, the Institute examined citizens' opinions through 12 focus groups in six cities across Libya. The research took place two months before anticipated elections for a national public congress, which will be tasked with overseeing the drafting of a new constitution. Libyans view the approaching elections with great enthusiasm.

Kosovo Fellow to Connect Women Leaders at Local, National Levels

fgalleto — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:27:43 +0000

As a young Kosovar Albanian subjected to Slobodan Milosevic’s dictatorship, Aferdita Syla, like tens of thousands of other young people, faced discrimination in education and virtually every other aspect of her young life. Her fundamental rights of citizenship were wholly denied. She had little in the way of realizing her dreams to live a normal life in a normal country.

Syla poses with Albright. “You can’t imagine how it is to meet the person who was there at the right time to make the right decisions to save your nation,” she said.

Milosevic’s rule provoked open conflict in 1999, and an estimated 800,000 Kosovar Albanians were forcibly and violently expelled by Belgrade, fleeing to neighboring countries, where they lived as refugees. At 24, Syla became one of them, escaping to Macedonia.

“I never thought that I’d be able to go back home again,” she said. But she did go back home – in the summer of 1999 after international intervention led to Kosovo’s break from Serbia.

Syla began working with the International Rescue Committee seeking to help people rebuild their lives. Later, she ran a local nongovernmental organization, Gjilan Youth Center, that helped Kosovo’s young people focus on their futures in the aftermath of the turmoil. In 2005 she joined the Kosovo government serving as a political advisor and a liaison with local and international organizations. And in 2008, Syla joined NDI, focusing on women’s issues in a country where women were disproportionally impacted by the decade-long conflict.

“This is the past,” Syla explained. “And I am recounting it so that we can learn from it. The past belongs to history; we must not let it interfere with our present and political future.”

Today, from NDI’s office in Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, she manages the Informal Group of Women Parliamentarians, a caucus of women lawmakers seeking to improve the participation of women in all of the country’s institutions. Although there is a 30 percent quota for women in parliament, and Kosovo’s president is a woman, there are no women political party leaders or women mayors.

Syla and Amb. Constance Morella

Because Kosovo is just beginning to build its political institutions, having declared independence in 2008, Syla said now is the time to ingrain gender equality in the Kosovar political tradition. “We want to have real equality,” she said. “Everything is fresh. This is actually to our advantage. That’s why we need to act now: because we are just starting.”

As part of her work with the women’s caucus, Syla developed a proposal to link women parliamentarians with women leaders in local government. She believed that connecting women at these different levels of government would help them build support for better public policy at the grassroots level. Ultimately, Syla hoped the project would improve the image of women politicians and inspire young women to enter politics and see themselves as future leaders of their country.

With that idea she applied for NDI’s Andi Parhamovich Fellowship – and she won. The annual award brings one woman from an NDI in-country office or partner organization to Washington, D.C., for three months to conduct research for a project geared toward building democracy and increasing women’s political participation in her own country. The fellowship is named for Andi Parhamovich, an NDI staff member who was killed in Iraq in 2007.

When the fellowship was first established, NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright said, “It is named in her honor, but it was Andi who brought honor to the name and work of NDI, through her dedication and courage.”

For Syla, Albright was instrumental in ensuring Kosovo’s sovereignty and security. When Syla traveled to Washington, D.C., for the fellowship, she was able to meet her hero.

“You can’t imagine how it is to meet the person who was there at the right time to make the right decisions to save your nation,” she said.

In Washington, Syla is researching women’s political participation initiatives in the U.S. and other countries. She is also meeting with women’s groups that focus on increasing women’s political participation at all levels, such as the bipartisan Women Legislators of Maryland, to learn how they function as a group and what mechanisms they use for outreach. The six-month pilot program that results from Syla’s efforts will target five of Kosovo’s 37 municipalities and connect women across party and ethnic lines to focus on local issues.

Building a democracy is a long-term process, Syla said, but, slowly, and by increasing the level of women’s political participation, democracy in Kosovo is becoming a more tangible reality.

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Published May 4, 2012

Slovakia Elects First Roma Representative to Parliament

fgalleto — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:03:28 +0000

Slovakia made history in April when Peter Pollak took his seat in parliament as the country’s first Roma citizen elected to nationwide office. His victory in March’s parliamentary elections is the culmination of a decade-long journey of grassroots organizing, coalition building and setbacks at the ballot box that ultimately, through perseverance and support, paved the way to his breakthrough this year.

After the election, NDI sat down with him to discuss his journey to parliament.

Pollak campaigns in Rudnany Settlement.

In a region where Roma are treated as second-class citizens, with few opportunities to escape poverty and reverse centuries of discrimination and isolation, Pollak’s victory is a testament to his resilience. In Slovakia, Roma, who have been largely excluded from the political arena, make up an estimated 8 to 10 percent of the country’s 5.4 million citizens.

His first campaign attempt was in 2005 regional elections, but his path to politics began several years earlier. In 2001, he participated in NDI’s youth leadership academies, designed to promote political participation by young people, and he became actively involved with the Institute after the launch of its regional Roma political participation program in 2004. Engagement in NDI’s activities equipped Pollak with the knowledge and skills to take the next steps in his political career. Moreover, he was able to connect with like-minded activists in Slovakia and around the region.

During the 2005 campaign he conducted the first ever door-to-door campaign in segregated Roma settlements with a team of more than 70 volunteers.

In 2009, Pollak ran again, unsuccessfully, for the regional government. But his campaign efforts increased his visibility among both Roma and non-Roma communities – an important step in his political future.

His last unsuccessful bid for elective office came in 2010 parliamentary elections, when he was a candidate on the list of a mainstream political party, Most/Hid, which ran on the platform of inclusion and support for minorities.

When the government collapsed last fall, new elections were scheduled for March, and Pollak had another chance. This time, he joined a new political movement – Ordinary People, Independent Personalities (OLaNO) – to take a top-10 spot on its party list. When OLaNO won 16 seats on March 10, Pollack was among them.

After the election, NDI sat down with him to discuss his journey to parliament.

You grew up in a segregated Roma settlement in Levoca (north central Slovakia). Living in this environment, there is little opportunity for education and advancement and limited access to resources. How were you able to overcome these constraints to complete your secondary education and university degree?

My parents, although living in a poor and not very inspiring environment, always led me to value education and hard work. I was lucky to attend elementary school in my town and most of my classmates were non-Roma kids. After finishing high school, I had to work hard manual labor to make a living and support my family – as did many of my peers. But, with the support of my family and education, I was able to overcome limits and attain a university degree.

