NDI - Liberia

Election Academy Forum Kicks Off in Monrovia | April 25, 2012

fgalleto — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:58:43 +0000

West African Election Observers Network (WAEON) has decided to hold its next academy in Liberia in an effort at help strengthen civil society capacity to engage in post-election reform and development.

This capacity building academy will take place beginning today to Friday at a local resort in Monrovia. The forum opens between 9am and 10am with remarks from the Liberian Democratic Institute (LDI), WAEON Chairman Mashood Erubami, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), and Gabriel Smith, Chairman of the Elections and Inauguration Committee, House of Representatives.

Link to story »

November 2011 Liberian Presidential Runoff Statement

ntekeei — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

Elections Coordinating Committee

Publisher:

Elections Coordinating Committee

Published Date:

11/11/2011

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the statement (English)	188.72 KB

NDI E-news: Women's Leadership, Zambia, Focus Group Research | October 2011

ntekeei — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:54:53 +0000

October 2011

Women Seeking Leadership Roles to Make Change

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Women running for office in the Democratic Republic of Congo learn to use iKNOW Politics. Photo courtesy of NDI_DRC.

"Success without democracy is improbable. Democracy without women is impossible."
— NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright

Around the world, women in ever-increasing numbers are taking steps to join in the political process at all levels of government. Partnering with men and supporting each other, women are running for office, rising in the ranks of political parties and advocating for issues that matter in their lives.

In Egypt, where the first post-uprising election will begin Nov. 28, women are working to overcome obstacles presented by both law and custom to win election to the parliament that will draft the country's new constitution. NDI campaign schools are helping them learn about campaign strategies, message development, voter contact, public speaking and the country's complex electoral code as they prepare their candidacies.

In the Balkans, women from political parties are working together across ethnic lines and national boundaries to inject new life into stalled politics. They are championing new education policies that will help women become more entrepreneurial and establishing networks that will help them exchange best practices and overcome barriers to women's participation in politics.

At the campaign school in Cairo.

In Kazakhstan, women make up 58 percent of the civil service but hold less than 9 percent of high-level positions. Women and men from across the country came together last month to draft an action plan to boost opportunities for women to reach decision-making positions in government. The plan calls for a cabinet-level Ministry of Gender Development, creating training schools for women, encouraging women in rural areas to participate in politics and other measures.

During the Democratic Republic of Congo's last legislative elections, fewer than 1,100 of 9,000 candidates were women. To encourage more women to run in November elections, NDI held a campaign school where women interested in parliament learned what it takes to win. Hundreds of women turned out to learn about iKNOW Politics, an online network dedicated to the advancement of women in politics.

In Zambia, Observers Cite Accurate Results, Peaceful Process

Zambia’s Civil Society Election Coalition deployed more than 9,000 highly-trained monitors around the country to observe the voting and counting in last month’s elections. About 1,000 of those were assigned to a nationally representative sample of polling stations. Their conclusion, stated "with great confidence," was that the results announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia accurately reflected the votes cast and that the process was generally smooth and peaceful. An NDI pre-election observation mission in August, led by Quett Ketumile Masire, former president of Botswana, and NDI Vice Chair Thomas Daschle, pointed out “noteworthy challenges” in the electoral environment and said the country could move forward significantly if its elections were credible and peaceful. Read more»

Liberian Elections Generally Peaceful, Orderly

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of seven civil society organizations and a partner of NDI's, fielded 2,000 election monitors to polling locations across the country to observe Liberia's presidential and legislative polls. Based on preliminary reports, the ECC called the elections "generally peaceful and orderly," and urged political parties to respect the official vote totals, expected later this month. Read more»

Key Reforms Needed to Clean Up Afghan Elections

Political and civil society representatives are calling on the Afghan government to carry out critical reforms to clean up the country's fraud-plagued election system. These include increased transparency in election management bodies, improvements to political parties and a better election law. Representatives of civil society, election agencies, parliament, local government, political parties, academia and the media all worked together to come up with an action plan to advance future reforms. Read more»

Citizen Organizations Work to Bolster Parliaments and Public Engagement, Survey Finds

A new report by NDI and the World Bank Institute examines the efforts of some 190 parliamentary monitoring organizations that are monitoring 82 parliaments around the world. These groups are helping citizens sift through and make sense of vast amounts of parliamentary information on such topics as voting records, the content of floor debates and committee deliberations to ensure that citizen interests are represented and legislators are held accountable. Read more»

New Focus Group Research Released in Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Somalia

Public opinion research can help governments, political parties and civil society better respond to the issues citizens care about most.

