NDI - Lebanon

Seeing the U.S. Election through International Eyes

erodriguez — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 16:30:31 +0000

Elections in the United States are unique -- not only due to the decentralized election framework and history of campaigning, but also for the impact that presidential results in particular have around the world. This year Americans cast their votes for 469 members of Congress and 6,064 state-level elected leaders, in addition to dozens of ballot measures in individual states. Outshining many of these races of course, has been the presidential competition which included two historic candidates: the first woman representing a major party and a first-time office seeker who beat out 16 other primary candidates to secure a party’s nomination.

Delegates from eight Arab countries participate in NDI's Campaign Schools study mission looking at the U.S. elections campaign process.

In light of these contrasts and with the support of the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), NDI hosted a delegation of 18 political activists from eight Arab countries who have graduated from the Institute’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Campaign Schools program to take a close look at the campaigning process and consider what aspects may translate to their parties and campaigns at home. Since the program’s inauguration in 2012, 387 graduates have passed through an intense curriculum focused on devising strong strategies for political parties and adapting tested tactics during campaigns. These activists come from more than 90 political parties in twelve countries and have gone on to train more than 17,000 other activists in their countries and across the region in campaigning and political skills. Thirty have run for office, and 42 have worked on electoral campaigns. Fifteen have won elected office. Many others have used skills learned through the program in campaigns for internal party, university and union elections. Still more have been promoted to leadership positions within their parties and are preparing for future campaigns.

The study mission delegation included campaign managers and former or potential candidates from Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. They began the mission in Washington, D.C., where they spent three days meeting with Democratic and Republican campaign strategists, political commentators, pollsters, leading journalists and academics. The meetings covered the American campaign process, infrastructure and execution, giving the participants a chance to learn from U.S. campaign experts and setting the stage for their deployments to observe campaign activities up close. Among the panelists were:

Joyce Karam, Washington Bureau Chief, Al Hayat Newspaper
Eugene Scott, Reporter, CNN Politics
Ellen Weintraub, Commissioner, Federal Elections Commission
Stuart Stevens, Top Strategist, Mitt Romney 2012 Presidential Campaign
Mark Beatty, Post-Election Evaluation Lead, Obama 2008 / 2012 Presidential Campaigns
Lynda Tran, Founding Partner, 270 Strategies
Whit Ayres, President, North Star Opinion Research
Michael Bocian, Founding Partner and Principal, GBA Strategies
Aaron Leibowitz, Targeted Creative Communications
John Hagner, Clarity and Campaign Labs
Hector Sigala, Digital Media Director, Bernie Sanders Campaign 2016
Rebecca Heisler, Former Social Media Director, Mitt Romney 2012 Presidential Campaign
Erin Lindsay, Former Deputy Director for Online Engagement, White House

"The Electoral Landscape: An Overview of 2016 Elections" panelists Eugene Scott, CNN Politics and Josh Kraushaar, National Journal present key factors in the 2016 presidential race.

Delegates discuss grassroots organizing tactics at the Woman’s National Democratic Club in Washington, D.C.

The delegates then fanned out in smaller teams to three states to witness the closing days of local campaigning efforts. Delegates went to Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York, where they met with candidates and their teams to discuss how they were implementing their campaigns and the challenges they were facing. The groups also learned how interest groups play a role in endorsing candidates and mobilizing volunteers, attended campaign rallies of both presidential nominees and observed Get-Out-The-Vote efforts in the run-up to November 8.

Delegates review New York state voting procedures in Syracuse precinct polling station.

Delegates compare contrasting campaign messages at rallies in the final days before election day.

Back in Washington after election day, delegates reflected on key aspects of U.S. campaigns which resonated with them most. These three aspects stood out:

Appealing to Voters Based on Their Values

Through presentations by leading pollsters, delegates were exposed to the various methods of data collection related to voter attitudes on candidates and issues. Whit Ayres, head of a research firm servicing conservative candidates told the delegation, “Public opinion research, if correct and consistent, helps candidates get the basic message right.” Several delegates noted that given the cost of polling, conducting research can be a challenge during and beyond campaign periods. NDI staff and panelists noted that when resources are limited, political parties can design and conduct their own surveys. This not only helps take the pulse of voters, but provides and opportunity for party members to be involved in party operations. At the state level, delegates saw how campaign messages were adapted from national slogans and tailored by candidates based on concerns of their target voters. The issue of health care is an example: candidates in Syracuse focused on countering growing opioid addiction, while candidates in Detroit and Philadelphia crafted messages to address hospital overcrowding and general poverty.

