NDI - Iraq

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.

Related:

Published Jan. 26, 2012

Iraq Enters a Critical Period

fgalleto — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:07:29 +0000

Author:

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/26/2012

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	321.3 KB
View the presentation	490.75 KB

NDI E-news: Democracy Day, Libya, Pakistan, African Elections | Sept. 2011

fgalleto — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:15:40 +0000

Sept. 15, 2011

Happy Democracy Day!

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"Independence!" A woman casts her ballot in the January referendum creating the new country of South Sudan. Photo by Susan Stigant, senior program manager.

Sept. 15 is International Day of Democracy, an annual global celebration of human rights, the rule of law and other principles that unite democracies around the world. The day was designated by the United Nations to reaffirm the universality of democratic values and recognize the aspirations of people around the world to have a say in how they are governed and make free choices about how they live their lives.

Nowhere have those aspirations been more prominent this year than in North Africa, where popular uprisings have ousted dictators in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. In Libya, the Institute has been working closely since April with the National Transitional Council (NTC) as it creates a plan for a constitution, elections, national security and the protection of civil liberties. In a country where political parties have been outlawed and maligned for 40 years, NDI is helping fledgling parties create platforms and attract supporters. Writing in the Washington Post, Les Campbell, NDI regional director for Middle East and North Africa programs, expressed optimism about the prospects of a successful transition and outlined the positive steps the council has taken already. Matyas Eörsi, resident country director in Benghazi, spoke to NPR about the high expectations — globally and in Libya — facing the country's new government.

For more than 25 years, in more than 70 countries, NDI has worked to strengthen new and emerging democracies. This Democracy Day, consider contributing to our work and support people in North Africa and around the world who want a voice in how their countries are governed.

Pakistan to Extend Political Reforms to FATA

President Asif Ali Zardari's recent decision to extend political and legal reforms to Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) is the result of a lengthy effort by political parties and other organizations to bring more democratic systems of governance to a region considered a haven for militants and religious extremists. The reforms, supported by NDI, will allow political parties to form and operate in FATA for the first time, and will amend a draconian criminal code first enacted by the British in 1848.

Ensuring Women and Young People Take Part in the Political Process

Women and youth have a significant role to play in new and emerging democracies. In Sudan, caricature art helps engage young people who feel excluded from the political process. In Burkina Faso and Iraq, women are learning the skills they need to run for office and build successful political careers. In Nicaragua, the first class of graduates to earn a certificate in leadership and political management are ready to start their political careers. And in Afghanistan, one young woman is helping others prepare for careers in government by starting an internship program that places students in provincial council offices.

Celebrate Democracy with these Upcoming Events

Save the date! NDI will hold its annual democracy dinner on Nov. 7. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will headline the event, which also includes a panel discussion on the Arab Spring. The dinner and an awards ceremony will recognize those who have spent a lifetime supporting democracy.

On Sept. 23, Alassane Ouattara, president of Côte d'Ivoire, will speak at NDI, where he will discuss his government's efforts to rebuild the country's economy and foster national reconciliation in the wake of violence following last November's election. This event is full, but will be streamed live.

Toward Better Elections in Africa

Across Africa, countries are taking steps to ensure more transparent and accountable elections. A recent referendum in Liberia was monitored by the Elections Coordinating Committee, a civil society coalition that provided a nonpartisan assessment of the process and will monitor upcoming presidential and legislative elections. In Côte d'Ivoire, which recently experienced a violent crisis in the aftermath of its November presidential election, citizen election monitors gathered to discuss their role in mitigating violence in legislative polls scheduled for later this year. And in Zambia and Mauritania, NDI fielded delegations that assessed both countries' preparedness for upcoming elections and suggested improvements.

Coming Together for Common Goals

Democracy can't solve longstanding political or cultural divisions overnight, but it can bring different groups together to discuss issues and arrive at common goals. In Bosnia, eight politicians are reaching across party and ethnic lines to tackle the country's biggest challenges together. And in Honduras, where the effects of a 2009 coup and constitutional crisis are still reverberating, a series of "democracy dialogues" is bringing people together to find common ground.

