NDI - Jordan

In Jordan, Al-Hayat Addresses Youth Apathy in Political Process

fgalleto — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:24:40 +0000

To encourage young Jordanians to participate in politics, the Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development has launched a campaign focused on engaging and registering young voters for Nov. 9 parliamentary elections. The campaign is based in part on the findings of a survey conducted by Al-Hayat, in partnership with NDI, designed to uncover young people's attitudes toward political involvement and specifically their experiences in the previous election in 2007.

More than 65 percent of Jordanians are under the age of 30, and 43 percent of potential voters are 18 to 25. Those demographics carry the potential for accelerated political reform, provided the country's young people, who have historically been excluded from the political process, decide to make their voices heard.

The survey sampled 2,100 Jordanians between the ages of 18 and 30 from the country's 12 governorates. The participants also represented a cross section of education levels, marital statuses, professional sectors and sexes. The survey asked questions about difficulties encountered at polling stations, efficacy of campaign literature and advertisements, and respondents' overall confidence in the role of parliament. It also asked the young people to estimate their anticipated level of participation in the upcoming elections.

jordanelection.com

The results of Al-Hayat's survey are available publicly through a user-friendly website, www.jordanelection.com, where activists, researchers, candidates and policymakers can track trends in specific youth subgroups, particularly first-time voters. For instance, the survey showed that young people strongly support domestic election monitoring, which is useful information for activists pressing the government to allow civil society organizations to observe the election process.

To help visualize results and make better connections across regions, the findings are displayed on a colorful interactive map divided into national, regional and governorate levels. The data can also be explored by gender, age and education level, giving the user detailed demographic information. The website's simple design combined with its in-depth presentation of the survey data is a powerful tool for designing a variety of election-related youth programs.

The results revealed a number of concerns over previous elections and how future polls will be conducted. For example, participants said that during the 2007 elections they faced overcrowded polling centers and witnessed vote-buying and other violations. For this year's elections, respondents expressed a continued lack of confidence in parliament and said they do not have information on how Jordan's recently-amended electoral law might affect procedures for the November polls.

Using the survey results, Al-Hayat tailored its campaign to address those issues of particular concern in hopes that it would encourage young people to participate. In cooperation with local authorities and civil society organizations Al-Hayat has been holding roundtables where its staff and volunteers engage directly with young Jordanians, answering questions about registration and the new electoral law and encouraging youth to participate in the political process. More than 800 young people have participated in these events so far, and Al-Hayat will hold them throughout the summer.

Al-Hayat has also created a series of posters and videos promoting the importance of youth participation, and encouraging young voters to register and research candidate platforms before voting. These videos are listed as "most viewed" on the increasingly popular Jordanian website 3alarasi, which carries short videos and caricatures on current social and political matters.

Related:

Pictured above: One of three posters produced for Al-Hayat's voter participation campaign. The Arabic reads: "'Shall I participate... Shall I not participate...' Building a prosperous future does not depend on luck; build your own future and participate in the parliamentary elections. Participate."

Published on August 19, 2010

Niti Shehu

fgalleto — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:50:33 +0000

Arianit "Niti" Shehu is NDI’s country director in Jordan. Mr. Shehu is one of NDI’s leading experts on civil society strengthening, elections, parliamentary strengthening, citizen-based advocacy programs, and using new media tools for effective program design, implementation and evaluation. Mr. Shehu has been designing, managing and supporting successful and innovative election and democracy support projects with NDI for the past 11 years in more then a dozen different countries in Central Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East and North Africa.

Previously, Mr. Shehu has managed the Institute’s civil society strengthening programs in Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Egypt. In addition, Mr. Shehu has served as a lead trainer and consultant for NDI programs in Bahrain, Lebanon, Macedonia, Turkey and the West Bank/Gaza. On behalf of the Institute, Mr. Shehu has coordinated international election observation missions to Albania, Egypt and Lebanon, and participated in international missions to Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Yemen. Mr. Shehu is registered as an election expert with the Organization for Security and Cooperation of Europe (OSCE). During his work, Mr. Shehu has also closely worked with civil society leaders from Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia, and in 2001 assisted in establishing the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO). In the fall of 2002, Mr. Shehu worked on Martha Fuller Clark’s campaign for Congress.

Prior to working with NDI, Mr. Shehu worked with the L.A. Times. He holds an M.B.A. and an engineering degree from the University of Prishtina. Mr. Shehu has also served as a reseracher with St. Andrew’s University in Great Britain.

Accomplishments of Jordan's Women Legislators Profiled in New NDI Booklet and Documentary Film

fgalleto — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:41:54 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/22/2008

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	136.42 KB

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

US Training Quietly Nurtured Young Arab Democrats | March 13, 2011

fgalleto — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:47:55 +0000

Associated Press | Link to story »

"But behind this story of political upheaval lies another, quieter story of outside organizations that, with U.S. government and other money, tutored a young Arab generation in the ways of winning in a political world...

"The American democracy promotion campaign dates back to the 1980s, when Poland's Solidarity movement was one beneficiary. But for Egypt, 2005 was the watershed year, when Campbell's NDI opened a Cairo office and through Egyptian groups trained 5,500 election observers to monitor a referendum giving Mubarak another six-year term, his fifth."