Using Technology to Support Strategy

Delegates also saw how campaigns use data to build a picture of each voter, to fundraise and to communicate with voters. “Building collaboration between campaigns and data collection over election cycles will strengthen any individual candidate’s campaign,” noted Micah Morris of NGP VAN, the main data management system used by the Democratic Party and other progressive organizations.

While campaign strategists noted the importance of direct contact with the voter, presidential campaigns also demonstrated the power technology can play in delivering messages and receiving information from supporters. Both the Trump and Clinton campaigns relied on digital tools as a means to communicate directly with voters who increasingly rely on cell phones as their primary means of contact. Rebecca Heisler, Mitt Romney’s Social Media Director for the 2012 campaign noted, “people like to have access to candidates. Use social media to create that closeness.”

Inspiring and Managing Volunteers

A common challenge delegates noted from campaigns in their home countries was how to recruit and keep volunteers engaged in campaigns. American grassroots organizers for various campaigns consistently stressed the need to link the personal to the political for voters and volunteers alike. This link between their daily lives and taking action based on values they hold has consistently proven to motivate volunteers in U.S. campaigns. Delegates observed diverse opportunities for volunteers to get involved, including phone banking, canvassing, financial donations and directly contributing to the campaign message through campaign surveys.

GOTV coordinator delivering volunteer training for canvassing weekend before elections.

“I will immediately form a team of volunteers prior to the election period in charge of canvassing in order to collect information about voters including their address, phone numbers and political leanings, because my government does not provide this data to parties.” -- Lebanese delegate

Beyond the campaign process and results, delegates came away from the study mission with a deeper understanding of American political culture and the values around elections. With ongoing support from the U.S. Department of State, NDI will continue to aid political parties and activists throughout MENA in building inclusive election campaign strategies, with an aim for stronger governance that includes citizen voices.

“You can count on a peaceful transition of power in January, on other institutions of government playing their part and that elections will happen again in four years!” -- Moroccan delegate

Statement of the National Democratic Institute Pre-Election Delegation to Lebanon

njankowicz — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:07:04 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

04/14/2016

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English, Arabic

This statement is offered by an international delegation organized by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The delegation visited Lebanon from April 11-14, 2016. The delegation’s goals were to:

Assess the current political and electoral environment in the lead-up to the May municipal council and mayoral elections;
Assess preparations for the elections and offer recommendations to enhance citizen confidence in the process; and
Demonstrate international support for Lebanon’s democratic process.

The delegation was comprised of Meg Munn, former Member of Parliament and Minister in the United Kingdom; Paul Dewar, former Member of the Canadian Parliament; Rafik Halouani, General Coordinator of the Mourakiboun election observation network from Tunisia; and Leslie Campbell, NDI’s Senior Associate and Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The delegation held meetings in Beirut with candidates and parties participating in the municipal council and mayoral elections from across the political spectrum; officials of the Ministry of the Interior and Municipalities (MOIM); domestic observer groups; members of parliament; journalists; and women and youth civic groups. The delegation conducted its activities in accordance with the laws of Lebanon and international standards outlined in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation.[1]

The Institute recognizes that, ultimately, it will be the people of Lebanon who will determine the credibility of their elections and the country’s democratic development. The delegation therefore offers this pre-election statement in the spirit of supporting and strengthening democratic institutions and processes in Lebanon.

The delegation wishes to express its appreciation to the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the U.S. Department of State, which funded the work of this delegation and supports NDI’s democracy assistance programs in Lebanon. The delegation is also grateful to all those who contributed valuable time to share their views freely. Their perspectives have made possible the work of the delegation. NDI stands ready to continue to assist Lebanese efforts to build and sustain democratic practices, institutions, and values.

[1] The Declaration was launched in 2005 at the United Nations. NDI is among more than 40 intergovernmental and international nongovernmental organizations that have endorsed the Declaration. The full text of the Declaration is available here.

English

Arabic

Attachment	Size
NDI Lebanon Pre-Election Delegation Statement (English)	166.58 KB
NDI Lebanon Pre-Election Delegation Statement (Arabic)	597.78 KB

NDI Fields Pre-Election Assessment Mission in Lebanon

njankowicz — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 13:47:41 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

04/11/2016

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

BEIRUT, Lebanon—The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding a delegation to assess preparations for Lebanon’s municipal council and mayoral elections in May.

Media Type:

Press Release

BEIRUT, Lebanon—The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is fielding a delegation to assess preparations for Lebanon’s municipal council and mayoral elections in May.

Members of the delegation are: Paul Dewar of Canada, former Member of Parliament; Meg Munn of the United Kingdom, former Member of Parliament; Rafik Halouani, General Coordinator of the Mourakiboun election observation network in Tunisia; and Leslie Campbell, senior associate and regional director for Middle East and North Africa at NDI.

