NDI - Mauritania

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

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

Sept. 15, 2011

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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.

Mauritanians Urged to Increase Transparency, Participation in Run Up to Elections

fgalleto — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:51:42 +0000

Following coups in 2005 and 2008 and faced with youth protests against government policies perceived as racist, upcoming elections in Mauritania offer an opportunity for the country to show its commitment to democratic principles and constitutional law. But measures to increase transparency and participation will need to be enacted first for the public to have confidence in the results, according to a pre-election assessment by NDI.

The report is based on a four-day visit by a delegation that met with party leaders, members of parliament, civil society leaders, members of the international community and Mauritanian citizens interested in the political process. Emphasizing transparency, the group urged the government to re-establish the National Independent Election Commission (CENI), which was dissolved after the 2009 presidential elections. Currently, the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) is organizing the elections, and political activists are concerned that the ministry lacks the independence necessary to plan credible elections.

Hima (l) and Binda prepare the assessment report.

In addition, the delegation urged the MOI to accredit election observers from civil society and political parties, to open up all parts of the process to those observers, and to allow them to report and publicize their findings. The delegation also urged the MOI to accept and accredit any credible international organizations that might want to observe the upcoming vote for parliament and municipal offices.

The delegation comprised Francesca Binda, NDI senior director in the West Bank and Gaza; Badie Hima, NDI resident director in Togo; Megan Doherty, NDI program officer; and Jacques Veilleux, NDI resident director in Mauritania.

Their report encourages an inclusive approach to elections to ensure that all citizens and political parties have a chance to participate. Approximately 600,000 Mauritanians, 18 percent of the population, need to be added to the voter registry, and the MOI does not seem ready to meet that goal, NDI said, although the ministry is making an effort to register traditionally excluded groups in the country’s interior.

Voter education is widely needed to ensure that citizens know where, when and how to vote, the report continued. The delegation suggested using radio programming for voter education, as just under half of Mauritania’s adult population is illiterate, and radio is a popular medium in rural areas.

The delegation also urged the government to repeal the current ban on peaceful protests, noting that while it might not impact the elections directly, the ban contributes to an atmosphere of repression and intolerance that is unlikely to improve the campaign or election periods.

When the delegation was in Mauritania July 24-27, elections were scheduled for Oct. 16, which would have complied with a constitutional requirement that a parliamentary term cannot exceed five years. Since then, the elections have been indefinitely postponed, and it remains unclear whether the parliamentarians will stay in office and whether that is constitutionally valid.

In the meantime, the government and opposition parties are planning a national dialogue to discuss the elections, national unity, civil liberties, judicial independence, the role of the army and more. With so many topics to cover, the delegation was concerned that the elections might not get the attention they need, and urged both the government and political parties to focus on reaching agreement on acceptable conditions and a set timetable for elections before discussing other topics.

Related:

Published Sept. 13, 2011

The 2011 Mauritanian Legislative and Municipal Elections - A Pre-Election Report

fgalleto — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:58:39 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/31/2011

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

Arabic, English, French

English

Arabic

French

Attachment	Size
Read the report (English)	349.7 KB
Read the report (بالعربية)	589.81 KB
Read the report (francais)	341.51 KB

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»

Mauritania Elections Bulletin 2011

fgalleto — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:53:43 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

07/15/2011

Resource Type:

Newsletter

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Bulletin 1: July 1 - July 15	189.38 KB
Bulletin 2: July 16 - July 31	232.5 KB
Bulletin 3: Aug. 1 - Aug. 15	143.24 KB

Mauritanian Parliament Seeks Citizen Input for Social Security Reform

fgalleto — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:41:30 +0000

A hotly-debated topic in Mauritania these days is social security, described as "the foundation for social justice in a modern state" by Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Guelaye, president of the Mauritanian Parliamentary Commission on Public Welfare and Health and author of a recent report on social security reform. "It is an expression of national solidarity: the wealthy pay for the poor, the healthy help the sick and are helped in turn when they fall ill," he said.

Created in the 1950s to care for the old and infirm in this North African country, the system has expanded to include national health insurance for the public and private sectors, public and private pension systems, unemployment benefits, maternity benefits and more. The current system is expensive, and to keep it operating the government must decide whether to raise taxes, cut services or restructure the program.

To that end, the parliament created the commission to explore options, and it began drafting a bill to reform the program. Working with NDI, the parliamentary commission sought input from citizens to make sure their priorities and concerns were reflected in the new legislation. In early June, representatives of national trade unions and civil society organizations met with senior government officials from parliament and the executive branch, including the directors of the National Fund for Social Security and the National Fund for Health Insurance. They discussed the options facing the country, voiced concerns about potential benefit cuts, and offered ideas and recommendations for improving the system.

For example, one union representative urged the committee to modify the existing law to allow widows to keep their health insurance after their spouse dies, and to improve insurance coverage for the very poor. Another leader at the meeting suggested standardizing the retirement age and increasing contributions made by employees to the national system.