Link to story »

Women’s Participation Gains Ground, Faces High Hurdles

rrunyan — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:05:53 +0000

Where women have gained a political voice around the world, there have been tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and more sustainable peace.

Afghan women candidates speak at a pre-election rally in Kabul.

In places as diverse as Timor-Leste, Croatia, Morocco, Rwanda and South Africa, an increase in the number of female lawmakers has led to legislation dealing with discrimination, domestic violence, family codes, inheritance, and child support and protection. In Rwanda, for example, since assuming 56 percent of the seats in parliament in 2008, women have been responsible for forming the first cross-party caucus to work on controversial issues, such as land rights and food security.

“There is a growing recognition of the untapped capacity and talents of women and women’s leadership,” NDI President Kenneth Wollack said in congressional testimony last June. In the last 10 years, the rate of women’s representation in national parliaments globally has grown from 13.9 percent in 2000 to 19.1 percent in 2010.

This move toward more women’s participation was evident in several elections in 2010. The number of Lebanese women elected to municipal offices increased from 201 in 2004 to 530 in 2010. The increase was particularly noteworthy because it came without the help of a quota law, a technique used in a number of countries in the Middle East and elsewhere to ensure a specified number of seats for women.

In Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Jordan women won parliamentary seats with the help of new quota laws; but in Afghanistan and Jordan two additional women were elected in their own right outside the quota. In Afghanistan, more than 60 percent of the 406 women candidates, including more than a third of the 69 women who won, attended campaign schools that NDI organized with a curriculum tailored to address challenges particular to Afghan women. In Jordan, 12 of the 13 women who won participated in NDI’s candidate training program.

NDI leadership training session for women activists in Kyrgyzstan

Though quotas continue to be the most effective means for jumpstarting women’s representation, studies conducted by NDI indicate that quotas by themselves have not removed the obstacles that many women confront. Getting a quota law passed is an important step, but ensuring that it is carried out is sometimes the real hurdle.

“What does it matter if there is a quota in so many countries if we’re not reaching that number?” said Susan Markham, NDI’s director of women’s political participation. “In many countries, it’s on the books, it’s a law, but the number of women nominated by their political parties does not reach the quota level or we would have a much higher percentage of women in office.”

In Kenya, where a newly-passed constitution stipulates that 30 percent of all government leadership – not just elected officials – must be women, the first board that was created to help implement the constitution did not meet the 30 percent mark.

The legislature in the West African country of Burkina Faso passed a gender quota law in 2009 requiring that 30 percent of the candidates on political party lists be women. It held the promise of new opportunities for Burkinabe women, traditionally marginalized politically. But since the law was enacted, there has been little progress on implementing it in time for local and legislative elections to be held in 2011 and 2012, respectively. NDI helped establish the Coalition for the Implementation of the Quota Law – a group composed of eight Burkinabe civil society organizations and three political parties – which has evaluated the technical challenges of applying the quota law in the upcoming elections and produced recommendations on how to address them.

Helping parties understand the benefits of including women is one key to implementation, Markham said. “If your party gets more votes, and thus more seats, with women, then male members of the party don’t have to lose their seats,” she said.

Political parties’ reluctance to include women, coupled with the opportunities parties afford women when they do embrace equity, leads Markham to characterize parties simultaneously as “the greatest entry point and barrier to women in politics.”

NDI organized training programs on communication and political strategy for potential women candidates in Guatemala.

NDI’s political party programs focus on building the skills and knowledge of women party activists, as well as working with party leaders to recognize the value of women as voters, party leaders and candidates. NDI’s Win with Women Global Initiative, convened in 2003 by NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright, has focused exclusively on internal political party reforms that strengthen women’s roles.

The Institute also continues to work with women once they’ve gained office. NDI supports the creation and development of parliamentary caucuses that have helped harness the power of women legislators to increase their influence, add a gender perspective to policy development and address priority issues for gender equality through legislation. These groups often present a unique opportunity within legislatures for multi-party debate, giving women’s caucuses the ability to have a larger role in legislative, civic and political processes.

Many parliamentary caucuses also work to make women better legislators and political leaders by conducting training programs and other activities that help round out their knowledge and skills. Some caucuses include women’s branches or wings within political parties that can impact how parties operate and the policies they advocate. Other broader caucuses include party activists, elected women and leaders from civil society organizations who work together to advocate for change.

This story was originally published in the Spring 2011 edition of NDI Reports. You can read the entire newsletter here: www.ndi.org/NDI-Reports-Spring-2011/index.html. Please visit NDI’s complete newsletter archive at www.ndi.org/newsletter_archive to read newsletters dating back to 1987.

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

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

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February 2011

Now the Hard Work Begins...

STAY CONNECTED

CONTRIBUTE

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.

Congress prepares “Middle East Stability” funding package | Feb. 15, 2011

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 14:56:41 +0000

Foreign Policy | Link to story »

This Foreign Policy article discusses the Senate's proposed Middle East Stability package that will fully fund foreign aid accounts for key Middle East countries and mentions NDI as one of its beneficiaries.

Are Popular Protests A Mortal Threat To Dictators? | Feb. 10, 2011

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:31:26 +0000

NPR | Link to story »

In an article discussing the domino effect of popular protests in the Middle East, Les Campbell, NDI's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa comments on the possibility of uprisings in the Gulf States.