The mission reflects the international community’s interest in and support for Lebanon’s electoral process.

The delegation will meet with government officials, election authorities, candidates, political party leaders, representatives of civil society and the international community to assess issues that might affect the integrity of the election process. At the conclusion of the mission, NDI will issue recommendations for improving the process ahead of election day and for enhancing public confidence in Lebanon’s electoral process beyond these elections.

The mission’s findings will be presented at a press conference in Beirut on Thursday, Apr. 14 at 11:00 AM in the Berytus Room, at the Phoenicia Hotel. Please contact Maya Safieddine (msafieddine@ndi.org / 03 351 196) for further information.

The delegation will conduct its activities in a nonpartisan manner in accordance with Lebanese law and international standards for election monitoring set forth in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. Election observation can build public confidence in elected institutions, deter fraud, expose irregularities and help strengthen democratic reform processes.

Over the last 25 years, NDI has conducted more than 150 election observation missions in 62 countries, including fielding international observation delegations for the 2009 Lebanese parliamentary elections.

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

NDI Partner NAHNOO Mobilizes to Re-Open Beirut’s Largest Park

njankowicz — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:01:15 +0000

Public space – and green space in particular – is a rarity in Beirut, where nearly 50 percent of Lebanon’s population resides. Despite trends toward privatization and overlapping mandates of Beirut’s governor and municipal council, a group of young Lebanese citizens has been advocating for change.

NAHNOO activists demonstrating for Horsh Beirut’s opening outside the capitol’s municipality.

The civic organization NAHNOO (‘We’ in English) was founded on the belief that Lebanese citizens have the right to be treated equally under the law and that Lebanese authorities have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide access to public spaces. In 2012, NAHNOO launched its first public space campaign to reopen Horsh Beirut, the city’s largest green space. The park, which has been closed to the public since 1992, is located in the center of suburban Beirut and encompasses a pine forest. Horsh Beirut is controlled by the capital’s municipality, which has consistently claimed that it has neither the legal nor the administrative resources to open the space to the public.

In 2013, NDI began to support NAHNOO’s efforts under the auspices of its Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI)-funded “Partnering Project,” which trains civic groups on advocacy skills, including conducting community surveys to gather evidence on issues and using that evidence to inform public engagement tactics like town halls to enhance their broader strategy.

NAHNOO used skills acquired through the Partnering Project to target both the legal and administrative aspects of the re-opening of Horsh Beirut. Through a series of consultations with human rights and land use legal experts, NAHNOO prepared a study, which spelled out legal arguments to open the park, that it presented to members of the municipality in a closed-door council meeting. The initial reaction was not positive – council members discounted the study and noted that even if they have the legal authority to reopen the park, they lack the resources to properly maintain it.

At 40,000 square meters, Horsh Beirut is the capitol’s largest green space.

NAHNOO activists were prepared for this response and took to the streets to raise the public profile for their cause.They also called for public debates with municipal officials to discuss Horsh Beirut. Throughout their campaign, NAHNOO not only critiqued the closure, but also presented solutions to help local government reopen the park. This public pressure eventually forced officials to take part in NAHNOO-sponsored townhalls on the issue. At one of these events in February 2015, Ziad Chebib, Governor of Beirut, publicly committed to reopen the park one day a week, with the condition that civil society take responsibility for administering the park. NAHNOO seized this opportunity,issued a call for volunteers and organized training sessions to orient them on municipal rules for the park.

On a sunny Saturday morning in early September, Horsh Beirut officially reopened, staffed by more than 100 civil society volunteers. Since the park’s reopening three months ago, NAHNOO has continued to partner with Beirut officials on rehabilitation efforts including tree and plant care, the addition of park benches and maintenance for the public restrooms on the premises. NAHNOO is also launching a digital campaign, ‘Our Horsh, Our Stories,’ to document citizens’ experiences at the park, and plans to continue efforts with the Governor’s office to increase transparency about their work.

Based on NAHNOO’s approach to constructive advocacy, NDI invited the group to be a member of consortium of Lebanese civic groups committed to facilitating effective engagement between citizens and elected officials to address community issues. Under the banner of the ‘Partnering Project’ NDI has assisted NAHNOO activists to translate their success in Beirut to other municipalities in capitol’s diverse suburbs. Working alongside other organizations in the north and south of the country, the consortium has helped young citizens do their own research and present proposals to municipal and parliament members. NDI and its partners help these young citizens go beyond discussion and consider how to personally get in involved to influence the change they want to see in Lebanon.