Public Opinion Research for Better Policy Platforms

Public opinion research helps political parties and governments address the issues their constituents care about most. In Iraq, people want politicians to focus on jobs, the economy, and water and power delivery. In Somalia, focus group research shows that citizens are losing faith in their transitional institutions and are looking for ways to provide ideas to move their country forward. In Belarus, citizens distrust the Lukashenko regime and blame it for current economic problems. But they remain pessimistic about the prospects for opposition parties. And in South Sudan, citizens want to end tribalism above all else, seeing themselves primarily as Southern Sudanese.

NDI's Washington Office is Moving

NDI's new office

Update your address book! As of Sept. 19, NDI's Washington, D.C., headquarters will be located at 455 Massachusetts Ave., NW, on the eighth floor. All telephone numbers will remain the same.

Young Women Gain Confidence, Mentors from Leadership School in Iraq

fgalleto — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:20:15 +0000

Over the last eight years, Iraqi women have become increasingly active in politics, taking on some of the country’s most vexing issues — peace and security, economic empowerment, social justice, education and the environment. Their goal is to achieve consensus across regional, political and sectarian lines in a nation where coexistence and compromise are not everyday occurrences.

One tool in this effort has been the National Platform for Women, a collaborative initiative by Iraqi political party members and civil society activists to spell out recommendations for government policy. Published in January 2010, the platform is a reference point for citizen forums and advocacy campaigns that Iraqi women are conducting in provinces across the country.

Another tool is the Young Women’s Leadership School, created by NDI this year for women ages 18-30. The school’s first 25 graduates were from a mix of nongovernmental organizations and political parties. Participants were selected from more than 100 applicants on the basis of their achievements and past civic engagement.

They met three times between January and May for intensive study and discussion on topics such as leadership, management, communications, social media and advocacy. During the sessions, young women also learned strategies for overcoming cultural stereotypes and personal barriers that could limit their success in the political arena.

Al-Raidat Alumnae Mentorship Network

NDI developed an online alumnae network for female participants of its programs in Iraq. Called “al-Raidat,” the feminine plural for “leaders” or “pioneers” in Arabic, the network’s name reflects the groundbreaking work that women are accomplishing across Iraq.

The hub of the network is the website, www.al-raidat.org, which connects past and present NDI partners to one another and to resources for social and political activism. Al-Raidat provides members with the opportunity to reach out to other female leaders in the region, ask for and receive strategic advice, share news events and personal successes, and learn about effective strategies for achieving their goals.

One recent example is Fenik Kamal, a young Iraqi woman who organized a program on human rights—a critical issue in her province of Sulaymaniyah. Committed to changing her community and her society, Kamal worried in the days leading up to the session whether the attendees would listen to her and whether they would be receptive to her presentation.

Kamal reached out to her mentor, an alumna of NDI’s Multi-Party Women’s Caucus program, who encouraged her to believe in herself and shared tips for effective training, including how to open the program and how to keep participants’ attention. Reassured by her mentor’s support and armed with time-tested techniques and suggestions, Kamal overcame her doubts and staged a successful event.

The school focused on concrete skills that the women could put into practice immediately to influence their career development and involvement in politics. They practiced negotiation techniques, such as framing arguments in ways that are persuasive to both adversaries and potential allies.

They also learned management styles and strategies for handling diverse groups of employees or political partners. “It is important to give others the opportunity to express themselves, their thoughts and their ideas in a participatory manner,” said a participant from Baghdad about lessons learned. “Respecting other people’s opinions and learning to be open-minded with my opinions is an important component of successful teamwork.”

To practice their message development and communications skills, participants conducted a series of mock press conferences on personal status law and unemployment — two issues that impact young women in Iraq.

One group argued for amendments to legal parameters for marriage. Another group argued that the current personal status law — which includes provisions for individual rights such as marriage, divorce and inheritance — does not contradict either Islamic law or Iraqi tradition. Rather, participants suggested that conditions be placed on marriage laws to ensure that women’s rights are protected. The groups delivering press conferences on unemployment also chose two sides. One advocated for private sector development by improving laws to encourage foreign investment. The other maintained that the government is responsible for increasing job opportunities by reducing the age of retirement and launching new public works projects.

The school also emphasized building strong relationships among the participants to form a network of young women leaders who can help each other for years to come. Participants shared their personal experiences with discrimination, racism and sexism. By exploring common stereotypes held by Iraqis as well as gender stereotypes in the Arab world, the young women built bridges across sectarian, regional, political and linguistic lines and found a support network.