"Maybe I'll be wrong, but I think in the Gulf states, the standard of living is so high that it's difficult to imagine an Egyptian-level of uprising there."

NDI E-news: Egypt, Kosovo, Sudan | Dec. 2010

fgalleto — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:01:11 +0000

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December 2010

Local Partners Work to Bring Accountability to Elections

STAY CONNECTED

CONTRIBUTE

Egyptian candidate debate organized by Partners in Change.

Millions of citizens around the world, sometimes at great personal risk, work to safeguard elections in their countries by monitoring, reporting on and helping citizens participate in all aspects of the elections process. NDI regularly supports and works with many of these individuals and organizations as they seek to deter and expose fraud, ensure voters' rights and shine a light on sometimes secretive government procedures. Here are some examples:

In Egypt, which recently held elections for its lower house of parliament, the Institute worked with the Egyptian Association for the Support of Democracy (EASD) to train and deploy 5,000 observers who documented fraud, violence and election law violations. Using text messaging technology, EASD monitors reported real time information from polling stations that was posted to
the organization's website, drawing a local and international audience of more than 30,000 people. Another NDI partner in Egypt, Partners in Change, sponsored debates and street theater performances as part of get-out-the-vote efforts in the run-up to the elections. The events educated voters on the importance of voting and provided forums for voters to hear from individual candidates about their platforms.

Recent
parliamentary elections in Kosovo were generally peaceful, but some irregularities will need to be investigated more fully, according to a
preliminary statement from the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO), an international election observation group. ENEMO fielded 12 long-term observers and 188 election day observers from 23 countries, including 37 American observers organized by NDI, who monitored 861 polling stations.

SuNDE observers attend a training session on the voter registration process.

The voter registration process has just ended in Sudan, which is preparing for a referendum that will determine whether the southern part of the country secedes from the north. The Sudanese Network for Democratic Elections (SuNDE) and the Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE), both nonpartisan coalitions of civil society groups and NDI partners, are monitoring all steps of the referendum, including the registration process. Seven hundred SuNDE and SuGDE observers monitored registration centers in both the north and south and in five of the eight international registration centers. The groups
released a joint statement saying registration "was conducted free from violations
that could significantly impact the integrity of the process, despite some shortcomings."

Before Peru's Dec. 5 run-off elections for department presidents (similar to state governors), NDI's civic partner, Transparencia, organized, recorded and broadcast debates
among the top candidates on radio and television. The debates aimed to help citizens become more informed about the candidates’ election platforms and compare their leadership styles. Now, in the wake of the elections, NDI is collaborating with Cuidadanos al Dia, a government watchdog group, to create a website where citizens can track how well the newly-elected officials live up to their campaign promises.

Nicaragua Leadership Program Supports Emerging Leaders

In Nicaragua, where opionion research shows young people increasingly dissatisfied with political parties and institutions, a consortium of academic institutions has created a new program to help engage the next generation in the political process. Young men and women from 49 civic organizations and 10 of the country's major political parties and movements are earning a Certificate on Leadership and Political Management focusing on democratic values and leadership. By providing this type of training, which will be expanded in the coming years, the certificate aims to empower the part of the population with the greatest potential for political involvement. NDI helped organize the consortium. Read more»

Montenegrin Ministries Changing the Way they Approach Policy Making

Scott Persons, NDI's resident director in Montenegro, discusses the Institute's work with government ministries to improve their internal and external communications. The program has resulted in more community input on how to solve problems facing the country and more efficient operations within the ministries. Read more»

Electoral Reform Needed to Build Public Confidence in Afghan Electoral Process and Political Institutions

As Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission released the final results for the Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, NDI called for a formal and comprehensive review of the country's electoral system that would lead to reforms. Noting systemic flaws and tensions resulting from credible allegations of fraud and other irregularities, the Institute said that without electoral reform, public confidence in Afghan elections and governance will continue to erode. Read more»

Election Commission Chair Pledges Best Effort to Improve Elections in Nigeria in 2011

A legacy of electoral fraud, political violence and stalled democratic development has marred the past decade of civilian rule in Nigeria, which is planning for elections in 2011. Speaking at NDI, Attahiru Jega, the new chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission, said that improving the electoral process is vital to the country's democratic development and noted the growing consensus on the need for credible elections. NDI President Kenneth Wollack noted that with Jega's appointment "hope has replaced pessimism" regarding upcoming polls. Read more»

Women Win, Lead in Jordan and Southern Africa

Jordanian women candidates enjoyed record levels of success in the country's Nov. 9 parliamentary elections. For the first time, a woman candidate from Amman won her seat outside of the country's quota system; six of Jordan's 12 governorates elected the first women from their regions; and, for the first time, a Bedouin woman was elected. Jordan's new election law doubled the number of seats reserved for women from six to 12. The increase, coupled with the additional woman candidate who won outside the quota, will bring to 10.8 percent the number of women in parliament. Read more»

In southern Africa, women's political participation in Zambia and Lesotho lags behind other countries in the region. Women from both countries have participated in an NDI leadership academy where they learn campaign, advocacy and public speaking skills, and practice techniques to build coalitions and raise funds. Participants will use these skills in upcoming local and national elections. Read more»