What was the motivation for your civic and political activism?

Like many other young Roma, I realized that I have limited opportunities because of the fact that I am a Roma. I always wanted to change that. I refused the fate and life path that a racist society would draw for me. I tried various ways to change the situation until I realized that the best means of positive change dwells in political participation and Roma must reach elected offices.

"I tried various ways to change the situation until I realized that the best means of positive change dwells in political participation and Roma must reach elected office."

On March 10, you were elected to the National Council of the Slovak Republic, becoming the first Roma member of parliament in Slovak history. However, this was not your first campaign. You ran for regional office in Kosice in 2005 and 2009, and for national parliament in 2010. What changed in this election campaign that enabled you to win?

This campaign was different because for the first time we had a full-time campaign manager. For the first time, because of our fundraising, we were able to pay this person so he could dedicate all of his time to our campaign. We also improved at identifying our potential voters, which enabled us to target our messages more effectively. This time we mostly focused on the Roma middle class, with the exception of a few settlements where I have a good reputation and solid support, in contrast to our previous campaigns when we targeted Roma from segregated settlements. The main reason for this decision was that the middle-class Roma are not easily manipulated during the elections. They are not targets of vote-buying, thus are more reliable as voters.

We used every opportunity to talk to middle-class Roma. For example, we attended Roma dance balls – February is a popular month for balls. During these events we had a chance to communicate with many Roma who were leaders of their communities, successful entrepreneurs and authorities. In these balls we altered our door-to-door campaign to be a table-to-table campaign and it worked very well.

We also designed campaign strategies to target non-Roma.

"My previous campaigns gave me a strong and supportive team of volunteers who knew what to do and how to do it."

One of the key factors of our success was the support from the Ordinary People, Independent Personalities (OLaNO) party. The president of the party expressed his public support to me and this gesture created strong interest from national and regional media, which gave me a chance to present my messages. This also helped us fundraise more efficiently. For example, we advertised for free in regional advertising magazines that reach 1.5 million households in Slovakia, and enjoyed interviews and free advertising on the radio.

However, without my previous three campaigns I would not have been elected. My previous campaigns gave me a strong and supportive team of volunteers who knew what to do and how to do it. I systematically worked with my team over seven years and built support among my voters.

In this campaign, you ran on the list of a mainstream political party and you received many non-Roma votes. How do you see cooperation of Roma politicians and activists with non-Roma parties and mainstream politics on the local, regional and national level?

Roma are a heterogeneous group with many differences and therefore it is very difficult for a Roma ethnic political party to be successful. A Roma political party can succeed only if it is able to get non-Roma votes. More and more Roma try to find their place in mainstream political parties, but in the past they were not very successful. One of the reasons I was elected to the parliament is the fact that a strong mainstream party – though new and not very traditional – put me in a high position on the electoral list and supported me as a Roma candidate publically.

NDI’s regional Roma political participation program in Central and Eastern Europe is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy. The initiative seeks to increase Roma political participation by equipping Roma civic and political activists with the skills to advocate for policies to improve the lives of marginalized groups, effectively represent their communities, run well-organized campaigns and share their expertise with emerging activists in their country and neighboring states.

Published April 23, 2012

Youth Conflict Resolution Program Yields Results in Yemen

ntekeei — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 19:13:27 +0000

This week NDI successfully completed a two-year Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) funded program that encouraged young Yemeni citizens to engage their district councils and tribal leaders to advocate for local youth issues; provide conflict prevention training to school students; and serve as conflict mediators among their peers. The active participation of young people in resolving community disputes is critical to Yemen’s current democratic transition.

Conclusion of Student Peer Mediation Training by the Marib Youth Council, Marib governorate. Photo: NDI

NDI recently completed a two-year Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) funded program that encouraged young Yemeni citizens to engage their district councils and tribal leaders to advocate for local youth issues; provide conflict prevention training to school students; and serve as conflict mediators among their peers. The active participation of young people in resolving community disputes is critical to Yemen’s current democratic transition.

The Cross Tribal Youth Council Program, which began in May 2010, targeted young men and women in the conflict-prevalent districts of Juba in Marib governorate and Ain in Shabwa governorate.

Youth Councils Project Achievements

Established peer mediation teams in 20 schools resulting in a reduction in reported conflicts in Marib schools by over 300%.
Raised more than $7,000 from locally cultivated resources to support conflict mitigation activities.
Developed a preacher’s manual and trained mosque preachers in Marib who delivered 26 sermons on conflict prevention.
Assisted or led the resolution of 12 broader tribal conflicts.
Approximately 500 students and parents trained in conflict prevention and mitigation techniques.
Reached over 2,000 students and parents in awareness campaigns to counter conflict in education.
Held formal public meetings with local councils for the first time in each district’s history and worked jointly to implement conflict prevention awareness campaigns.
Half of the youth council members are women including the Chair of the Marib Youth Council.

In July 2010, NDI established the first youth council in Juba followed by a second youth council in Ain in April 2011. Each group participated in extensive training in conflict resolution, advocacy, fundraising, peer mediation, and team building, with the training backed by conflict simulations to reinforce concepts learned.

In February 2012 the Marib youth council members conducted visits to 15 schools and met with principals, teachers and over 200 students to discuss specific factors and causes of student disputes and how to mitigate such conflict in the schools. In late March 2012, the Shabwah youth council selected 60 students from six schools to serve as peer mediators and conducted training for those teams to develop their practical skills in conflict resolution.

As a result of this successful USAID program, youth in Marib and Shabwah governorates are now a valuable local resource to support conflict mitigation and mediation in their schools and communities.

This article originally appeared in the April 2, 2012 Yemen Mission Director's USAID Weekly Report.

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Published April 9, 2012

Jobs, Economy, Services Continue to Top Iraqis’ List of Concerns

fgalleto — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:59:46 +0000

With the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, citizens are increasingly worried about the government’s ability to run the country — particularly to create jobs and provide basic services and security. Compounding the problem, Iraqis feel increasingly disconnected from their leaders, with limited opportunities to meet with elected officials and share their frustrations and grievances.

Six in 10 Iraqis named unemployment as one of their top two issues.

Further splitting the national mood, minority Sunni Arabs feel largely ignored or discriminated against in politics, while ethnic Kurds — enjoying comparative prosperity within the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq — feel optimistic about the future.