Over the course of the leadership school, each participant designed a project to carry out in her organization, political party or university. NDI advisors provided individual feedback to help the women frame priority issues, collect data to support their causes, and identify supporters, opponents and coalitions. NDI also helped pair the young women with mentors — experienced Iraqi women who have achieved success in politics or community activism — to provide ongoing guidance as the young women work on their advocacy projects in the coming six months.

According to a participant from Muthanna, “The school showed me that a leader is powerful, firm and not afraid of a challenge, especially if her work is aligned with her principles.”

Related:

Published Sept. 8, 2011

Reports on Public Opinion Research Conducted in Iraq

fgalleto — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:49:21 +0000

Author:

Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/22/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Relative Stability in Iraq Despite Unrest	552.24 KB
Iraq's Challenging Environment for Women	524.95 KB
Iraqi Worries and Hopes Regarding Sectarianism	435.89 KB

Iraqis Look to Parties to Boost Economy, Forgo Sectarian Divisions

fgalleto — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:43:57 +0000

Iraqis are becoming increasingly concerned about a weak economy and poor service delivery, aggravating their frustrations with political parties and politicians. But they still believe that democracy holds the potential to improve their quality of life, and they want political parties to become more responsive to economic concerns and less focused on sectarian divisions. They also see improvements in conditions for women in Iraq, with widespread approval for women’s education and suffrage, but less support for women who want to run for office, travel freely and wear what they want.

Iraqi women attend a meeting to draft the National Platform for Women. Seventy-four percent of Iraqis agree with the constitutional mandate that 25 percent of MPs be women.

They also see improvements in conditions for women in Iraq, with widespread approval for women’s education and suffrage, but less support for women who want to run for office, travel freely and wear what they want.

These findings are from a survey and focus groups commissioned by NDI that will help Iraq’s political parties and government develop policies that are more attuned to what citizens want. The survey, conducted by the research firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, comprised 2,400 face-to-face interviews from Feb. 24 through March 23. It builds on research conducted in October 2010 that focused on the country’s process for forming a government and citizens’ top issues of concern.

This latest round followed up on those issues and also explored trends in sectarianism and women’s rights. The survey found that:

Click on the chart to see it larger

Jobs and the economy remain a major concern. Sixty-three percent think unemployment is a top issue the government needs to address. Fifty-six percent now think the Iraqi economy is weak, up 18 points since the question was asked last fall. Only 38 percent think their personal financial situation will improve in the next year, a 10-point drop since last fall.
Delivery of basic services such as electricity and water are of growing concern. Some 47 percent of Iraqis see service delivery as a primary issue for the government, up 18 points from last fall. Concern about corruption in government is also growing, up 11 points to 33 percent. In contrast, only 16 percent see security as a top issue for the government to address, down 20 points from last fall.
A large majority — 77 percent — sees sectarianism as playing a negative role in their country. A 73 percent majority sees political parties as deepening sectarian divisions and wants them to move away from a sectarian base in the future. Sixty-one percent agree that it would be better for political parties not to be based on sect or ethnicity. However, 65 percent admit that sectarianism has an influence on voting — they are more likely to vote for a party that is primarily identified with their own sect or ethnic group.
Iraqi women enjoy broad acceptance in education, professional life and suffrage, but they have limited freedom in other areas, such as travel and dress. Nine out of 10 Iraqis support women's access to secondary and university education. A near-unanimous 94 percent think women should be allowed to enter highly-skilled professions, such as law or medicine, while 90 percent support a woman’s right to vote. However, only 40 percent agree that women should be allowed to travel wherever and whenever they want, and only one-third agree that women should be able to wear whatever clothing they like. In both instances, men disagreed more strongly, but majorities of women also disagreed with these statements.

Click on the chart to see it larger

In a series of briefings in Iraq, advisers from NDI and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner met with party and government leaders to present results. Iraqi leaders hope to use the findings to appeal to voters on issues of concern, improve communications and messaging, and consider citizen expectations for government reform efforts.

This is the second round of an ongoing research series used to track Iraqi attitudes over time. Upcoming rounds will revisit many of the top issues covered in previous surveys and add a special focus on constituency outreach and the role of civil society in Iraq.