2011 World Press Freedom Day to be Held in U.S. for the First Time

NDI has joined a number of democracy, human rights and free press organizations in the preparations for World Press Freedom Day, which will be held in Washington, D.C., May 1-3, 2011. The events will focus on media freedom in the digital age. More than 20 organizations working to advance free expression worldwide are collaborating with the U.S. Department of State and UNESCO to plan the program, 21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. Read more»

Meet the Winning Women

fgalleto — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:51:26 +0000

Reem Badran

Reem Badran is the sole woman to win her seat outside the quota and is the first woman to receive the highest number of votes her district. She is also the first and only woman to be elected to the Amman Chamber of Commerce, a prestigious national position. She is the head of investment development for the Arab League, formerly sat on the Jordan Investment Boardand was awarded the Business Women Award from Arabian Business Magazine in 2009. Badran is also the founder and head of the International Women’s Forum. Badran holds an MBA in international economics and Middle Eastern studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Nariman Al-Rousan

Nariman Al-Rousan is the only incumbent woman MP to win back her seat, elected under the quota in BaniKenaneh, the 5th district of Irbid. A three-time MP, Al-Rousan was a member of the 14th, 15th and now 16th sessions of the Jordanian parliament. Prior to entering politics, Al-Rousan was the head of the legal department at the Higher Council for Youth. She also served on the Olympic Committee for women and is a former member of the General Federation for Jordanian Women.

Asma Rawathyeh

Asma Rawathyeh was elected in Ma'an, representing the 3rd district of Petra. Rawathyeh ran as the official candidate for the village of Taybeh, the second largest village in her district. The rival male candidate from Taybeh withdrew midway through the campaign, endorsing Rawathyeh to ensure a greater chance for a women candidate to win and represent the community. She is a former teacher and social activist. Her main goal in the upcoming parliament is to increase the economic and employment opportunities for Petra.

Huda Abu Ruman

Huda Abu Ruman was elected from the 1st district of Balqa. A former municipal councilor, Abu Ruman is also an artist and holds a BA in social studies. She is a social activist focusing on the rights of women and children and an active member of the Jordanian National Forum for Women.

Kholoud Al-Marahleh

Kholoud Al-Marahleh was elected to represent the 1st district of Karak. A former municipal councilor, Marahleh resigned her position to run for parliament. She is the founder of the Almanshya women's charity and a member of the Jordanian National Forum for women. Marahleh is an advocate for increasing the level of volunteer work in her community.

Rodaina Al-Atti

Rodaina Al-Atti was elected to represent Russaifeh, the 4th district of Zarqa. A former municipal councilor, she is also the coordinator for the Jordanian National Forum for Women in her region. Al-Atti is a former member of the Consultancy Committee for Zarqa where she met monthly with the governor to advocate for her community. She established the Nashmiyat Al Watan community-based organization and was a participant at the 2010 International Leadership Forum in the United States.

Wafa Bani Moustafa

Wafa Bani Moustafa was elected from the governorate of Jerash. A lawyer of nine years, she is an active member of Jordan’s lawyers union. She is passionate about the issue of social violence. Bani Moustafa is the youngest women MP in the new parliament.

Dr. Amal Al Rouf'a

Dr. Amal Al-Rouf'a was elected to represent Bseira, the 2nd district of Tafileh. A former professor at Tafileh University, Al-Rouf'a is active with the Higher Council for Youth as a supervisor for young women's activities. She is also an activist on environmental issues and cultural promotion. She established the Fatima Al-Zahra Charity Association and is a member of the Jordanian National Forum for Women.

Salma Al-Rabadi

Salma Al-Rabadi was elected to the Christian minority seat in Ajloun. She is the only Christian woman to sit in the 16th parliament. A former teacher and school principal of 35 years, Al-Rabadi is one of the founding members of the Jordanian National Forum for Women. She has served on the Consultancy Committee for Ajloun and is the president of Alrabath Castel Charity, managing projects for families in poverty.

Abla Abu Olba

Abla Abu Olbeh is the first woman to be appointed secretary general of a political party and leads the Jordanian Community Party (Hash'd). She was elected to represent the 1st district of Amman. She has been a member of Hash'd since 1989 and has been active within the Palestinian community. She a founding member of the General Federation for Jordanian Women and a member of the General Federation for Palestinian women since 1985.

Dr. Samia Olimat

Dr. Samia Olimat was elected in the governorate of Mafraq. She is a well published professor and received her doctorate in youth, family and women's affairs. Olimat lectures at universities across Jordan.

Myassar Al-Sardiyah

Myassar Al-Sardiyah is the first Bedouin woman to be elected to the Jordanian Parliament. Al-Sardiyah is a journalist by profession and plans to use her new position to focus on increasing the involvement of Bedouin women in politics.

Tamam Al-Reyati

Tamam Al-Reyati was elected in the southern governorate of Aqaba. She is the former head of social services in the Family Services Department of the Ministry of Social Development. Al-Reyati has also served in the women's programs office of United Nations Relief and Works Agency where she was as a consultant and counselor with the Injaz program, a project dedicated to creating economic opportunities for Jordanian youth. She is a former teacher and a social activist passionate about supporting impoverished women and children of Aqaba.

Published December 14, 2010

Women Make Strides in Jordan Election

fgalleto — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:25:12 +0000

Women candidates enjoyed record levels of success in Jordan's Nov. 9 parliamentary elections. The country's new election law doubled the women's quota from six to 12 seats, and for the first time, a woman candidate from Amman won her seat outside of the quota system by amassing the largest number of votes in her district.