In Tunisia, where this month's constituent assembly elections will be the first competitive poll in the country's history, focus group research shows a widening divide between citizens and decision-makers. Citizens are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunities and perceive political parties as debating issues unrelated to their daily lives. Read more»

In Kyrgyzstan, where voters will choose a president Oct. 30, unemployment and corruption are top issues for voters. Focus group research found that ethnic tensions were still strong, but had been supplanted by unemployment and corruption as issues of top concern. Read more»

In Somalia, new research shows rising popular support for writing a new constitution. Somalis are eager to contribute to their country's future, and want a Somali-led response to conflict and greater inclusion in the transition to a permanent government. Read more»

Importance of Authentic Elections and Unhindered Election Observation Stressed at OSCE Warsaw Meeting

Speaking for the United States at the annual human rights meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Patrick Merloe, NDI's director of electoral programs, emphasized the importance of a genuinely competitive electoral process — before, during and after election day. Citing Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Macedonia as examples of recent, well-run elections in the OSCE region, Merloe stressed the crucial role that citizen and international monitors have in assessing the validity of an election. Read more»

President Ouattara: Reconciliation and Security Reform Key to Recovery in Côte d'Ivoire

The president of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, stressed the importance of reconciliation following months of violence and displacement in his country during a Washington, D.C., appearance. "The process will be long, but we are determined and I believe we will get there," he said Sept. 23 at an event cosponsored by NDI. Read more or watch the speech»

Don't Miss NDI's 2011 Democracy Award Dinner

Join NDI Nov. 7 as we celebrate the Arab Spring and honor three supporters of democracy at our annual Democracy Award Dinner. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will give the keynote address. The W. Averell Harriman Democracy Award will posthumously honor Geraldine Ferraro, Richard Holbrooke and Charles Manatt for their lifelong commitment to democracy. Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT), an Egyptian women's group advocating full inclusion of women in the new Egyptian political order, will receive this year's Madeleine K. Albright grant. Buy your ticket»


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

ECC Press Release Condemning Recent Statements by Certain Politicians

fgalleto — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:51:05 +0000

Author:

Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC)

Publisher:

Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC)

Published Date:

10/13/2011

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

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Read the release	414.29 KB

Liberia: Elections 2011 - ECC Reports Key Challenges | Oct. 12, 2011

fgalleto — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:57:06 +0000

AllAfrica.com | Link to story »

On Tuesday 11th October 2011 Liberians went to polls to vote in the first post-war democratic elections organized by Liberians. The general elections were contested by sixteen presidential candidates and over five hundred legislative candidates.

The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) with support from the Open Society Institute of West Africa and the National Democratic Institute fielded two thousand observers across Liberia to monitor the voting process.

Link to story »

Read more like this:

Liberian Elections Generally Peaceful, Orderly

fgalleto — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:12:54 +0000

Liberians voted in presidential and legislative elections Oct. 11. The Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of seven civil society organizations and a partner of NDI's, fielded more than 2,000 election monitors across Liberia to observe the vote. The ECC provides nonpartisan assessments and reports on any elections-related violence or conflict during the campaign. It has been observing the pre- and post-election periods for these elections and an Aug. 23 constitutional referendum.

Nonpartisan monitors with the ECC deployed to 2,000 polling places across the country. Photo by Brittany Danisch, NDI program manager.

Update: Read the press release the ECC released Oct. 13 condemning recent disturbing public statements made by certain politicians.

Based on reports from more than 300 observers, the ECC issued a preliminary statement noting that:

Generally, polling centers opened on time;
The National Elections Commission (NEC) deployed voting materials at all polling stations to allow voting to take place;
Voting was generally peaceful and orderly with low incidents of disruptions;
A security presence was evident at most polling centers across the country;
Voting in most polling places ended at 6:00 p.m., as stipulated by law, and those in line at that time were allowed to cast their votes;
Counting started almost immediately after voting ended at the official time;
Party agents, national and international observers were present and observed the counting; and
Most polling staff gave special attention to certain categories of voters such as the aged, pregnant women, visually impaired and the disabled.

However, voting was not free of challenges, including:

Congested polling places and poor queue management in certain areas;
Poor lighting systems;
Close placement of voting screens in some areas;
Slow pace in the processing of voters
Some party agents were not allowed to observe because they could not produce party identification cards.

The ECC appealed to all political parties to respect the vote totals of the NEC, expected to be released Oct. 26, with partial results being released as early as Oct. 13.

Related:

Published Oct. 12, 2011. Updated Oct. 13, 2011.

ECC Statement on the Liberian Elections

fgalleto — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:27:03 +0000

Author:

Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC)

Publisher:

Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC)

Published Date:

10/12/2011

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the statement	903.91 KB

Liberia: Civil Society Groups Work for a Peaceful Elections | Oct. 7, 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:15:57 +0000

The Nigerian Daily | Link to story »

In Liberia, they are concentrating on activities aimed towards peace building and have come out with two separate societies, which are the National Committee for Elections Monitoring (NACEM) and the Civil Society Network (CSM) with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI) to monitor the elections.