View the full reports on Iraq’s political landscape, sectarianism, and the environment for women.

Related:

Published Aug. 22, 2011

Gender Justice and Women's Rights in Iraq

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:45:12 +0000

Author:

International Human Rights Law Institute & NDI

Publisher:

International Human Rights Law Institute & NDI

Published Date:

02/01/2006

Resource Type:

Conference Papers

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Iraq_Gender_Justice_2005.pdf	678.89 KB

NDI organises study mission for members of administrative board of Al-Mir'at | July 4, 2011

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:03:27 +0000

AMEinfo | Link to story »

The members of administrative board of Al-Mir'at Center for Monitoring and Developing Iraqi Media Performance, participated in a study mission organized by NDI held in Croatia and Bulgaria during the period from the first to the seventh of June, 2011. The aim of the study mission was to share and exchange experiences with other CSOs, mass media, journalists and activists in media fields and to gain experience in professional monitoring fields.

Link to story »

New Manual Helps Citizens Scrutinize Government Performance

fgalleto — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:35:24 +0000

Monitoring how governments work is an important citizen responsibility in democracies. Have elected officials fulfilled their campaign promises and are they worthy of being returned to office? Have there been abuses of power? Are taxpayer funds being spent in a responsible manner?

These are just some of the questions facing citizens as they scrutinize government performance, which can be a daunting task, particularly in new and emerging democracies where few citizens have the experience or tools to monitor effectively. Since its founding 27 years ago, NDI has worked to help hundreds of citizen groups answer these questions. And now, for the first time, the Institute has compiled that experience — along with practical tools, worksheets, checklists and case studies — into a new manual.

Since its founding 27 years ago, NDI has worked to help hundreds of citizen groups answer these questions. And now, for the first time, the Institute has compiled that experience — along with practical tools, worksheets, checklists and case studies — into a new manual, Political Process Monitoring: Activist Tools and Techniques.

The guide focuses on five areas:

Monitoring legislative sessions and committees, which fosters public accountability and helps citizens determine a legislature’s overall effectiveness.
Budget monitoring, which allows citizens to analyze how governments spend money, whether it is spent efficiently and legally and whether a government’s spending priorities match its citizens’ needs.
Shadow reports, which are used by civil society to monitor and raise awareness of government compliance with international treaties or declarations.
Monitoring government follow through — monitoring government enforcement of laws, policies and regulations — allows citizens to see whether a law is having its intended effect and is being enforced fairly.
Campaign monitoring, which helps citizens decide which candidates to vote for, which campaigns comply with election laws, and helps to hold winning candidates accountable to their campaign promises.

The guide also provides examples of forms, worksheets, checklists and reports used successfully by NDI partner groups around the world. Case studies give practical, real world examples of each of these types of monitoring.

For instance, in Jordan in 2007, public confidence in parliament was very low. The Al Quds Center for Political Studies partnered with NDI to create the Jordanian Parliament Monitor, which collected information about members of parliament (MP) and their attendance, voting records and responsiveness to constituents. Its monitoring reports were disseminated to MPs, citizen groups and international organizations. The increased attention and oversight prompted legislators to announce new water distribution policies, undertake new school construction, propose new air pollution standards and listen to citizen feedback on new laws and public projects.

Currently, the guide is being used by NDI in Iraq as the Institute works with local organizations monitoring the work of government at national and sub-national levels. The tools and methods used by other NDI partners, and highlighted in the manual, have helped Iraqi groups think about how best to approach their own monitoring activities given their local circumstances.

The Institute is preparing a companion toolkit that helps organizations measure and track the outcomes of their monitoring campaigns, as well as measure the effects a successful campaign can have on the organization itself — how its influence or membership might grow, for example. This companion guide will be available later this year.

Read more:

Pictured above: The manual's cover

Published May 2, 2011

NDI E-news: Democracies in Transition, African Elections | March 2011

fgalleto — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:25:16 +0000

March 2011

Emerging Democracies Learn from Transition Experiences of Other Countries

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Sergio Bitar, who helped found the Party for Democracy during Chile's democratic transition, recently returned from Cairo.

Democratic transitions take time and patience. Each country is different, seeking to adapt the principles common to all democracies to its unique character and circumstances.