There were other firsts as well. Six of Jordan's 12 governorates elected the first women representatives from their region, and Myassar Sardiyah became the first Bedouin woman ever to be elected to parliament in Jordan.

As a result, 13 women will serve in the new legislature — nearly twice the number in the previous parliament. They will make up 10.8 percent of the membership.

Many women candidates conducted visible campaigns that were based on issues, emphasizing messages of change, ending corruption, creating jobs and increasing women's rights, rather than relying simply on their identity as women to win seats mandated by the quota. In addition, potential women candidates increasingly made the strategic decision not to compete against one another. This meant women often cooperated when deciding which sub-districts to run in order to avoid splitting the women's vote.

Meet the Winning Women

Reem Badran

Reem Badran is the sole woman to win her seat outside the quota and is the first woman to receive the highest number of votes her district. She is also the first and only woman to be elected to the Amman Chamber of Commerce, a prestigious national position. She is the head of investment development for the Arab League, formerly sat on the Jordan Investment Board and was awarded the Business Women Award from Arabian Business Magazine in 2009. Badran is also the founder and head of the International Women's Forum. Badran holds an MBA in international economics and Middle Eastern studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Read about the other winners»

NDI worked with 12 of the 13 winning women as part of its women candidate training program. The program involved more than 100 women considering a run for parliament and focused on campaign strategy development, communications and outreach. Candidates also learned about campaign structure, voter identification, and how to organize election day get-out-the-vote efforts.

The main program was complemented by a series of individual consultations with candidates both before and during the campaign to provide personalized guidance on issues relevant to their specific campaigns. The training program also emphasized how to win votes within Jordan's unique tribal structure — by reaching out to all potential voters rather just the head of a family or tribe — and ways of convincing their own tribes and communities to support their candidacies. For the first time, small tribes took advantage of the quota system by selecting women candidates to represent them, which also had the effect of increasing support for women across Jordan.

A number of challenges remain for the winning women and future women candidates. For one, incumbents still have a hard time winning re-election. Only one of the 13 winners was an incumbent, even though all six of the previously-elected women ran to keep their seats. Press coverage for women candidates was not as positive or prevalent as for male candidates. Also, violence against women candidates escalated — at least six women in the recent campaign were threatened or brutalized, and one candidate had her house burned down. These attacks came primarily from within the women's families.

Despite the many challenges, the parliamentary elections witnessed record levels of success for women candidates. With the new quota system, women will hold the highest number of seats in the history of Jordan's parliament with the majority of the winning women receiving a higher numbers of votes than in previous elections. At a post-election event for newly-elected parliamentarians, the women expressed eagerness to begin carrying out their campaign promises on electoral reform, education, job creation, promotion of women's rights and increased accountability for MPs and government.

Related:

Pictured Above: A voter shows his support for a woman candidate by displaying her posters on his car.

Published December 14, 2010

NDI E-news: Burma, Jordan, Haiti | Nov. 2010

fgalleto — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:57:59 +0000

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November 2010

Burma Groups Expose Intimidation, Fraud in Nov. 7 Elections

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Burmese citizens protest the 2010 elections.

Elections in Burma, the first in 20 years, along with the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after years of house arrest, have brought increased attention to the situation in the autocratic Asian country. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Aung San Suu Kyi and her people," NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright said in a statement marking Suu Kyi's release.
"We will do everything in our power to be supportive as she continues the struggle to bring true democracy to Burma."

To highlight abuses associated with the elections,
the Burma Partnership, a coalition of media and human rights groups inside the country and civil society organizations across the border in Thailand, created the Burma Election Tracker website. It documents visually and in prose abuses suffered by Burmese citizens before, during and after election day. NDI provided technical assistance to the partnership in developing the site.

Burma Election Tracker visually displays election incidents by type and location.

Prior to the vote, the elections were widely seen as being structured to minimize opposition and ensure a victory by the ruling military junta. NDI analyzed the legal and human rights framework of Burma's new constitution and election law and concluded that the election process would be a setback for Burma's democratic development. The first-person accounts published on the election tracker support that conclusion, with incidents ranging from
violence and intimidation to fraud to abuse of government power. Due to the difficulty of getting reports out of the country, the site is able to compile only a fraction of incidents from the election.

"The reports that we gathered," the tracker said, "demonstrate that these elections were deeply flawed, and were fundamentally illegitimate, unfree, unfair and undemocratic."

NDI has helped local partners create similar websites to track information about elections, their run-up and aftermath.
In Afghanistan, NDI created an online mapping tool for the analysis of election results from 2004, 2005 and 2009 with layers of ethnographic, demographic, topographic and security data. Preliminary results from 2010 will be added soon. And in Bahrain,
monitors mapped incidents, polling locations, and ethnic and religious populations to draw broader conclusions about parliamentary elections in October.