These findings are from the latest in a series of surveys commissioned by NDI to help Iraq’s political parties and elected officials respond to the needs of citizens. The survey, conducted by the research firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, comprised 2,000 face-to-face interviews from Sept. 22 through Oct. 5. It builds on research conducted in October 2010 and March 2011 that focused on Iraq’s government formation process, sectarianism and gender issues.

This round of opinion research found that:

Jobs remain the top concern, with nearly six in 10 respondents naming unemployment as one the top two issues the government should address. An overwhelming majority, 85 percent, believe the job situation is getting worse. Nearly half — 49 percent — characterize the economy as weak and only 37 percent think the country is headed in the right direction.
Distrust of politicians is high. The focus groups reveal a strong belief that politicians are at the root of Iraq’s problems. Driving the diminishing support for Iraq’s leaders is a strong sense that the political class is simply not responsive to citizens. Despite negative attitudes toward politicians, Iraqis want more contact with members of parliament (MPs). Strong majorities report that actions such as opening a constituency office, going on a neighborhood listening tour, and holding question-and-answer sessions would make them feel more favorable toward their MPs. Eighty-six percent support the creation of constituency offices.
As support for elected officials declines, Muqtada al-Sadr has seen his popularity rise, especially among young, urban, and poorer Iraqis. Sadr, a Shia cleric with a strong anti-American platform, is the only national political leader whose favorability rating has not fallen since July.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) are seen primarily as groups that deal with humanitarian — not political — issues. Half of all Iraqis say that CSOs have no real impact in their lives. In the current political environment, with such high distrust for politicians, CSOs have an opening to build their role as independent political advocates for solutions that impact citizens’ everyday lives.

In a series of briefings in Iraq, NDI advisers met with party and government leaders to present results. More Iraqi MPs are now considering opening constituency offices to help them listen to and respond to citizens’ needs.

Read a full report and view the presentation.

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Published Jan. 26, 2012

Libyans Enthusiastic About Democratic Transition, Worried About Transparency in Government

fgalleto — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:06:56 +0000

Most Libyans are eager to exercise their newfound political freedoms and participate in shaping their country’s future, but they feel disadvantaged by their lack of exposure to democratic practices and have concerns about security and their economy, according to new public opinion research undertaken by NDI.

Libyans celebrate Liberation Day in Benghazi. Photo by Megan Doherty, NDI resident program officer.

The qualitative research project sampled citizens’ opinions through 16 focus groups in six cities in eastern, western and southern Libya from Nov. 12 to 28.

Following in the footsteps of neighboring Tunisia and Egypt, Libyans took to the streets in February calling for an end to Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year regime and a transition to democracy. After a 10-month conflict, Libya’s transitional leaders declared the country liberated on Oct. 23 and initiated a political transition that calls for developing an electoral framework, holding elections for a constituent assembly and drafting a new constitution.

NDI’s research was designed to capture citizen sentiments about the political landscape and expectations for the future. Here are some key findings:

Although Libyans are optimistic, have high expectations for the future and believe the country is headed in the right direction, the initial euphoria over the revolution is becoming eclipsed by growing everyday concerns including security, the economy and persistent corruption.
Libyans have positive views about democracy, which they link closely to freedom of speech and participation in public debate. But while Libyans are eager to engage in civic and political life and elections, awareness of the election – expected next June – is low.
Libyans overwhelmingly agree that moderate Islamic principles should influence governance, but opinions vary on exactly what role religion should play in public life. There is consensus on the need to avoid extremism. Years of Gaddafi propaganda have tarnished the public image of democracy and political parties, yet Libyans are enthusiastic about learning about basic democratic principles and the transition roadmap. Libyans are also interested in political parties and eager to learn about their platforms.
While Libyans largely appreciate the role the National Transitional Council (NTC) played in managing the country during the revolutionary crisis, the council’s lack of transparency and failure to communicate information on its activities or the transition is creating a disconnect between transitional government and the public. It is clear that greater NTC attention to open communication and transparent decision-making are critical prerequisites for Libyans to believe that the transition is progressing.
Participants are broadly supportive of women playing roles in public life, but opinions vary about what type of engagement is best-suited to women. Women themselves are eagerly seeking opportunities to contribute to the transition and take part in politics.

Given the growing gap between transitional leaders and the public, the findings of this study are being used to inform Libyan decision-makers—in political parties, civil society organizations and the transitional government—about citizens’ attitudes and opinions to help them understand and respond to the needs and concerns of Libyans during the transition.

Production of this report was made possible through funding from the State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

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Published December 16, 2011

Hans Zimmer Collaborates with Roma Musicians on New Film Score

fgalleto — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:52:57 +0000

When Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer set out to write the score for the new Sherlock Holmes film, he knew he wanted to collaborate with Roma musicians. With NDI’s assistance, Zimmer visited Roma towns and settlements, primarily in Eastern Slovakia. Roma, sometimes called Gypsies, are virtually unrepresented in government, and therefore enjoy very few of the benefits other Europeans take for granted.

Hans Zimmer visits with Roma musicians in Zehra, Slovakia.

When Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer set out to write the score for the new Sherlock Holmes film, he knew he wanted to collaborate with Roma musicians. "I went there to find musicians we can work with," Zimmer recently told the Huffington Post. "Not out of a sense of authenticity, partly because of inspiration, and partly because every time I heard a recording from these people, it just sounded different, it sounded like stuff I couldn't do in Hollywood or London."

With NDI’s assistance, Zimmer visited Roma towns and settlements, primarily in Eastern Slovakia. Roma, sometimes called Gypsies, are virtually unrepresented in government, and therefore enjoy very few of the benefits other Europeans take for granted. "If you're a Roma kid and you want to go to school, because your settlement is so far from your school, you have to take the bus, but because there is only unemployment, you can't afford to get the bus," Zimmer explained. "So it's this vicious circle where you can't afford to get an education because you can't afford the bus fare. The housing is beyond anything I've ever seen." Read more»

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Published Dec. 15, 2011

Afghan Internship Graduate Starts Her Own Youth Program

fgalleto — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:55:36 +0000

Working as an intern in the Afghan parliament in 2007, Atifa Safi helped members and parliamentary committees write reports, take minutes, conduct research and analyze data. She had the opportunity to contribute to the legislative process while seeing the workings of government close up, and the lawmakers benefited from the help that she and other interns provided. When she graduated from the program when it ended in 2008, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she could do more for young people.

Atifa Safi

As a fourth year student at Kabul University studying law and political science, her specific assignment was to work with the Internal Affairs and Legislative Commission, participating in its daily administrative tasks as well as providing parliamentarians with analysis on the interpretation of laws and regulations.