Published on January 6, 2015.

Campaign Schools Mobilize Thousands Across Middle East and North Africa

smajestic — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 15:10:59 +0000

NDI launched the Regional Campaign Schools program in the MENA region in the fall of 2012. The Campaign Schools program has exposed hundreds of thousands of people to the tools they will need to run effective campaigns. Since 2012 NDI has held six Campaign Schools and four training-of-trainers workshops for a total of 328 individuals representing 91 political parties from 12 countries.

Following the Arab Spring, new opportunities for political participation opened up in much of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly for women, youth and minorities who had historically been marginalized and excluded from power.

Still, aspiring political actors lacked experience, knowledge and exposure to democratic processes, particularly when it came to running for office. Recognizing this need, and with the support of the State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative, NDI launched the Regional Campaign Schools program in the MENA region in the fall of 2012.

Through a growing online learning platform, workshops that bring together potential candidates and campaign managers from all over the region and a training-of-trainers (TOT) component that is building a cadre of Arabic-speaking trainers, the Campaign Schools program has exposed hundreds of thousands of people to the tools they will need to run effective campaigns.

Since 2012 NDI has held six Campaign Schools and four TOT workshops for a total of 328 individuals representing 91 political parties from 12 countries -- including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and others.

Click the infographic to view the full size version.

The trainings are designed to deliver a genuinely competitive and intense campaign experience to participants, some of whom have never even seen an election. Based on an integrated curriculum, Campaign Schools include a competitive elections simulation combined with modules on key campaign components.

Due to continued political turbulence in the region, only 130 graduates have experienced elections in their home countries since participating in the Campaign Schools program. Of that subset, however, 16 participants have run as candidates, 11 of whom were women. Four were elected, and a further 22 participants worked on campaign teams. Many reported to NDI that they used the skills learned in the Campaign Schools during their electoral work.

One such participant is Amel. A mother of two and a doctor, Amel joined one of the hundreds of new political parties created after protests in Tunisia helped bring down longtime president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. That same year, the party Amel joined secured four seats in the National Constituent Assembly, the most of any post-revolution party.

As they prepared for elections in 2014, Amel and other members of her party’s elections committee followed the steps they learned through the Campaign Schools. Based on their research of the 2011 election results and canvassing data they had been collecting, the party set a feasible vote goal and campaign strategy. Amel and other Campaign Schools graduates who were members of the party’s elections committee also organized trainings for hundreds of party activists on the campaign message and plan to mobilize resources.

Party officials noticed Amel’s leadership during this strategizing. They asked her to serve as a candidate on one of the party’s lists in Tunis. While Amel did not win in her district, the party doubled their seats in parliament - going from four to eight seats. The party’s increased representation in parliament helped as they negotiated their position in the governing coalition after the elections. After the elections, Amel was hired by the Minister of Women’s Affairs.

An essential goal of the Campaign Schools program is to reach women and youth, like Amel, who are eager to effect change in their countries but feel that they lack some of the tools to do so. Despite the dismal rate of women’s participation in politics in the MENA region, 48 percent of Campaign School participants have been women and a full 66 percent have been under the age of 40.

Following the completion of Campaign Schools training, graduates return to their home countries to not only put their new skills to practice in running campaigns, but also to train fellow activists and party members on the Campaign Schools content. In this sense, many graduates have become individual program multipliers, having trained some 15,400 other people on topics like leadership, voter targeting and contact, message development and communications.

To facilitate the work of Amel and other graduates, NDI has made materials like its Campaign Skills Handbook public on several Arabic language websites, including NDIMENA.org. The Campaign Schools Handbook is a step-by-step manual for candidates, political party activists and campaign staff. The new Campaign Skills Handbook guides users through a comprehensive process for planning and implementing electoral campaigns. Furthermore, NDI field offices in the region regularly bring graduates in to facilitate trainings based on the Campaign Schools' curriculum.

This year, in an effort to create an online learning environment across the region, NDI released eight videos on NDIMENA.org that complement modules from the Campaign Skills Handbook. Within four months, the Campaign Schools’ digital resources received over 600,000 visits and materials were downloaded more than 11,300 times. About 53 percent of those visits were from repeat users , indicating that political activists are frequently coming back to the NDI MENA website to engage further with the content.

Over the next year, NDI plans to hold two additional Campaign Schools and one TOT workshop. The Institute will also release seven more videos to bolster its e-learning component, aiming to reach over a million individuals across the MENA region. Thanks to the spread of technology and to trainers like Amel, the number of Campaign School participants will only continue to grow.