Election Watch: Jordan, Ukraine, Côte d'Ivoire

In November, NDI fielded an
international delegation of 61 short- and long-term election observers that monitored all aspects of the electoral process in Jordan, from the campaign to balloting on election day to the counting of ballots. In a preliminary statement
issued after the Nov. 9 polls, the delegation said that while the vote was a clear improvement over the nation's 2007 elections, a number of structural shortcomings and other problems should be addressed for future polls. Read more»

After October local elections in Ukraine, NDI commented on
the deterioration of electoral freedoms since the country's presidential election earlier in the year. The Institute said it shared the concerns of Opora, Ukraine's largest domestic election monitoring organization and an NDI partner, which highlighted an atmosphere of mistrust. Read more»

In Côte d'Ivoire, people voted in October presidential elections, the first in 10 years, following a civil war. In an effort to mitigate election-related tensions, NDI worked with political parties seeking to reaffirm a campaign code of conduct
they'd signed in 2008, contributing to a peaceful election day. A runoff will be held Nov. 28. Read more»

New NDI Publications

Don't miss the latest NDI publications and contributions:

NDI President Kenneth Wollack and Governance Director K. Scott Hubli write in the Journal of Democracy about "Getting Convergence Right" on the relationship between democracy and development programs. Read more»

Writing in the Harvard International Review, Wollack discusses the history and evolution of democracy assistance and how such assistance fits into overall U.S. foreign policy goals. Read more»

Shari Bryan, NDI vice president, writes about "The Youth Bulge in Africa" in a paper presented to the National Intelligence Council. Read more»

NDI focus group research with more than 800 Southern Sudanese showed significant support for a referendum in which they will decide whether to choose unity with the North or to secede, and a strong desire for the vote to be held on schedule, in January. The report, Southern Sudan at the Crossroads, was released in September. Read more»

After passage of a series of constitutional reforms designed to expand democratic practices in Hong Kong, citizens are cautiously optimistic about the future. The Calm After the Storm compiles research and conclusions of popular opinion in Hong Kong following the reform vote last summer. Read more»

NDI Aids Haitian Groups Working on Presidential Debates, Cholera Containment

With 19 candidates running for president of Haiti, differentiating them by platform and issue can be difficult. To help Haitians make informed decisions in preparation for the Nov. 28 vote, NDI helped produce a series of six candidate debates, aired on 32 television and radio stations, that focused on substantive issues about the future of the country. Read more»

In an effort to contain Haiti's cholera outbreak, grassroots organizations known as Initiative Committees are working to educate citizens about the importance of hygiene and safe drinking water. Developed more than a decade ago with NDI support, the committees are using their networks to help with relief and rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of last January's earthquake. Read more»

Coalition to Monitor Vote for Better Elections in Nigeria

Nigeria is at an electoral crossroads. Next year's vote for president could herald a democratic turnaround or lead to further electoral fraud and possible violence. To monitor the process and verify results, a coalition of four prominent civil society groups have come together to form Project 2011 Swift Count, hoping that their independent effort will deter fraud and help restore public trust in the election. Read more»

Albanian Women Claim a Voice in Politics through Advocacy on Health Care

A multipartisan network of politically active Albanian women is advocating for better health care services for women, as well as spreading information about early detection and treatment for breast and cervical cancers. The educational campaign has reached nearly 5,000 women, and has led to free cervical cancer screening tests for women in one Albanian city. The women are also lobbying local and regional officials for more resources for women's health care. Read more»

Women Speak Out Against Discrimination in Burkina Faso

A coalition of representatives of women's and human rights organizations in Burkina Faso recently traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, to present a report on the status of women's rights in the West African country to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The coalition highlighted some of the major challenges facing Burkinabe women, including lower rates of school attendance for girls, unequal access to health care, and high rates of domestic violence. Read more»

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NDI E-news: Election Prep in Bosnia, Egypt, Afghanistan | Oct. 2010

fgalleto — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:52:34 +0000

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October 2010

Preparing for Election Day - Debating, Educating Assessing

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Candidates greet the moderators before debating in Bosnia.

Though the voting part of an election usually takes just a day, months and sometimes years of preparation go into making it a success. There's the preparatory work by election commissions, organizing by political parties, choosing candidates, the campaign itself, training observers, educating and motivating the electorate to participate, and creating an atmosphere in which voters feel safe enough to go to the polls. In many countries where NDI works, the Institute and its partners are involved in one or more of these aspects of election day preparation. Here are some examples:

Leading up to the Oct. 3 general elections in Bosnia, NDI partnered with two major public television stations to present a series of candidate debates.
These events, along with a series of regional town-hall style meetings, were unique for focusing on issues, and the parties' stances on those issues, rather than personal or ethnic attacks and accusations.

As Egypt prepares for legislative elections in November, a new website, www.vote4egypt.com, conveys the importance of voting. It features promotional get out the vote videos, posters and message boards, where users can discuss topics such as how to get voter identification cards and where to vote on election day. The site is part of a larger civic participation effort by the nonpartisan Bridge Center for Dialogue and Development, an NDI partner organization.

A trainer gives a presentation about her political party in Kyrgyzstan.

Before Kyrgyzstan's Oct. 10 parliamentary elections, NDI worked with women candidates and party members seeking to learn new skills needed to be effective candidates, and for gaining leadership roles within their parties.

In preparation for Afghanistan's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, NDI conducted orientation sessions for more than 1,700 candidates (68 percent of the total), organized training for political parties, ran campaign schools for more than 240 women candidates (62 percent of the total) and provided technical assistance to FEFA, the country's largest domestic election monitoring organization. It also trained more than 36,000 candidate agents across the country to report on election day activities.