During the intern program, carried out by NDI in 2006-2008, 130 students participated from universities located in Kabul, Nangarhar, Bamyan and Herat provinces. Safi was chosen from a pool of more than 700 applicants seeking the kind of lasting experience that can be gained only from an inside look at how government operates. Through the program, interns were placed in the parliament and their local government equivalent, Afghanistan’s provincial councils.

Both the participants and the institutions cited the program’s benefits. In addition to their administrative, analysis and research duties, the interns were exposed to high-ranking figures from both inside and outside of government. They attended a number of forums where key topics were discussed with high-level participants. All told, interns generated more than 30 comprehensive research papers.

Safi graduated from the program when it ended in 2008 and now works at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation (FES), a nonprofit German political foundation engaged in democracy promotion and international dialogue on economic, social and political development. There, she became project coordinator for the Young Leader Forum program, which helps young people in Kabul and the provinces develop leadership skills.

But Safi couldn’t shake the feeling that she could do more for young people. “The NDI internship program was so productive for me and I learned so much from it,” she said, “that I thought to create a similar program at FES to benefit more students.”

Following through on that desire and building on her own intern experiences, Safi started an FES program to place students as interns at provincial councils across the country. The councils, which are the only face of government that most Afghans ever see, range from nine to 29 members, depending on the province’s population. The councilors’ job is to ensure that citizens’ views are reflected in provincial development planning; to monitor and evaluate development programs; to manage conflict among tribes, villages and districts; and to oversee provincial development spending.

Councils in the provinces of Balkh, Baghlan, Bamyan, Herat, Khost, Ningarhar and Parwan are participating in the FES internship program. As part of an initial one-year pilot program, the interns have six-month placements with those councils, for a total of 14 the first year.
While employment is hard to find in Afghanistan, Safi said she is hopeful that the experiences the interns are gleaning in the provinces will help them find jobs that, like hers, will contribute to democracy and good governance in the Afghanistan.

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Published Aug. 29, 2011

Academy Award Winner Explores Living Conditions of Roma in Visit to Slovakia

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:47:39 +0000

As a boy in Germany, Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer heard about the “romantic music and fairy tales of Gypsy life.” But he wasn’t satisfied with the stories and wanted to learn more about the Roma people and their plight.

An opportunity came last year when Zimmer, a long-time human rights advocate, heard about the deportation of Roma migrants from France and wanted to help. His interest led him to NDI, which has been working for the past decade to empower Roma activists in Central and Eastern Europe.

Hans Zimmer visits with Roma musicians in Zehra, Slovakia.

After producing a YouTube video for NDI in honor of International Day of Roma on April 8, Zimmer felt it was of paramount importance to see, firsthand, the living conditions in Roma settlements and to visit with Roma children who attend segregated schools. He also wanted to explore the traditions and culture of Roma musicians as well as hear their music. So last month, with NDI’s assistance, he did exactly that.

Zimmer visited towns and settlements, primarily in Eastern Slovakia, accompanied by the director of his philanthropic Remote Control foundation, Bonnie Abaunza, and members of his sound and editing crew. His daughter Zoe, a professional photographer and supporter of human rights causes, joined the trip to take pictures for an international exhibit on Roma that will open in Los Angeles this fall.

The six-member delegation spoke with those working to help Roma gain political representation to address the urgent housing, health and educational needs of children. During the four-day visit, Zimmer and the team met with NDI partners and program graduates, including activists, community leaders, municipal councilors, members of parliament, ministry officials, journalists, educators and students.

The group visited ramshackle settlements built over abandoned mines that are now collapsing, as well as newly-constructed public housing that has improved the lives of numerous Roma families.

In the town of Rudnany, in eastern Slovakia they met one of three Roma who were elected to the city council last year – for the first time in the city’s history – and who are learning to govern effectively with assistance from NDI. They talked with Roma in the town of Zehra, where non-Roma residents, who are in the minority, want to formally secede from the municipality.

They also visited with young activists and Romani children at community centers in Spisske Podhradie and Roskovce. The latter is among four municipalities participating in a newly-launched NDI project focusing on multi-ethnic cooperation among youth. In each community, the group delivered toys and school supplies for the children.

Because of Zimmer’s interest in Romani music, they also listened to and recorded local musicians playing traditional Romani songs, hoping to incorporate their sound into a future film soundtrack.

"It was a privilege to meet the Roma people, who were welcoming and opened their homes to us.” Zimmer said. “I enjoyed spending time with such talented musicians and with NDI-trained activists who have committed themselves to advance the interests of their communities through the political process."

Among the highlights was an outdoor concert in Ostrovany by Romani musician and activist Vlado Sendrei. Almost two years ago, the government of Ostrovany funded construction of a wall to separate the Roma, who comprise two thirds of the local population, from the rest of the town.

Before leaving Slovakia, the delegation briefed U.S. Ambassador Theodore Sedgwick on their initial thoughts and findings. The Institute’s programming in Slovakia is funded through the U.S. Department of State and the National Endowment for Democracy.

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Published August 17, 2011

NDI President Kenneth Wollack Returns to Burma, Meets Again with Aung San Suu Kyi

rrunyan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:55:12 +0000

NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma in June to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who he first met on a visit there 16 years ago.

In an interview, Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since the adoption of an undemocratic constitution in 2008 and sham elections last November. Still, Wollack says that Aung San Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met on his last visit in 1995 and it’s clear that her party, the NLD, is alive and rebuilding.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack visits with a family at an HIV/AIDS center in Burma.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma in June to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who he first met on a visit there 16 years ago. Wollack also met with other democratic leaders, including the Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD), along with ethnic leaders and a youth network. He also visited an HIV/AIDS center run by an NLD activist and the Free Funeral Services Society, a nongovernmental group that provides free funeral services and basic education to the poor. Aung San Suu Kyi attended the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Society last April.

In an interview, Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since the adoption of an undemocratic constitution in 2008 and sham elections last November. The military remains firmly in control, and there is no movement toward release of the more than 2,000 political prisoners or serious negotiations with Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic nationalities. Still, Wollack says that Aung San Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met on his last visit in 1995 and it’s clear that her party, the NLD, is alive and rebuilding. After spending 15 of the last 21 years under house arrest, she was released in November. Aung San Suu Kyi was the recipient of NDI’s democracy award in 1996. The award was accepted on her behalf by her husband, Michael Aris, who died in 1999.