Read more:

Published on December 22, 2015

Civic Updates

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

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Resource Type:

Civic Update

Language:

English

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

Campaign School Graduates Help Lebanese Youth Consider Outreach Strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published on May 8, 2015

Sandra Pepera

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

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

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

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

Madam Parliamentarian Documentary Explores Political Presence of Women In Lebanon

jcradit — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:18:37 +0000

Though half of the world’s population, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of government as voters, party leaders and elected officials. Just over 20 percent of parliamentarians worldwide are women.

In the Arab world, that number is about 16 percent, and it’s lower still in some countries. In Lebanon, for example, one of the earliest places in the region where women gained the right to vote, in 1952, just four of the 128 parliamentarians are women.

The political challenges and barriers that Lebanese women face are outlined in a new documentary film, Madame Parliamentarian, that highlights the struggles of those trying to increase women’s presence in government. Rouane Itani, the Lebanese-American filmmaker, emphasized her desire to “break the stereotypes and give a face to the women in Lebanon.”

Itani was at NDI on June 18 as part of a panel discussion on barriers to and strategies for increasing women’s political participation in Lebanon and Yemen. She was joined by Betty Bernstein-Zabza, senior policy advisor at the Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department. Other panelists were Sara Cady and Chris Miller, both members of NDI’s Middle East and North Africa team, who discussed the Institute’s work with women in Lebanon and Yemen. The panel, moderated by Susan Kemp, of NDI’s Women’s Political Participation team, also covered such topics as apathetic youth and changing the perspectives of men on women candidates.

Lack of funding and access to media impede the few female candidates from gaining ground in Lebanon, Itani said. The country's electoral process creates challenges because the parliament must adhere to a religious quota, which reserves a certain number of seats for different religious groups. Moreover, political parties are the gateway to obtaining a seat but do not openly accept women as candidates. If women run as independents, it is difficult for them to gain attention, raise funds and get voter support.

These concerns and more were echoed by Bernstein-Zabza, who outlined the goals of the Office of Global Women’s Issues. These include a focus on the welfare of adolescent girls, an end to gender-based violence and an increase in the economic participation of women. Bernstein-Zabza emphasized the harmful effects of young girls dropping out of school as well as the violence women fear, even in public spaces. Both are compelling factors in the loss of potential women candidates at both the local and national levels of government.

NDI supports the increased and meaningful participation of women in politics throughout its programs globally. The Institute has provided technical assistance to such groups as “Women in Parliament,” a coalition of organizations and individuals seeking to create more opportunities for women in Lebanon, and other local organizations to promote women’s presence and participation globally.

In March, NDI held a Women’s Leadership Academy in Yemen for 150 women candidates and campaign managers. Participants were prepped on effective ways to run campaigns, win votes and network within their communities. Part of a broader effort to prepare women to run in the next election, NDI is also working directly with political parties as Yemen plans to require a 30 percent gender quota in parliament.

Watch the panel discussion with Rouane Itani below.

Published July 1, 2014

لبنان

vrao — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 13:44:07 +0000

تعزيز العمليات الانتخابية

يساعد المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني المجتمع المدني على توطيد وتوسيع نشاط المدافعة العامة عن الإصلاح الانتخابي، وتنظيم حملة مراقبة محلية استعداداً لانتخابات 2014 النيابية. استناداً إلى شراكة مستمرّة منذ 17 عاماً مع الجمعية اللبنانية من أجل ديمقراطية الانتخابات- وهي أوّل مجموعة لمراقبة الانتخابات محلياً في المنطقة- دعم المعهد المراقبة المدنية للانتخابات، وروّج للشفافية والمشاركة العامة في العملية الانتخابية. كما عمل المعهد أيضاً مع الحملة المدنية للإصلاح الانتخابي، وهو ائتلاف من 64 منظّمة مجتمع مدني تعمل من أجل الحثّ على وضع قانون انتخابي عادل وشامل لجميع الأطراف.

التقرير النهائي للانتخابات النيابية 2009»

المشاركة المدنية

استعداداً لانتخابات 2014، يقيم الشركاء المدنيون للمعهد الديمقراطي الوطني صلة وصل ما بين المواطنين والمرشّحين من خلال تنظيم المناقشات والمنتديات العامة الأخرى، لتشجيع المواطنين على تكوين مواقف من القضايا التي تشغل بال العامة. بعد الانتخابات، سينشئ المعهد أقنيةً للمواطنين كي يتواصلوا مع النوّاب المنتخبين والمعاد انتخابهم، كي يتمكّنوا من التعبير عن أولوياتهم في مجال السياسات وتوقّعاتهم من مجلس النوّاب الجديد.