In addition to its work with local partners, NDI takes part in pre-election assessments. Recently in Jordan,
Ukraine and Nigeria, the Institute has fielded high-level delegations that have met with election officials, ruling and opposition political figures, civil society groups, journalists and others to assess the electoral environment and recommend short- and long-term improvements in the electoral process.

In Haiti, Citizens Voice Ideas and Concerns about Rebuilding

Haiti's Action Plan for National Recovery and Development is a blueprint aimed at helping Haitians rebuild and overcome the challenges posed by last January's earthquake. To ensure that citizens and local government officials have an opportunity to contribute their own ideas, initiative committees across Haiti are holding meetings to solicit advice from citizens. Read more»

Despite Violence, Voters in Afghanistan Show Commitment to Democratic Process

Although violence marred the electoral process in many parts of the country, millions of Afghans turned out to vote in legislative elections Sept. 18, showing courage and resolve to move their nation toward a more democratic future. NDI's observers released a preliminary statement lauding Afghans for their commitment to democracy while drawing attention to a number of problems with the electoral process. Read more»

New Publications Encourage Women's Political Participation

In many countries, women who want to get involved in politics lack the role models and resources to help them pursue their goals. Two new publications seek to meet those needs and encourage more women to get involved in the political process.

Aimed at young women from the Middle East and North Africa region, Confidence, Capacity, Connections: A Young Woman's Guide to Leadership is a workbook that combines ideas, strategies and advice from experts on pursuing a political career. Read more»

In Bangladesh, Who's Who: Women Leaders at a Glance profiles 134 Bangladeshi women and is designed to provide inspiration and role models to other women aspiring to leadership roles. Read more»

Iraqi National Youth Caucus Works to Turn Youth Priority Issues into Policy Changes

As Iraqis work to create a new government, a group of young people is working to perfect the civic advocacy skills they need to influence how policy is made. Members of Iraq's National Youth Caucus (NYC) came together recently to discuss their strategies for ongoing advocacy campaigns for improving high school and college education and combating the high rate of youth unemployment. Read more»

Central American Leaders See Transparency as Key to Public Security

In El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, more than three quarters of the population thinks public safety is the greatest problem facing the region. Recently, leaders from government, political parties, business, academia and civil society came together to discuss the link between transparency and security in Central America. At the NDI-supported event, the 150 participants identified and agreed on concrete actions to fight corruption and increase transparency. Read more»

New Partnerships Strive for More Inclusive, Stronger Parliaments

NDI recently signed two memoranda of understanding (MoU) that seek to strengthen parliaments and make them more accountable and inclusive.

In Kenya, NDI and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association signed an MoU to collaborate on efforts to enhance representative government around the world. The association is a group of national and subnational legislatures of the Commonwealth, representing some two billion citizens from all faiths and ethnicities from six continents. Read more»

The MoU signed by NDI and the Guatemalan Congress will allow the two to create initiatives to improve the representation of indigenous people and women in Guatemala's government and to reform laws governing elections and political parties. Read more»

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NDI E-news: Democracy Day, Afghanistan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan | Sept. 2010

fgalleto — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:43:47 +0000

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Sept 15, 2010

Happy Democracy Day!

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"Democracy is...in our hands." Photo by Kaylene George of South Africa, one of 12 winners of the Democracy Photo Challenge.

NDI wishes you a happy International Day of Democracy, an annual global celebration of human rights, the rule of law and other principles that unite democracies around the world. This day, Sept. 15, 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.

In more than 70 countries around the world, NDI's main mission is to support and strengthen democratic institutions. Here are some recent examples of our work.

In Afghanistan, Supporting Elections with People, Technology

An Afghan voter casts his ballot in the 2009 election

In three days, Afghans will go to the polls to elect members of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the Afghan National Assembly. The Institute is fielding an international observation mission, as well as working with candidates, political parties, polling agents and domestic observers. NDI is also publishing election updates looking at issues surrounding the polls and analyzing conditions on the ground throughout the country.
NDI has also recently updated its internationally recognized website, afghanistanelectiondata.org, which allows users to analyze and visualize election data from 2004, 2005 and 2009, with 2010 data coming soon.

In Kenya, Observing the Constitutional Referendum and Beyond

NDI has actively supported Kenyan efforts to strengthen democratic institutions since 1993.
The country's recent national referendum to approve a new constitution was lauded by international and domestic election observers. The Elections Observation Group (ELOG), a coalition of civic and faith-based Kenyan organizations and a partner of NDI's, observed balloting around the country and released a statement verifying the accuracy of the results,
which they confirmed using a parallel vote tabulation, or "quick count." NDI's board of directors, led by Chairman Madeleine K. Albright, recently met in Nairobi, pledging organizational support in the coming months as Kenyans build the legal framework to support the constitution.

In Kyrgyzstan, Supporting the Electoral Process and Women Candidates

Daschle discusses recent developments and challenges with civic leaders in Kyrgyzstan.

In Kyrgyzstan, citizens recently approved a new and first of its kind constitution in the region that significantly limits presidential power in relation to parliament.
Despite challenges that still lie ahead, the country has made progress on democratic reforms, NDI Vice Chair and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle concluded following a recent trip to the country.
Now, as Kyrgyzstan looks ahead to parliamentary elections in October, NDI is working with women candidates, training them on campaign and leadership skills, public speaking, and working within political parties to more fully integrate the women candidates into existing party structures.
NDI will also continue its assistance to the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, a domestic election observation group planning to monitor the parliamentary elections.