What was it like to see Aung San Suu Kyi again after all these years?

As always, it was moving just to be in her presence. She is a symbol for democracy, not only in Burma but around the world. She seemed energetic and fit, and looked much younger than her 66 years. It was very obvious from talking to her and from visiting the NLD headquarters that the party has begun to regroup and organize nationwide despite efforts by the government to destroy it.

Sixteen years ago, she talked about a sense of isolation among the Burmese people and how much demonstrations of solidarity meant to her and her party. Vaclav Havel, who had nominated Suu Kyi for the Nobel Prize, has also spoken eloquently about this concept of solidarity during Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

What did you talk about with Aung San Suu Kyi?

She spoke about international policy toward Burma. She believes strongly in the notion of engagement – that there should be dialogue with the new government. But she does not believe that engagement means providing assistance to the government or trying to legitimize it. Engagement means speaking to the authorities about fundamental democratic principles, about releasing political prisoners, about entering into serious negotiations with the democratic forces in the country.

Burma remains the only country in the world in which the winner of an election – a decisive winner – has been denied an opportunity to assume power. And so it’s a unique situation. She has legitimacy from the people, and despite the fact of a stage-managed election 20 years later, it has done nothing to de-legitimize her standing in the country.

What did she say about her life since being released from house arrest last November?

While she can leave her home, very few fundamentals have changed. She continues to be under enormous pressure, as are her supporters. The regime uses its powers to intimidate and harass those with whom party leaders and activists meet.

One change has been the creation of new, so-called nongovernmental organizations trying to present themselves as independent of the government and the opposition. It appears, however, that their goal is to present an alternative to Aung San Suu Kyi and to create the false impression of a new openness in the country.

What struck you about being in Burma for the first time since 1995?

The regime is still very much involved in suppressing ethnic minorities throughout the country. There are still massive human rights violations in ethnic areas and large scale refugee flows into Thailand, Bangladesh and more recently China. Internally displaced populations grow as the military increases its offensive against ethnic populations. The rights violations are so severe that the UN Special Rapporteur for Burma,Tomas Ojea Quintana, has recommended the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Aung San Suu Kyi expresses support for Quintana’s efforts.

The constitutional changes and elections formalized the military’s hold on power through a civilian face. If you look at the official newspapers of the government, what is striking is that 16 years later the slogans and propaganda remain the same, as are the pictures of Burmese officials receiving visiting delegations from other countries. The only difference is that military leaders have traded in their uniforms for suits.

Has Aung San Suu Kyi or her outlook on Burma changed at all?

Referring to existing sanctions, she believes that policy should change only when actions on the ground warrant it. But the message she delivers is virtually the same. It’s a message of peace, reconciliation and dialogue. She also feels strongly about efforts to rebuild genuine education and public health systems in the country.

Suu Kyi has an enormous inner strength that reminds you of Nelson Mandela. The difference is that Mandela was in prison and then elected; she was elected and then imprisoned.

Did you take anything to give Aung San Suu Kyi?

The last time I met her, I asked her if there was anything I could send. She said, “Send me books on political humor, because if you lose your humor, you have lost everything.” So at the time, I sent her a few books. On this trip I brought her former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole’s Great Political Wit: Laughing (Almost) All the Way to the White House; Political Humor Under Stalin: An Anthology of Unofficial Jokes and Anecdotes; and Charles Osgood’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House: Humor, Blunders, and Other Oddities from the Presidential Campaign Trail.

Who else did you meet with while you were in Burma?

I met with ethnic leaders and a new youth network, which is made up of young members of the NLD, as well as those from what’s called Generation 88 and Generation 90 and Generation 2007. These are youth leaders who were active in the democratic opposition movements of the 1980s, 1990s and as recently as four years ago during the Saffron Revolution. They are now developing their networks around the country despite many of their leaders facing harsh prison terms for their political beliefs.

Is there a next generation of strong leaders developing within the NLD?

Yes. I would say that there are probably two generations of leaders. There is the generation known as the “uncles” that has been at the executive level of the NLD. These are of the generation of Suu Kyi’s father, Aung San, who was a revered independence figure before his assassination in 1947. A majority of the members of the Central Executive Committee, however, are of Aung San Suu Kyi’s generation or younger. The growing youth network will eventually play a leadership role in the party, although a number of the youth leaders remain in prison.

What else did you see in Burma?

I visited an HIV/AIDS center that is run by a young woman, Phyu Phyu Thin, who is associated with the NLD, although those who come to the facility are not necessarily NLD members or supporters. It is a very modest clinic where people stay for weeks or months while they are being treated. And they come from all over the country because of the care that they are given by Phyu Phyu Thin and her colleagues.

She, unfortunately, does not receive funds from international donor aid agencies because of her connection with the opposition, but it is extraordinary to observe the relationship between the sick and those who run the center. I met a family where the father, son and daughter of 14 months were all being treated; the mother had just died a few weeks earlier.

Can you talk about NDI’s work in support of the democratic movement in Burma?

NDI, since the time we visited 16 years ago, and others have tried to garner regional and international support for democracy in Burma, and more specifically for Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. We work with parliamentarians in the Asia region and Burmese organizations in exile to draw attention to the situation. On the border between Burma and Thailand, we train on coordination and political advocacy skills with political activists who can travel in and out of the country. Also during last November’s elections, we helped establish what was called the Burma Election Tracker – a website and mapping visual that enabled Burmese to report on the many irregularities that took place across the country.

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Published on August 5, 2011

In Côte d’Ivoire, Youth Leaders Come Together for Peace, Reconciliation

fgalleto — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:20:42 +0000

Last year’s presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire ended in a violent standoff between the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, and the internationally recognized winner of the vote, Alassane Ouattara. During the five-month crisis, which ended with Gbagbo’s arrest and Ouattara’s inauguration, more than 3,000 Ivorians died. We spoke with Charles Djrekpo, NDI resident director, about NDI efforts to help the reconciliation process, and how women and youth leaders are the key to a more a peaceful future for Côte d’Ivoire.

What is life like in Côte d’Ivoire now, after the crisis?

The protests put the country through violence, enormous casualties and heavy looting of property. That crisis is now behind us. The country is recovering slowly. But people are still afraid; they are still living with very heavy stress. Many of them are hiding now — they’re afraid to come out in public. Security is not completely assured because there are still so many guns in the hands of people who are not the police.