من خلال برنامج لبنان المواطن، وهو برنامج مدافعة وتربية مدنية طُبّق في مختلف المناطق اللبنانية على امتداد سنوات عديدة، شارك فيه 7 آلاف شخص في أكثر من 350 قرية ومدينة لبنانية، دعم المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني جهود المواطنين في تحديد المشاكل ضمن مجتمعاتهم وحلّها من خلال المشاركة الجماعية والاستراتيجية في عملية صنع القرار. وقد أرسى برنامج "لبنان المواطن" أساساً لعدّة مجموعات مدنية محلية، بما فيها شبكة المجموعات الشبابية في النبطية والبقاع في بعلبك الهرمل.

في العام 2010، أعدّ المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني مبادرة السياسات العامة لمساعدة المنظّمات المدنية في تطوير حلول على شاكلة سياسات، تستند إلى البيانات، بحيث تصبح هذه المنظّمات قوى فاعلة مؤثّرة على صعيد إصلاح السياسات. تضمّنت المبادرة ورش عمل لإعداد السياسات وتنظيم العملية التشريعية، ومحوراً إلكترونياً للسياسات العامة، ومنتدى للسياسات العامة، فضلاً عن سلسلة من لقاءات الحوار العامة التي تجمع بين الناشطين المدنيين والنوّاب. ولتعزيز الشفافية والمساءلة في مجلس النوّاب، قدّم المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني المساعدة التقنية لجمعية "نحو المواطنية" ("نعم") من أجل تنفيذ مشروع "مرصد الأداء النيابي اللبناني". كما ساعد المعهد جمعية "نعم" في تطوير معايير المراقبة، وإنشاء استراتيجية نظامية للبحث، ونشر الإحصاءات المتعلقة بالنشاط البرلماني. بسبب ندرة المعلومات المتوفّرة بشأن الموازنة الوطنية وعملية إعداد الموازنة، نسج المعهد شراكة مع اتّحاد المقعدين اللبنانيين في العام 2007 لتنفيذ مشروع الموازنة اللبنانية، وهي مبادرة هادفة إلى تعزيز قدرة المجتمع المدني على فهم الموازنة ومراقبتها وتحليلها.

للمزيد من المعلومات عن برنامج "لبنان المواطن"raquo;

مركز المنشورات العربية

يضمّ مكتب المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني في لبنان مركزاً للمنشورات العربية، وهو أكبر ناشر للموادّ المرجعية المتعلقة بالديمقراطية باللغة العربية. يعتبر المركز محطة أساسية جامعة للأدلة التدريبية، والكتيّبات، والمراجع بالنسبة لمكاتب المعهد وشركائه. وهو يشرف على ترجمة هذه الموارد، وتصميمها، ونشرها، وتوزيعها بهدف تعزيز عمل المعهد في توطيد الممارسات والمؤسسات الديمقراطية في مختلف أنحاء الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا. تتضمّن قائمة المنشورات الحالية كتيّبات متعلقة بتطوير الأحزاب السياسية، والعمل الناشط والتكنولوجيا، ومراقبة الانتخابات، والمشاركة المدنية والمدافعة، ومشاركة المرأة، فضلاً عن مجموعة متنوّعة من المواضيع المتعلقة بإدارة الحكم. فضلاً عن ذلك، أصدر المركز كتيّبين خاصّين بالمعهد يستندان إلى خبرته الطويلة في نقل المصطلحات المتعلقة بالديمقراطية من الإنكليزية إلى العربية.

مشاركة الشباب والنساء في السياسة

رغم المستويات المرتفعة للأشخاص المتعلّمين والناشطين في عدة جوانب من الحياة العامة، ما زالت النساء اللبنانيات غير ممثلات بما فيه الكفاية في السياسة، لا بل إنّ السلطة النسائية تكاد تكون محصورة بيد النساء المنتميات إلى أسر سياسية عريقة في البلاد. عمل المعهد مع النساء اللواتي أردنَ ترشيح أنفسهنّ، فضلاً عن النساء المنتخَبات في الانتخابات المحلية لعام 2005، من خلال برنامج "شاركي"؛ وهي مبادرة تدعم المرشّحات البلديات عن طريق تنظيم التدريبات، والجلسات الاستشارية، وجلسات الإرشاد الفردية، والمنتديات العامة. أما من خلال برنامج "خطوة إلى الأمام"، فقد عمل المعهد مع مجموعة متميّزة من الناشطين الشباب للتأثير على القضايا البلدية، وتنظيم حملات تتمتّع بالمصداقية لشغل المناصب البلدية.