Link to story »

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

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

Sept. 15, 2011

Happy Democracy Day!

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

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

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

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

Pakistan to Extend Political Reforms to FATA

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

Ensuring Women and Young People Take Part in the Political Process

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

Celebrate Democracy with these Upcoming Events

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

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

Toward Better Elections in Africa

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

Coming Together for Common Goals

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

Public Opinion Research for Better Policy Platforms

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

NDI's Washington Office is Moving

NDI's new office

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

ECC to Deploy 2,000 Election Observers | Sept. 12, 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:50:11 +0000

The Liberian Times | Link to story »

"The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), in partnership with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and National Democratic Institute (NDI), has announced the deployment of 2,000 observers across the country to monitor the October 2011 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia.

According to the ECC, the 2,000 observer’s team will be deplored in cities, towns and villages across Liberia."

Link to story »

How American Aid is Lifting Liberia

fgalleto — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:58:19 +0000

Source:

Washington Post

Article Link:

Published Date:

08/12/2011

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf makes the case for continuing U.S. development assistance to Liberia. In areas of health, infrastructure and service delivery, U.S. aid has helped Liberians transition from civil war to political stability and a growing economy. Johnson Sirleaf cites improvements to health and sanitation, which help fight disease and allow children to grow into healthy adults, and improvements to infrastructure, which allow women to participate more fully in economic life and children to get the most out of their education, all made possible in part through U.S foreign aid.

"Like most other developing countries, Liberia aspires to outgrow the need for aid. We look forward to a day when our economy thrives, when our children no longer suffer from preventable diseases and when the women of our country can move beyond mere subsistence and have genuine opportunity. That day has not yet come. But American aid is helping us get there."

Liberia: NEC Ready for Referendum | Aug. 12, 2011

fgalleto — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:15:03 +0000

AllAfrica.com | Link to story »

"The National Elections Commission (NEC) says the material preparation for the August 23, 2011 National Constitutional Referendum is on course...

"It said the multi-pronged approach at CVE delivery for the referendum has also seen the National Democratic Institute (NDI) recruit CSOs and CBOs to carry out civic education in the South Eastern parts of the country."

Link to story »

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

fgalleto — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:51:47 +0000

August 2011

Newly Independent South Sudan Looks To Future, Permanent Constitution

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Children march in the independence day parade in Juba

South Sudan became the world's newest country on July 9 after a January referendum that showed overwhelming support for independence. Richard Nuccio, NDI's senior director in the new country's capital, Juba, was invited to the independence festivities and captured the celebration in photos. "It was an amazing moment and I felt very privileged to be a part of it," he said later during an interview on WPFW's Africa Now!

South Sudan adopted a transitional constitution just before independence and will soon set about crafting a permanent one. NDI will work with a coalition of women's civic groups from throughout the country to submit recommendations for the new document. The coalition wants to be sure that gender quotas for all branches and levels of government are a part of the constitution and that full separation of powers is addressed.

In March and April, NDI conducted the latest in a series of focus groups it has been organizing since 2004. This latest round explored South Sudanese attitudes toward independence and the future of their new country. “What we heard in the past was a focus on separation,” said Traci Cook, researcher and author of the upcoming report. “We found that they are now turning the corner and beginning to look internally.” Participants saw themselves as South Sudanese first and foremost, and want to move past tribal discrimination and corruption in the new government.

NDI President Wollack Reflects on Returning to Burma after 16 Years

In June, NDI President Kenneth Wollack traveled to Burma to meet with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders. Wollack reports that little in the country has changed since his last visit, but that Suu Kyi remains the unflappable and optimistic leader he met in 1995. Read more»

Aswat Community Connects Activists in the Middle East and North Africa

The Arab Spring uprisings have underscored the impact that social media can have on advancing democracy. As early as 2005, NDI recognized social media's potential and launched Aswat, an online community for those in the Middle East and North Africa looking to make governments more responsive, transparent and effective. Now, recognizing the additional responsibilities and challenges facing citizen reporters, Aswat is training them on journalistic ethics and professional standards. Read more»

Civic Group Invites Nicaraguan Citizens to Participate in Election Monitoring

A new website launched by the Nicaraguan group Ethics and Transparency allows citizens to report any electoral problems that might compromise the November national elections. Read more»