But there are also lessons to be learned from the experiences of other nations that have made the shift from autocracy to democracy — a process that has just begun in Tunisia and Egypt, where citizens are deciding on new constitutions, leaders, political parties and other elements of their new societies.

In Tunisia, NDI recently brought experts from Bulgaria, Hungary and Portugal to meet with Tunisian political party leaders to share experiences from their countries' democratic transitions. Similarly, in Egypt, transition leaders and experts from Chile, Indonesia, Poland, Romania and Serbia are meeting with civil society and party leaders. They were able to discuss a range of issues including relations with the military, reconciliation processes, coalition building, and electoral and constitutional reform.

Krastyo Petkov, involved in the democratic transition in Bulgaria, with NDI Senior Program Officer Gabriella Borovsky in Tunis.

Against this backdrop, 50 experts from Europe and North America met in Brussels this month as part of an ongoing transatlantic dialogue on democracy support, co-chaired by by Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament; Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. secretary of state and chairman of NDI; Javier Solana, former EU high representative for the common foreign and security policy; and Vin Weber, former U.S. representative and board member of the National Endowment for Democracy. In a statement, the participants expressed their support for democratic reform movements and called on the transatlantic community to emphasize democracy assistance within the transatlantic relationship.

NDI also hosted a roundtable for rising democratic powers, including representatives from Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa, on democracy support. These countries have valuable experience in democratic and economic development, but they are often not present in discussions on democracy support because they tend to be neither major donors nor recipients of development assistance.

As part of the two-day roundtable, Indonesia's ambassador to the U.S., Dino Patti Djalal, spoke about his country's transition to democracy and compared it to events unfolding in the Middle East and North Africa. "My advice to many of the countries undergoing democratic transitions is, don't let fear drive you," he said in a talk at NDI.

Youth Academy Empowers Tomorrow's Political Leaders in Rwanda

People under the age of 25 comprise two-thirds of Rwanda's population, but they are largely excluded from political life. NDI's recently expanded Youth Political Leadership Academy helps young leaders acquire practical political skills needed to have a say in their country's future. Read more»

Film Urges Nigerians to "Activate the Power of their Thumb"

As Nigeria prepares for presidential, legislative and gubernatorial elections, a new short film, "My Vote Fit Change Naija," urges Nigerians to vote as a peaceful means to achieve change in their country. Produced by Youngstar Foundation and NDI, the film links voting to potential improvements in jobs, roads, electricity and health care, and stars a number of famous actors from the Nigerian film industry. Read more»

Election Monitors Note Minor Problems as Niger Peacefully Elects New President

Peaceful elections in Niger this month received praise from nonpartisan citizen election observers, despite a number of administrative problems surrounding the voting. NDI's partner, the Nigerien Association for the Defense of Human Rights, trained 2,025 observers who were stationed in all of Niger's eight regions on election day. Read more»

West African Election Observers Promote Credible Elections

In West Africa, some elections have led to successful transfers of power, while others have been marked by widespread fraud. Citizen election observation groups from 11 countries have formed the West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) to help ensure accountability, increase honesty and accuracy, and improve the credibility of elections in the region. Read more»

NDI Reports: Spring 2011

The new issue of NDI's newsletter, NDI Reports, explores how the mapping of election data can identify trends or anomalies in election results, examines recent advances and setbacks in women's political participation, and reports on a new global network for citizen election monitors.

Read the newsletter or browse the archives»

First Parhamovich Fellow Bringing More Young Women into Politics

Two years after her visit to the U.S., Ferdos Majeed, the Institute's first Parhamovich fellow, helped to launch the Young Women's Leadership School in Iraq. Read more»

Tijuana Civic Groups Use Opinion Research to Strengthen Police Reform Proposal

A recent study conducted by NDI's partner, the Citizen Coalition for Public Security, shows that while residents of Tijuana believe security improvements have been made, the perception of municipal police is still largely negative. The coalition is using the data to work with local elected officials on making improvements in public security. Read more»

Policymakers Share Strategies to Help Roma Minorities

A summit meeting held recently in Romania brought together officials from eight countries in Central and Eastern Europe who are responsible for policies to assist Roma minorities. Though there are an estimated 10 million Roma in Europe, they remain largely excluded from the political system due to discrimination, segregation and poverty. Read more»

NDI Celebrates 100th Annual International Women's Day

Hon. Nora Shimming-Chase (right) speaks with a participant at NDI's International Women's Day event in South Africa.