في الوقت الحالي، ينظّم مكتب المعهد في لبنان مدارس حملات مكثّفة في المنطقة لتزويد المرشّحين، لا سيّما النساء والشباب، بالمهارات اللازمة لتنظيم حملات فاعلة للمناصب العامة. فضلاً عن ذلك، يدعم المعهد مجموعة "نساء برلمان"، وهو ائتلاف من منظّمات وأفراد يعملون من أجل تعزيز فرص النساء في الحياة السياسية.

استطلاعات الرأي

نتيجة عدم توافر الأبحاث المتعمّقة والنوعية في لبنان، يتّخذ القادة قراراتهم المتعلقة بالسياسات بطريقة لا تعكس هموم الناخبين وتطلّعاتهم. للتشجيع على التواصل بين الطرفين، نسج المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني شراكةً مع المركز اللبناني للدراسات من أجل إنشاء أوّل مركز أبحاث مستقل قائم على مجموعات التركيز في لبنان. يبحث المركز في آراء المواطنين بشأن الإصلاح الانتخابي، ومدى اهتمامهم بالأحزاب السياسية الدينية، ومستوى التربية المدنية في البلاد، ومشاركة المرأة في الأحزاب السياسية، وكيفية ارتباط أولويات المواطنين في مجال السياسات العامة بقرارهم بالتصويت لهذا الفريق أو ذاك. في الوقت الراهن، يعمل المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني والمركز اللبناني للدراسات مع الحملة المدنية للإصلاح الانتخابي لتنظيم مجموعات تركيز وإجراء الأبحاث اللازمة هدفها تقييم مواقف المواطنين من الإصلاحات الانتخابية وأداء البرلمان.

تقرير مجموعات التركيز الخاص بالمركز اللبناني للدراسات: الإصلاح الانتخابي لعام 2013: سرية التصويت»

التمويل

تتلقى برامج المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني الحالية تمويلاً من الوكالة الأميركية للتنمية الدولية، ومبادرة الشراكة الشرق أوسطية في وزارة الخارجية.

معلومات الاتصال

للمزيد من المعلومات عن هذه البرامج، إملأ استمارة الاتصال أو إتّصل بالعناوين التالية:

واشنطن العاصمة
ليندساي ووركمان، المديرة العليا للبرامج
سكايب:

(202) 728-5404

في الوقت الذي تبدّل فيه وجه منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا بشكلٍ جذريّ نتيجة الثورات الشعبية المتتالية، بقي الوضع في لبنان على حاله إلى حدٍّ كبير. يعتبر النظام السياسي في لبنان، الفريد من نوعه بين البلدان العربية، قائماً على تقاسم السلطة بين الطوائف، بحيث تتمركز السلطة بيد عدد بسيط من القادة السياسيين والدينيين. أدى ذلك إلى تشكيل حكومة ضعيفة تجاهد لاتخاذ حتى أبسط القرارات. من التحديات التي واجهها لبنان حرب أهلية خلّفت فيه دماراً كبيراً، امتدّت بين 1975 و1990، فضلاً عن تاريخ طويل من التدخلات الأجنبية. جاء انسحاب القوّات السورية في العام 2005 بعد احتلال دام 30 عاماً، فأمل المنادون بالإصلاحات بوصول عهدٍ جديد من التطوّر الديمقراطي. عوضاً عن ذلك، بقيت النخب السياسية تسيطر على عملية صنع القرار بسبب النظام اللبناني المعقّد المرتبط بالهويات السياسية. وقد ساهم استمرار النزاع في سوريا في ارتفاع درجة التوتّر السياسي والطائفي، ما تسبّب باندلاع أعمال العنف، وسوّغ قرار مجلس النوّاب في أيار 2013 بتأجيل الانتخابات النيابية للمرة الأولى منذ نهاية الحرب الأهلية.

بالنظر إلى سيطرة الأسر الحاكمة على النظام السياسي، والشلل السياسي الراهن، لم تَقُم المؤسسات الحكومية بمعالجة قضايا السياسات الملحّة- مثل الإصلاح الانتخابي، واللامركزية، وحقوق الإنسان، وإعادة التنظيم الاقتصادي والمالي، والشفافية والمساءلة- مما جعل المجتمع المدني وعدد بسيط من السياسيين العناصر الوحيدة التي تدفع إلى التغيير.