People still have a lot of hate, a lot of fear, and to stop all that, the government has set up the Commission for Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation. The leader of that commission is Charles Konan Banny, and he has a good idea of what he has to do. I met with him along with Chris Fomunyoh [NDI regional director for Central and West Africa programs] and he said he’s planning a commission composed of representatives of women’s and youth organizations, political parties, representatives from the main geographic regions of the country, religious leaders and the diaspora — the Ivorians working out of the country. The committee will most likely address problems like youth unemployment, reconstruction and punishment for those who have committed crimes.

What work was NDI doing before the election?

We brought political parties together to agree on a code of conduct. Côte d’Ivoire’s political party code of conduct is one of the best in the African region. It was signed April 24, 2008. Since then, we have gone through the country to distribute and raise awareness of the contents of the code.

In seven regions, we organized what we call political party platforms. They were a kind of roundtable of political parties — opposition and governmental — and we have asked them to sit together and discuss the problems their region is facing. Over time, they became friendly with each other and collaborated more closely to find solutions to the region’s problems. We’re hoping to extend this program to the other 12 regions where this program doesn’t yet exist.

We have also worked with women’s wings of political parties. We worked with the leaders of the women’s wing of each party to make public announcements asking Ivorians not to resort to violence but to go and vote on election day.

What has NDI been doing in the country since the electoral crisis?

We started by calling on youth leaders to come together. Some were very afraid to come from their hiding place and they asked us to protect them. That’s what we did, by sending NDI marked vehicles and drivers to their hiding places and ensuring them safe travels. Large parties, like Gbagbo’s party, the FPI were represented. The youth wing leader of Ouattara’s party, the RDR, was there. And the leader of the Federation of Students, a kind of trade union of students, was there. I think everyone was very glad to see that these youngsters who had been hating each other accepted our invitation and came to this meeting.

"Our purpose was to let them realize they can meet, that they are citizens of the same country, that there is no reason to kill each other and that they can shake hands once again."

Our purpose was not to discuss something in particular. Our purpose was to let them realize they can meet, that they are citizens of the same country, that there is no reason to kill each other and that they can shake hands once again. And that’s what they did. They ate together, drank together, and they exchanged very good declarations. The discussion was about “what did you live during that period?” People were talking about the difficulties they had during the crisis, how they had been looted, how they lost some relatives. They said, “I’m glad to see you alive, have you lost somebody from your family, have you lost your house?”

They have asked us to plan another meeting as quickly as possible so that they can go further in the exchange and see what they can do to rebuild their country together.

We are also planning to meet with the leaders of women’s wings of political parties and civil society organizations in June.

What is the purpose of these meetings?

I think they will help mitigate violence. We can’t guarantee 100 percent success. We have to endeavor and do and act so that we can mitigate the violence. I think the coming legislative elections, planned for the end of November or early December, will probably be violent if we don’t act to mitigate violence.

Why did you choose to target youth and women leaders?

These are the people who can inform the groups they represent, and I think that’s the best way to spread ideas we have discussed in the meeting. More than 60 percent of Ivorians are under 30 years old. And you know, they were the ones who were encouraged to fight by the political parties; they were the fighters. They have to understand that what they have done is bad and has destroyed their own interests, their own job opportunities. And if they realize through the conversation that it’s against their own interest, I think in the future, they will not be manipulated so easily to fight each other.

We want the women’s leaders to meet because they are still fearful of each other. Our objective is to make them come out, to meet and exchange kind words and see that they have been friendly in the past, that they used to work together. They were adversaries in the past but not enemies, and they have to continue not being enemies, but political adversaries.

Our purpose is to bring them to see each other, discuss and know that it’s better to continue working together.

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Pictured above: Charles Djrekpo

Published June 28, 2011

Cleaning Hospitals, Training Legislators

rrunyan — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:35:41 +0000

Following a string of recent premature infant deaths in Ecuador that appeared to result from poor hospital hygiene, there was widespread agreement that authorities needed to act.

Jitinder Kohli, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, conducted a training program for legislators in Ecuador last month that explored how they could bring citizen input into this issue and others.

By Raúl Arce-Contreras and Juliana Ferreira

Following a string of recent premature infant deaths in Ecuador that appeared to result from poor hospital hygiene, there was widespread agreement that authorities needed to act.

Nine of the deaths occurred at Francisco Ycaza Bustamante Hospital, one of the biggest hospitals in Guayaquil city, the port that is the center of Ecuador's business and manufacturing industries. There were also seven infant deaths in Isidro Ayora Hospital in the southern city of Loja, raising questions about hospital hygiene practices around the country.

Ecuador has a government-run healthcare system that gives public officials the authority to order training for health workers and research on major issues as well as specific hospital cases.

These programs may be carried out by executive branch agencies, but the National Assembly has the power to request or legislate such actions. And the fact that the legislature has authority to intervene made it a good case study for Jitinder Kohli, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, who conducted a training program for legislators in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, last month at the invitation of NDI.

“We chose this subject because legislators from different political organizations would agree on the need for action,” Kohli said, “and we would avoid partisan arguments dominating the session. We wanted to find a policy area through which we could demonstrate the practical value of seeking input from outside groups and citizens when developing and implementing policy.”

Ecuador, which became a democracy in 1979, still struggles to include citizens in the decision-making process and hold legislators accountable for their policies. Similarly, civic groups are figuring out how to amplify their voices on the issues they hold dear. The training program included instruction for both lawmakers and representatives of civic organizations.

For legislators, Kohli prepared a set of exercises that emphasized the importance of working closely with citizens to promote more inclusive policies and increased accountability.

The first exercise asked legislators how they would go about developing policies to improve hospital hygiene to reduce the risk of infant deaths. In the second half of the exercise, some of the legislators continued in their roles as lawmakers while others were asked to act as representatives of interest groups.

The legislators group determined that developing good policy required significant expert input from patient and medical groups to incorporate their perspectives and fully understand the nature of the problem. The civil society group made it clear that lawmakers would be held accountable for a lack of progress on the issue.

To help the legislators with their outreach, the training session also focused on communication techniques and new media tools, including Twitter and Facebook, as well as more traditional techniques, such as responding to newsletters or participating in town hall meetings.

Civic leaders, in their training, were keen to learn communications strategies for building coalitions of groups based on common issues. They also were interested in discussing how to track follow-through on elected leaders’ campaign promises to increase accountability.

Meanwhile, the legislators group emphasized the importance of including citizens’ needs in their legislative work plans, raising awareness with constituents on these issues, and promoting laws and policies to address them.