The 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, an annual observance of the achievements of women around the world, was celebrated this year with a recognition of past triumphs and calls to action for promoting women's equality. NDI marked the occasion with events in Colombia, Kosovo, South Africa and Washington, D.C.

At any given time, nearly 75 percent of NDI country programs have a dedicated component addressing women's political participation, a recognition of the words of NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright that "the political participation of women results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and more sustainable peace."

First Parhamovich Fellow Bringing More Young Women into Politics

fgalleto — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:20:40 +0000

Young Iraqi women aspiring to political careers are getting a boost from a new Young Women’s Leadership School launched recently with the help of NDI Iraq staff member Ferdos Majeed.

Majeed came to the U.S. for three months in 2009 as NDI’s first Andi Parhamovich fellow, named to honor Ms. Parhamovich, who was killed while working for the Institute in Baghdad in 2007. Each year the fellowship is awarded to a young woman — selected from NDI local staff or a partner organization – who is deeply involved in strengthening democracy in her own country.

Young Iraqi women aspiring to political careers are getting a boost from a new Young Women’s Leadership School launched recently with the help of NDI Iraq staff member Ferdos Majeed.

The leadership school helps women, aged 18 to 30, build their leadership, outreach and communications skills. We talked with Majeed, who worked with Ms. Parhamovich, about how the fellowship helped her prepare for the leadership school’s opening and the rest of her work in Iraq.

How did this fellowship change your work?

Before the fellowship, I was looking for ways to expand my information, to add to the work that I was doing at NDI. When I got to America, I met with people and organizations — specifically women’s organizations — that gave me information that I couldn’t get from any other part of the world. For example, the Women Under 40 PAC explained how it connected young women with more senior women to prepare young women for political life. That was something really different. And that is just one very small example.

Were there specific things you learned in the U.S. that you’ve brought back to use in your work in Iraq?

One thing I learned, which we are doing in our program, is to include younger women — those who want to start on the first steps of political life — and we try to show them the way. I’m very proud today to have that program, because that was really the first thing I wanted to do when I got back to Iraq. Now we have 28 women from different parts of the country in the program. They are very excited about the training and with their political life in general.

How do you feel about the future of Iraq?

I am optimistic. And why? Because at least now we have hope. Developed countries like America and countries in Europe that have democracy now — they didn’t get it in one night. It took them a long time. I believe we are in our first step to democracy. It’s difficult because we have been through a difficult time with the dictatorship, and we have a lot of challenges to our democracy, like corruption, lack of experience with our political parties, absence of rule of law, absence of civil society and local leadership, and the interference of neighboring countries. But still we have hope, and this is why I am optimistic.

“I am optimistic. And why? Because at least now we have hope.”

Before, we were living with no change, and there was no hope — we were in a kind of closed box. But now, even with all those challenges, I am very optimistic that one day we will have democracy, maybe not in my generation, but for the next generation.

What do you see as the benefit of the fellowship?

When the fellows get back to their home countries they have to think about what to do next, what their new role is. I hope they find that or, better yet, travel to other countries to teach what they’ve learned and to get more information. I’d love to see future fellows rotate to other offices in other countries to share their experience from Washington, D.C., and to get new ideas from other countries.

I believe that the fellowship is a seed, and that seed should grow not in one place but in different places. I believe Andi would be very happy to see these seeds grow all over the world.

Related:

Pictured above: Ferdos Majeed

Published March 11, 2011

Behind Iraq's protests, a call for better democracy

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:26:24 +0000

Source:

The Washington Post

Article Link:

Published Date:

03/03/2011

In this Washington Post op-ed, Daniel Serwer discusses the current political situation in Iraq. With overall violence down and Iraqi politicians pleased with the inclusive "national partnership" government, Iraqis are protesting not for regime change, but a better democratic government. Tensions between Islamists and secularists as well as Sunnis and Shiites still exist while disagreement between Arabs and Kurds over the boundaries of Kurdistan continue. On a positive note, however, the price of oil - which Iraqis can extract from giant reserves at low prices - has risen. Although Americans must live with the mistake of having invaded Iraq, Serwer argues, a modest postwar success is possible if Iraq becomes a reliable high volume supplier of oil to world markets.