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

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

Author:

Julie Ballington

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute United Nations Development Programme

Published Date:

10/31/2011

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

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

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Russian

Urdu

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

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

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

Author:

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

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/06/2014

Resource Type:

Manual|Handbook

Language:

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

English

Arabic

Spanish

Russian

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

Increasing Women’s Political Participation Through Effective Training Programs: A Guide to Best Practices and Lessons Learned

fstovall — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 20:08:23 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

10/23/2013

Resource Type:

Training Manual

Language:

Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

Russian

Attachment	Size
Download the manual (English)	994.16 KB
Download the manual (français)	1.02 MB
Download the manual (РУС)	1.31 MB
Download the manual (español)	1.08 MB
Download the manual (بالعربية)	787.23 KB

Campaign Skills Handbook - Middle East and North Africa Regional Campaign Schools

dleonard — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:27:24 +0000

Author:

Shannon O'Connell, Samantha Smoot, Sally Abi Khalil

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

05/08/2013

Resource Type:

Handbook

Language:

English, Arabic

A step-by-step manual for candidates, political party activists, and campaign staff, the new Campaign Skills Handbook guides users through a comprehensive process for planning and implementing electoral campaigns. The handbook includes 11 modules, with practical worksheets and exercises, covering Political Parties; Leadership; Research, Strategy and Targeting; Voter Contact; Policy; Message Development; Communications Strategy and Skills; Campaign Planning; Mobilizing Resources; and Getting on a List. This guidebook can be paired with the companion Trainer’s Guide as the foundation of a campaign planning and mobilizing resources.

الكتيّب التدريبي لمهارات تنظيم الحملات

الناشر: إعداد شانون أوكونيل، بالتعاون مع سامانتا سموت وسالي أبي خليل – منشورات المعهد الديمقراطي الوطني.

تفصيل: يشكّل هذا الكتيّب العملي دليلاً قيّماً بالنسبة إلى المرشحين والناشطين الحزبيين والعاملين في مجال تنظيم الحملات، إذ يقودهم خطوةً خطوةً في مسيرة إعداد الحملات الانتخابية، وتنفيذ خططها. يتضمّن هذا الكتيّب 11 وحدة تدريبية، مرفقة بأوراق عمل وتمارين مفيدة، تتناول مواضيع الأحزاب السياسية والانتخابات؛ الأساليب والمهارات القيادية؛ الأبحاث والاستراتيجية واستهداف الناخبين؛ الاتصال بالناخبين؛ إعداد السياسات؛ صياغة الرسالة؛ استراتيجية التواصل ومهاراته؛ التخطيط للحملات؛ حشد الموارد؛ وحجز مقعد على اللائحة الانتخابية. يمكن استخدام هذا الدليل بالتزامن مع دليل المدربين، باعتباره حجر الأساس لبرنامج التدريب على مهارات تنظيم الحملات.

English

Arabic

Attachment	Size
Download the full handbook in English	16.32 MB
Download the full handbook in Arabic	13.47 MB
Module 1: Political Parties and Elections (Arabic)	1.41 MB
Module 2: Leadership Styles and Skills (Arabic)	979.25 KB
Module 3: Research, Strategy and Targeting (Arabic)	1.91 MB
Module 4: Voter Contact (Arabic)	1.33 MB
Module 5: Issue Identification (Arabic)	1.47 MB
Module 6: Message Development (Arabic)	1.25 MB
Module 7: Becoming a Powerful Communicator (Arabic)	774.54 KB
Module 8: Building a Communications Strategy (Arabic)	1.39 MB
Module 9: Campaign Planning (Arabic)	1.64 MB
Module 10: Mobilizing Resources (Arabic)	901.1 KB
Module 11: Getting on a List (Arabic)	872.27 KB
Module 1: Political Parties and Elections (English)	1.85 MB
Module 2: Leadership Styles and Skills (English)	972.58 KB
Module 3: Research, Strategy and Targeting (English)	1.83 MB
Module 4: Voter Contact (English)	1.24 MB
Module 5: Issue Identification (English)	1.47 MB
Module 6: Message Development (English)	1.47 MB
Module 7: Becoming a Powerful Communicator (English)	791.46 KB
Module 8: Building a Communications Strategy (English)	1.33 MB
Module 9: Campaign Planning (English)	1.5 MB
Module 10: Mobilizing Resources (English)	945.45 KB
Module 11: Getting on a List (English)	862.34 KB

Interior Ministry Set to Issue Preprinted Ballots | Oct. 16, 2012

fstovall — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:20:59 +0000

The Daily Star | Link to story »

he Interior Ministry is prepared to issue preprinted ballots for next year’s parliamentary elections regardless of the electoral system ultimately chosen, the head of the ministry’s election unit said Monday.

The Interior Ministry official’s remarks came during a forum organized by Parliament’s secretariat and the National Democratic Institute on proposed electoral reforms, particularly voter secrecy and preprinted ballots.

Link to story »