“We will intensify the interaction between elected representatives and citizens, to identify the possible mistakes and rectify them,” one legislator pledged.

The training program was funded by the British Embassy in Quito, which also hosted a reception that brought together legislators and representatives of civil society groups.

Raúl Arce-Contreras is a press assistant at the Center for American Progress. Juliana Ferreira is program assistant at NDI Ecuador.

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Pictured above: Members of civil society work in groups during training.

Published May 17, 2011

'Small Small' Improvements to Liberian Bill Tracking Improve Transparency

fgalleto — Tue, 03 May 2011 22:09:34 +0000

Reporting from Monrovia, Liberia, Program Manager Brittany Danisch explains how small improvements to the legislature's bill tracking system have had a big impact.

Reporting from Monrovia, Liberia, Program Manager Brittany Danisch explains how small improvements to the legislature's bill tracking system have had a big impact. Listen to the audio (7:15):

A transcript follows:

BRITTANY DANISCH: There’s an expression that's used constantly here in Liberia: "small, small." It means something like “slowly, but surely.” And it's a good way to describe the progress taking place in this country since the end of the civil war in 2003.

For example, people can now go about their business freely without fear of being intimidated, arrested or even shot for no reason. Many of the major roads have been rehabilitated making it possible to move around the country to visit family or bring goods to market. And although government corruption remains an endemic problem, the legislature has passed several bills targeting graft. And the president has sacked a few high-level officials who abused their positions.

But there is still a ways to go. Some estimate that unemployment hovers around 80 percent. Illiteracy is certainly above 50 percent, and even higher for women. This is why we say "small, small." Big improvements in quality of life for Liberians will only happen over time so long as government officials remain committed to the incremental reforms already underway.

In the case of the Liberian legislature, this entails opening up the process of making laws so that government watchdog groups and journalists can keep tabs on what's happening. And so advocacy organizations can ensure that legislation reflects citizens' needs. But the obstacles can seem enormous.

There are only a handful of computers in use at the legislature. Most central staff members sit at empty desks — no risk of being labeled a bureaucratic "paper-pusher" in an institution that can't afford to buy paper, printer cartridges or other office supplies. This lack of resources makes it difficult for staff to do their jobs. Jeneve Massaquoi is the assistant secretary of the Senate:

MASSAQUOI: Sometimes the bills would get missing. Maybe, we don’t know, just get missing into thin air. We didn’t know where it was, someone saying he didn’t have the information or he didn’t have the bill.

DANISCH: Did you ever get blamed for losing the legislation?

MASSAQUOI: Oh sure! Many times [laughs], many times our jobs would get threatened and all like that.

DANISCH: Jeneve is laughing, but it was actually a serious problem. For many years, no one knew for sure where any given piece of legislation was in the process. It might be with a committee awaiting mark-up, or perhaps the only copy of the bill — no paper, remember — had been forgotten in someone's desk drawer.

Everyone was frustrated with the situation. Lack of information stymied efforts of Amos Nuakoon, a research aide for Senator George Moore, just to get his job done each day.

NUAKOON: You cannot ask your boss when you are writing a report, 'well, what's the state of the bill?' And you're supposed to be providing information to your boss.

DANISCH: It doesn't feel great to have to say, "sorry boss, can't help you out with that one." The information black hole was even deeper for civic activists and other members of the public interested in contributing to the legislative process. Jasper Cummeh heads a government accountability organization in Monrovia.

CUMMEH: It was just completely blank. It was kind of a secret process where you didn’t know where the bill was, whether it was in the committee room, or it was completed. You didn’t know where it was.

DANISCH: So, this is where things get interesting — or maybe it’s where they get boring, because with a little creativity, the solution to this problem turned out to be remarkably simple. About a year ago, the legislature, with assistance from NDI, decided to create a system to track bills as they passed through the legislative process. David Hunter, a former chief clerk of the Montana State House of Representatives and NDI consultant, advised the legislature as they developed the system. He explains how it works.

HUNTER: They record on the back of the bill each day that an action is taken for a piece of legislation. They then take that information and type it into a spreadsheet that have the significant items: first reading, second reading, third reading, then the action in the second house, signature by the president, etc. So that when you look at the spreadsheet, you can tell the last action that the legislature took on that bill, which then can be posted and distributed each day.

DANISCH: No fancy databases, no high-speed Internet — no Internet at all for that matter. The system is really just a few file folders, an Excel spreadsheet and a bulletin board. But it has had a profound impact on citizen's access to information and on the ability of staff to do their work. Oscefeah Woods manages the bill tracking system for the Senate.

WOODS: What I really love about this bill tracking system is that I was not even having the knowledge to use a computer, in fact. Because I used to use my hands to write everyday, legislations, but now I can be behind a computer to do my work. So I’m very impressed and I love it. That also brought an increase to my thinking and my knowledge.

DANISCH: The bill tracking system has also contributed to improvements in constituency outreach. Amos describes how he uses the new system to help his boss prepare to return to his district during a legislative recess.

NUAKOON: Usually during our annual break we have to go to our county to report to our people. And so we have to get track of every bill and every legislation that has been passed during the period of discussion. We have to make sure that the bossman reports on all. And before then, it was very hard for us — we have to be checking up on our files to keep track of all the bills, but this time it has been a bit easier, that now we can just go on a bill tracking bulletin where we can get all the legislators and what are the bills and it’s easy for us to go through.

DANISCH: The bill tracking system couldn't have come at a better time. In 2010, in preparation for upcoming elections, the legislature passed what was known as the "threshold bill." It created new constituencies to reflect changes in population that resulted during the war. Redistricting is complicated and politically sensitive in any country, and as Lafayette Gould, Oscefah’s bill tracking counterpart in the House of Representatives explains, Liberia was definitely no exception.

GOULD: This has been a very, very, very, very controversial bill. In fact the bill had seven to eight readings from one point to another, vetoed twice, came back, took an action, sent it to the Senate, the Senate sent their own version and, I mean, it was very controversial.

WOODS: If that threshold was not on the bulletin board, people were not even going to know what was going on. So that is the benefit we have for bill tracking on the bulletin board. For instance, somebody came to know how many times the president had vetoed the threshold bill, and I showed him where to go to get that information from.

DANISCH: Because of their success with the bill tracking system, Lafayette and Osceafah have recently been assigned the important duty of delivering approved bills to the president's office for signature. The threshold was one of the first bills to be handled under the new system. I asked Osceafah if he was nervous bringing the document to the president.