In Liberia, U.S. Congressional Delegation Reaffirms Commitment to Legislative Research

On a recent trip to Liberia, members of the U.S. House Democracy Partnership (HDP) visited the new legislative library that it, NDI and the U.S. Agency for International Development are helping to build. The eight visiting House members also had the chance to attend a town hall meeting in the Liberian town of Kakata. "Our delegation had been invited to attend not as participants, but as observers — as witnesses to Liberia's fragile but maturing democracy..." Reps. David Price, D-N.C., and David Dreier, R-Calif., wrote about the experience.

In Jordan, Al-Hayat Addresses Youth Apathy in Political Process

More than 65 percent of Jordanians are under the age of 30, and 43 percent of potential voters are 18 to 25. Youth have historically been excluded from the political process, so the Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development has launched a campaign focused on engaging and registering young voters for the Nov. 9 parliamentary elections.

The campaign is based in part on the findings of a survey conducted by Al-Hayat and NDI, designed to uncover young people's attitudes toward political involvement.

Women Gain the Confidence, Skills and Network to Win Elections in Lebanon

When Lebanese voters went to the polls this year to select municipal officials, they voted in more than twice the number of women as in 2004, going from 201 elected women to 530. One factor in this dramatic increase was the help provided women candidates by the Shariky program, an NDI project that supports women candidates through training and mentoring.

Yemeni Youth Break New Ground in Resolving Tribal Conflict

In Yemen, tribal conflict is a backdrop affecting the country's economic development, governance and national stability. Disputes over land claims and competition for resources and government services often lead to violence and cycles of revenge killings.

NDI helped 40 young men and women under the age of 30 come together in July to form the country's first cross-tribal youth council, which is already helping to solve disputes about school placement and land boundaries.

Interviews with NDI Staff Present an "In-Country Perspective" in Mexico, Rwanda

Mexican Civic Groups Bring Public Security Concerns to Politicians

Julian Quibell, who directs NDI’s programs in Mexico, sat down for an interview on how NDI is bringing civil society and candidates for local office together in a collaborative dialogue to help address Mexicans' concerns about security, violence and organized crime.

In Rwanda, NDI Promotes Political Party Dialogue and Peaceful Competition

Fifteen years after the genocide that devastated Rwanda, the country is still dealing with its lasting impact on politics and governance. Prior to the presidential election, we sat down with Gaston Aín, then country director in Rwanda, to learn more about the political landscape, the role of young people and NDI's work with political parties.

Democracy Is... Initiative Celebrates Winning Photos, Videos

"Democracy is the state of being free to act and look different from the way others do." Photo by Kaveh Baghdadchi of Iran, one of 12 winners of the DPC.

The Democracy Is... initiative is celebrating the winners of the Democracy Photo Challenge and Democracy Video challenge today in New York City.

"As a photographer, I am inspired by the quality of the content we've seen in the Photo Challenge," said jury co-chair Louie Psihoyos, Academy Award-winning documentary director and photographer. "But it is as an activist that I am most moved. These images allow us to experience life through the eyes of another and better understand how they experience democracy."

The Photo Challenge winners were asked to complete the phrase "Democracy is..." with an image and caption. Twelve winning photos were chosen by the public on Picasa, and are now on display at the United Nations in New York City. See the winning photos»

The Video Challenge participants completed the same phrase with a three-minute video. This year's winners were in New York for the celebration as part of their grand prize. They hail from Colombia, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal and Spain. Watch the winning videos»

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NDI - Jordan

In Jordan, Al-Hayat Addresses Youth Apathy in Political Process

Niti Shehu

Accomplishments of Jordan's Women Legislators Profiled in New NDI Booklet and Documentary Film

New Manual Helps Citizens Scrutinize Government Performance

US Training Quietly Nurtured Young Arab Democrats | March 13, 2011

Women’s Participation Gains Ground, Faces High Hurdles

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

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Congress prepares “Middle East Stability” funding package | Feb. 15, 2011

Are Popular Protests A Mortal Threat To Dictators? | Feb. 10, 2011

NDI E-news: Egypt, Kosovo, Sudan | Dec. 2010

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Meet the Winning Women

Reem Badran

Nariman Al-Rousan

Asma Rawathyeh

Huda Abu Ruman

Kholoud Al-Marahleh

Rodaina Al-Atti

Wafa Bani Moustafa

Dr. Amal Al Rouf'a

Salma Al-Rabadi

Abla Abu Olba

Dr. Samia Olimat

Myassar Al-Sardiyah

Tamam Al-Reyati

Women Make Strides in Jordan Election

Meet the Winning Women

Reem Badran

NDI E-news: Burma, Jordan, Haiti | Nov. 2010

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NDI E-news: Election Prep in Bosnia, Egypt, Afghanistan | Oct. 2010

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NDI E-news: Democracy Day, Afghanistan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan | Sept. 2010

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In Afghanistan, Supporting Elections with People, Technology

In Kenya, Observing the Constitutional Referendum and Beyond

In Kyrgyzstan, Supporting the Electoral Process and Women Candidates

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