NDI E-news: The Middle East, African Elections, Belarus | Jan./Feb. 2011

fgalleto — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:10:35 +0000

February 2011

Now the Hard Work Begins...

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Egyptians celebrate in Tahrir Square. Photo by RamyRaoof.

Following weeks of protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain, thousands in Libya are now advocating for political freedoms long denied by the country's regime. The government has responded with beatings, shootings and arrests. NDI condemned this government-backed violence and joined calls for the immediate cessation of attacks against Libyans who are exercising their right to peaceful assembly, and for a democratic transition.

As democracy advocates raise their voices throughout the Middle East, analysts and commentators have turned to NDI seeking insights into the implications of the ongoing changes for the future of democracy in the region. In The New York Times,
The Washington Post, on CNN and elsewhere, NDI leaders and staff have offered commentary and interpretation as the historic changes have unfolded.

The Institute has a long history in the region. Its first office, for the West Bank and Gaza, opened in 1994. Since then, NDI staff have also been based in Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Mauritania, Morocco and Yemen. Institute programming also encompasses Algeria, Bahrain,
Kuwait,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia
and Tunisia.

In all of these countries, NDI has established partnerships with political parties, civic groups, parliamentarians and others seeking to promote peaceful reform and have a voice in how they are governed. The Institute works to share organizational skills, comparative experiences and tools to connect democratic activists within and between countries.

In response to the developments in Egypt, for example, NDI is putting Egyptian activists in touch with political leaders from Chile, Poland and elsewhere so they can take advantage of lessons learned during other democratic transitions. It's similar to work the Institute has done in many other places and times, such as when it brought opposing Northern Ireland factions together in South Africa in 1997 to learn from Nelson Mandela and others how to negotiate peace and reconciliation.

African Election Roundup: Nigeria, Sudan, Niger

In Nigeria, NDI is conducting an international observation mission to analyze the electoral process before, during and after presidential, legislative and local elections scheduled for April. Regular updates can be found in Nigeria Election Watch, which is based on reports from NDI's long-term observers, who began assessing election activities throughout the country from January and will continue through May. Subscribe»

In Sudan, NDI's civil society partners, the southern-based Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) and the northern-based Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE), observed
all stages of the recent referendum
in which Southern Sudan voted to secede from the north. The groups concluded
that "the Southern Sudan referendum allowed the free expression of the will of the people for self-determination."
Read more»

Before presidential and legislative elections in Niger, 36 political parties and two independent candidates signed a code of conduct that encouraged parties and their supporters to campaign honestly and respect the outcome of the Jan. 31 vote and the runoff election set for March 12. Read more»

Women in Afghanistan, Guatemala, Ukraine Overcoming Obstacles to Elected Office

Among the 249 members of Afghanistan's lower house of parliament are Farida Hamidi and Frishta Amini, two women who make up the entire delegation from Nimroz province. Despite the risks faced by female candidates, both women ran strong campaigns and garnered more votes than their male opponents. Read more»

In Guatemala, where indigenous women are 20 percent of the population and hold only one of the nation's 333 mayoralties, Isabel Francisco discusses her campaign for mayor of Santa Eulalia, Huehuetenango. "This is my third time as a candidate," she said. "The first time I finished in fifth place. The second time I finished in third place. This time I'm hopeful I'll win!" Read more»

Zinayida Galchynska promised herself that if she survived breast cancer she would run for local office and make a real difference in her community. She kept that promise and is now a councilor in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine — thanks in part to the skills she learned at an NDI campaign school and a campaign based on going door-to-door to meet voters. Read more»

NDI President Urges International Support for Belarusian People

NDI President Kenneth Wollack outlined ways the international community can provide moral support and practical assistance to political and civic leaders, media and ordinary citizens in Belarus, where government forces engaged in a brutal crackdown following failed elections Dec. 19. Wollack was speaking at a Jan. 27 hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs. Read more»

Colombian Municipal Councilors Hone Good Governance Skills

In Colombia, newly-elected municipal councilors generally are expected to learn on the job. To help them gather the skills they need, an NDI program focused on how to identify the needs of their constituents, develop policies to address those needs, and engage with citizens and the media. Read more»