WOODS: No! Why should I be nervous? The president is our president of the nation. I feel very comfortable. I’m not nervous to give it to her.

DANISCH: His comment is a reminder that Liberians are living in a time unique in their history. Efforts to increase government transparency, such as the bill tracking system, would have certainly been been quashed in earlier times.

WOODS: In the time of the war, we could not do well what we are now doing, so we found a little bit improvement. For instance, when we were here in Charles Taylor’s time, while we were sitting here there were other people downtown fighting — bullets are flying. Or sometimes for a whole day we can’t find anything to eat. But since this government came into existence, we a little bit have a release, and things are going on fine.

DANISCH: "Small, small." Slowly but surely, Liberians are rebuilding their country. And the legislature, through transparency initiatives such as the bill tracking system, is beginning to assume its role as the people's branch of government. This is Brittany Danisch in Monrovia, Liberia.

Pictured above: Brittany Danisch

Published May 6, 2011

Focus Groups Find Vanishing Ethnic Divisions and Continued Support for Democracy in Burundi

fgalleto — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:02:12 +0000

A recent focus group study by NDI finds that in Burundi, a country historically fraught with ethnic conflict between Hutus and Tutsis, citizens today express little apprehension about current or future ethnic strife. Instead, it is regional, political, and economic differences that divide Burundians. And, despite politically-motivated violence and an opposition party boycott of 2010 elections, Burundians still embrace democracy and see elections as the best means for choosing their country’s leaders.

These findings and others are presented in a new NDI report, The Road Ahead: Citizen Attitudes about Burundi in the Post-2010 Election Period. The Institute conducted a total of 40 focus groups in 22 communities in Burundi, offering citizens a nonpartisan venue to express their views on the 2010 electoral process and other democracy-related issues. The goal of the study is to stimulate dialogue among Burundians — in government, the opposition and civil society — on how the country can respond to citizens’ concerns.

Burundians say their country is moving in the right direction because of improved social services and development policies. Participants, particularly from rural areas, praised government education and healthcare services. "We are grateful to this government that ensures free healthcare for children under five and free primary school enrollment," said a farmer from Tora. "Women give birth for free in hospitals. Former governments didn’t achieve this."

However, there are additional challenges in Burundi that participants believe should be addressed. The government receives blame for corruption, violations of human rights and civil liberties, and for a deteriorating economy. Also, because several opposition leaders fled the country after boycotting the presidential elections last summer, participants express fears about insecurity and a new rebellion led by these leaders. Burundian participants are eager for the leaders to return and for the government to engage in dialogue with the opposition.

Read the report in English or French»

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Pictured above: The cover of The Road Ahead.

Published April 25, 2011

NDI Staff Member Seeks to Bring Women into Elections, Politics in Liberia

fgalleto — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:57:39 +0000

Mardia Greaves-Bloh was only 17 when Liberia tumbled into a brutal civil war in 1989. The war would continue with brief interruptions until 2003, and she saw children as young as 7 join the fighting. Those who survived often found no homes or families to return to when the conflict ended. It was her compassion for those abandoned children that led her to work for child protection services after the war. For several years, she helped ex-combatant children living in the street readjust to life in Liberian society.

In 2005, Bloh went to work for NDI as an intern. Just as her empathy for those children led to her first career in child services, it was her strong identification with the aspirations of Liberian women that inspired her to work with NDI to help them participate more fully in politics.

“Since 2005, we’ve seen women being more progressive, speaking out more than in the past,” Bloh said. “Liberian women find taking the lead a bit challenging, but they are trying. They are fighting to be heard.”

NDI's 2011 Liberian Elections Program

Liberia is preparing for the country’s second national elections since the end of the civil war in 2003. The presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for Oct. 11, will provide a critical opportunity for citizens to evaluate the performance of elected leaders and consider their alternatives. On Aug. 23, Liberians will hold a referendum on four constitutional amendments passed by the legislature last year. They are: postponing the presidential and legislative elections to the second Tuesday in November; eliminating the current system of second round elections for legislative seats; providing a lifetime appointment for Supreme Court; and shortening the residency requirement for presidential and vice presidential candidates from 10 to five years.

In her five years at NDI, Bloh has worked on a wide range of programs, including efforts to make the legislature more effective and an election-monitoring initiative in preparation for Liberia’s elections later this year. Throughout, she has fought to increase women’s presence in politics. As part of NDI’s program to strengthen the legislature, Bloh supported the Women’s Legislative Caucus of Liberia as it developed and carried out a strategic work plan. Bloh helped the caucus collaborate with women’s groups to advocate for adoption of the Gender Equity in Politics Act of 2010, which seeks to ensure at least 30 percent representation for women in nationally-elected offices and political parties.

In recognition of her commitment to strengthening democracy and increasing women’s participation, NDI awarded Bloh the 2011 Andi Parhamovich Fellowship, which each year honors a woman from an NDI field office or partner organization who is dedicated to building and consolidating democracy in her own country. The fellowship is named in memory of Andi Parhamovich, an NDI staff member who was killed in Iraq in 2007. The Andi Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded by Ms. Parhamovich’s family and friends that helps in the selection process and provides a housing stipend to the fellow.

The awardee travels to the United States for three months to conduct a research project of her choosing. The time is spent in the NDI Washington office, where she meets frequently with Institute staff and other international development experts.

For her project, Bloh is researching coalition building strategies, gender mainstreaming in the electoral process, and the use of information and communications technology in election observation. In preparation for a constitutional referendum in August and general elections in October, she is developing a training module that she will lead with the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of civil society organizations that is partnering with NDI-Liberia to monitor this year’s electoral process. Her training will focus on helping the ECC identify barriers women face as voters, and ways that the committee can be more sensitive to gender in their observation work. One of Bloh’s goals is to encourage the ECC to incorporate more women into the decision making structure of the coalition, because there is currently only one woman on the leadership committee.

Despite the election of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2005 and the proposed legislation to bring more women into politics, women in Liberia seeking to enter political life still face numerous barriers, such as discrimination from political parties dominated by men, and traditional and religious customs that keep them at home. When it comes to voting, women in male-dominated households sometimes lack the power to vote for the candidate of their choice because their husbands expect them to vote for the same candidate they select.

Bloh said that what she learns in Washington will help her conduct women’s focus groups to identify ways to eliminate some of these critical barriers.

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Pictured Above: NDI's 2011 Andi Parhamovich fellow, Mardia Bloh, speaks about her work in Liberia.

Published April 4, 2011