New Report: Political Parties in Afghanistan

Based on 90 interviews with party representatives and civil society, this new report explores how Afghan political parties view themselves, what kinds of assistance would serve them best and ways they might work together in the future. Parties see themselves primarily as supporting individual candidates, rather than an ideology, and focus their activities on elections instead of planning party strengthening activities between polls. The review also revealed that Afghan parties are highly interested in modernizing their internal structures and promoting cross-party cooperation. Read more»

Opinion Research Shows Tunisians Concerned About the Future

Six months into their political transition, Tunisians are concerned about high levels of unemployment, according to the latest round of focus group research conducted by NDI. Tunisians are also concerned about personal security, but are more optimistic about gains in freedoms of expression and association. Read more»

New Library Helps Liberian MPs Write Legislation

A new library and research service in the Liberian parliament is helping lawmakers write legislation. Among them is Senator Gloria Musu Scott, who wanted to draft a bill providing domestic partnership benefits for those in common law marriages. So she visited Liberia's new Legislative Information Service (LIS) to find how other countries have handled the issue and conducted an Internet search that turned up similar laws in several U.S. states. This type of information would not have been available until the library opened a few months ago. Read more»

Mauritanian Parliament Seeks Citizen Input for Social Security Reform

Social security is a hotly debated topic in Mauritania. The current system is expensive, and the government is facing choices on whether to raise taxes, cut services or restructure the program. Rather than operating behind closed doors, the parliament has sought citizen input, holding a public meeting and asking leaders from civil society organizations to weigh in with their policy ideas. Read more»

As Mauritanians prepare for parliamentary and municipal elections tentatively scheduled for the fall, keep up with the latest political analysis and developments by subscribing to the Mauritania Elections Bulletin. Subscribe»

Liberia Launches Elections Coordinating Committee

rrunyan — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:59:38 +0000

Liberia’s nascent democracy will be tested this year as the country prepares to hold a referendum and an election in rapid succession with limited international assistance. This is in sharp contrast to 2005 when elections were conducted with significant support from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

On Aug. 23, Liberia will hold a referendum on four proposed constitutional amendments, including one that will determine residency requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates and another that will set a date for presidential and legislative elections in October or November. A peaceful and credible election process will not only help consolidate the political and economic gains made since the end of the civil war in 2003 but will have a positive regional impact in the wake of the destabilizing electoral crisis in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.

To help ensure credible elections, Liberia’s Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), a coalition of seven civil society organizations set to observe the August referendum, launched on June 23. Following months of meetings, the ECC emerged as a supervisory board representing two coalitions of civic groups that have joined forces to become the only nationwide domestic observation effort for this year’s electoral process. The ECC will provide nonpartisan assessments and report on any elections-related violence or conflict during the campaign periods. It will observe before, during and after the referendum and plans to observe the fall presidential and legislative elections.

The organizations that make up the ECC have extensive experience from observing the 2005 general elections and subsequent by-elections, and will collectively provide national coverage throughout Liberia’s 15 counties. The group’s primary objectives are to provide Liberian civil society with a strong, coherent voice, and to “promote free and transparent elections, and mitigate the propensity for conflict,” according to ECC member G. Jasper Cummeh.

Liberia’s National Elections Commission approves of and supports the ECC observation plan. The ECC will train and deploy 400 observers for the referendum and 2,000 observers for the fall elections. They will be assigned to polling stations throughout Liberia based on the population of each county. To build support for the observation, the ECC will meet with political parties and media outlets as the formal campaign season kicks into high gear in the coming weeks.

NDI, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, will provide technical and financial support to the ECC. The Institute will assist in program design, particularly in refining the group’s communication and reporting strategies and training observers. The ECC will receive additional financial support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa.

Related:

Published August 4, 2011

Liberia Referendum 2011

vrao — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:15:20 +0000

NDI assistance to nonpartisan citizen election monitors

NDI - Liberia

Election Academy Forum Kicks Off in Monrovia | April 25, 2012

November 2011 Liberian Presidential Runoff Statement

NDI E-news: Women's Leadership, Zambia, Focus Group Research | October 2011

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ECC Press Release Condemning Recent Statements by Certain Politicians

Liberia: Elections 2011 - ECC Reports Key Challenges | Oct. 12, 2011

Liberian Elections Generally Peaceful, Orderly

Nonpartisan monitors with the ECC deployed to 2,000 polling places across the country. Photo by Brittany Danisch, NDI program manager.

ECC Statement on the Liberian Elections

Liberia: Civil Society Groups Work for a Peaceful Elections | Oct. 7, 2011

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

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ECC to Deploy 2,000 Election Observers | Sept. 12, 2011

How American Aid is Lifting Liberia

Liberia: NEC Ready for Referendum | Aug. 12, 2011

NDI E-news: South Sudan, Burma, Tunisia | July/August 2011

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Liberia Launches Elections Coordinating Committee

Liberia Referendum 2011