NDI Adds 2010 Afghanistan Elections Data to Mapping Website

Complete data from Afghanistan's 2010 parliamentary elections have been added to
afghanistanelectiondata.org, the Institute's innovative mapping website
. The site now includes data from Afghan elections beginning in 2004, as well as demographic, ethnographic, topographic, security and other information. Visitors can create visual analyses of voting patterns and other assessments, or segment and envisage data and maps in a variety of ways.
Read more»

New NDI Publications

NDI, one of the world's largest publishers of Arabic-language resources and references on democracy support, has just released its latest catalogue. It includes a listing of publications and information on how to order them. Read it in Arabic | English»

Drawing on its 25 years of experience in the women's political participation field, NDI has published a new guide for democracy practitioners to help them develop and carry out effective programs to bring more women into government and politics. Democracy and the Challenge of Change: A Guide to Increasing Women’s Political Participation, helps the user develop, carry out, monitor and evaluate women’s political participation programs. The guide provides a rationale for focusing on increasing women’s participation and includes examples of best practices, case studies and practical strategies.

The new guide, Political-Process Monitoring: Activist Tools and Techniques, explores the work that the Institute and its partner groups have done for legislative, budget-related and campaign-related monitoring, shadow reporting and monitoring government follow-through.

The Voice of Civil Society in Iraq: An Assessment

fgalleto — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:09:42 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/31/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

During the last quarter of 2010, NDI used its extensive network of partners and contacts throughout the country to interview some of the most active, experienced, and well-respected civil society organizations in each province. This report summarizes the findings of this survey, providing some insight into the challenges and opportunities that groups in Iraq face on a day-to-day basis.

English

Attachment	Size
Read the assessment	652.06 KB

Iraqis Want Parties to Create Jobs, Improve Services

fgalleto — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:43:45 +0000

Most Iraqis are moderately upbeat about gradual improvements in security, education, health care and other basic services in their country, but concerns about employment temper the public's optimism, according to recent public opinion research. In addition, sectarian divisions remain a major source of concern and a defining characteristic of Iraqi public opinion.

The research, commissioned by NDI, was designed to help Iraqi political parties develop policy proposals and communications strategies that reflect the needs and interests of their constituencies. The survey, conducted Oct. 25 - Nov. 2 by research firm Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, was comprised of 2,000 face-to-face interviews and based on 16 focus groups.

The research points to an opening for issue-based politics in Iraq. Instead of continued appeals to ethnic or sectarian divisions, it shows the public is looking for politicians who deliver on campaign promises for improved jobs, economy and education.

In addition to a mixed view on the direction of the country, the poll found:

Click on the chart to see it larger

A strong majority of Iraqis believes that democracy has the potential to improve their quality of life and access to basic services. However, 56 percent see corruption as getting worse and perceive politicians as more focused on their own interests than on the needs of the public.
More than 51 percent see improvements to basic services such as education, security and health care but identify unemployment as the most important problem that the government needs to address. Sixty-six percent say education is getting better in the country, but 48 percent see job opportunities and unemployment as getting worse.
Still, a majority are optimistic about their personal finances, with 48 percent thinking their own household's financial condition will improve over the next year, compared with 26 percent who think their finances will get worse. The confidence is particularly high among Kurds and Shi'a.
Many Iraqis express a desire for politics to move past sectarian divisions, but they continue to see their country and leaders through a sectarian lens. For example, no prominent politician has significant support from more than one sect; a majority of Sunnis give former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi favorable ratings, while most Shi'a look favorably on current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. In focus groups, however, a large number of voters express a desire for the country's leaders to move past these divisions and to focus on solving economic and security problems.
Click on the chart to see it larger

In a series of briefings in Iraq, advisers from NDI and Greenberg Quinlan Rosner met with party leaders to present nationwide and party-specific results. Participants used the findings to assess the mood and perceptions of average Iraqis along with those of current and potential supporters. Advisers and party leaders also discussed ways to incorporate research into effective messaging and communications strategies.

Read a full report and view the presentation.

Related:
Pictured above: Iraqi poll workers practice election day procedures during a simulation.

Published January 4, 2011

NDI - Iraq

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The Voice of Civil Society in Iraq: An Assessment

Iraqis Want Parties to Create Jobs, Improve Services