This type of dialogue is relatively new to Mauritania, where citizen input has historically been limited. But lately, the parliament has made an effort to include citizens in the political process, first with a public hearing on improving the economy and most recently with this meeting to address social security.

The meetings lasted two days and ended with the commission adopting several of the recommendations put forward by civil society. Among those that will be included in the final draft of the reform bill are creation of an office to aid coordination among the institutions offering social security services, a national records center that will help the government track social security funds, and a monitoring committee made up of parliamentarians and civil society representatives who participated in the dialogue to evaluate the new law and suggest improvements.

At the end of the meetings with civil society leaders, Guelaye reaffirmed his commitment to continue to seek citizen input. While the hearing was the "first of its kind," Guelaya told those gathered it would not be the last.

Related:

Pictured above: Guelaye (r) chairs the meeting.

Published July 7, 2011

An African Adventure, and a Revelation

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:49:56 +0000

Source:

The New York Times

Article Link:

Published Date:

07/01/2011

After a recent trip to Africa, Nicholas Kristof chronicles the encouraging changes taking place and the continuing challenges facing the continent. While Africa's economy is booming, widespread problems such as malnutrition and disease still persist, although humanitarian aid programs from the United States have made significant impact. Kristof also notes the increasing presence of democracy on the continent. "Morocco is a window into one of the most striking trends in Africa: democratization. The number of electoral democracies in Africa has risen to 18 from 4 in the last decade, according to Freedom House, a nonprofit human rights organization based in Washington. Even in a country like Morocco, which is still a repressive monarchy, easing has occurred. It has freed some political prisoners, moved to strengthen its Parliament a bit and even established a truth and reconciliation commission."

NDI E-news: North Africa, Liberia, Ecuador | May 2011

fgalleto — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:27:35 +0000

May 2011

Across North Africa, Citizens Find Their Voice

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On one wall of Tahrir Square in Benghazi, Libya, people leave pictures of those who died during the reign of Muammar Gaddafi, including during the uprising that began in February. Photo by Maroun Sfeir.

With the major changes taking place across North Africa, NDI is expanding its activities in Egypt and Tunisia, where citizen uprisings led to the overthrow of authoritarian rulers and events are unfolding quickly as citizens work to organize new democratic systems.

In Libya, where citizens are fighting for freedom, NDI sent a team to Benghazi earlier this month to assess what Libyans will need for a democratic transition. Les Campbell, NDI director of Middle East and North Africa programs, writes about his experiences in this first-person account. "There is such a hunger for information ... The isolation of this part of Libya was profound and what is going on now is a genuine awakening."

NDI has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Transitional National Council (TNC), outlining ways the Institute can support Libya's transition by working with both the TNC and civil society.

Young people protest against regional discrimination in Le Kef, a city in northwestern Tunisia.

In Tunisia, NDI is beginning a second round of focus group research to learn how political parties are viewed and what issues citizens are most concerned about. As Tunisia prepares for its first democratic elections in more than 20 years, set for July 24, the Institute will share the findings with political parties to help them draft platforms and campaign strategies that address the needs of Tunisians.

In April, NDI brought Polish Solidarity leader and former defense minister Janusz Onyszkiewicz and retired Indonesian general Agus Widjojo to Cairo for a series of consultations with Egyptian political leaders and civic activists on political transitions. Discussions focused on how opposition groups can prepare for elections on an accelerated timetable, overcome internal divisions and navigate a transition to democracy that is being directed by the military with limited public input. Most Egyptian political parties are focused on September's parliamentary elections. NDI has been helping them develop campaign strategies and skills, and work on new campaign techniques, such as door-to-door campaigning, that have traditionally been resisted by Egyptian activists. NDI has also been working with parties to organize candidate debates and with civic groups to discuss electoral reform.

Meanwhile, NDI and the government of Bulgaria signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at sharing that nation's experience in democratic transitions with countries in the Middle East and North Africa. "As a country that has spent the past two decades undergoing a massive and often difficult transformation from dictatorship to democracy, Bulgaria has much to share with those who are now struggling to instill those same changes in their societies," said Nikolay Mladenov, Bulgaria's foreign minister, at a signing ceremony at NDI. Already, Bulgarian political leaders have visited with new political parties in Tunisia to share lessons learned.

Arabic language publications

NDI offers a number of manuals and handbooks designed to help civil society organizations, political parties and governments through democratic transitions. The Institute's most recent manual,
Political Process Monitoring: Activist Tools and Techniques, helps citizen groups monitor electoral campaign conduct as well as scrutinize government performance. The Institute also offers 75 Arabic language publications on topics such as advocacy, women's participation, democratic governance and using technology for more effective communications.

'Small Small' Improvements to Liberian Bill Tracking Improve Transparency

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

Sudanese Civic Group Gives Mostly Positive Marks to South Kordofan Polling Process

Elections held in the Sudanese state of Southern Kordofan were generally well conducted despite a number of deficiencies, according to the Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE), an NDI partner. SuGDE deployed 90 citizen observers for the gubernatorial and state legislative elections. Read more»

Serbia Debates Electoral Reform as Precursor to EU Membership

Serbia's election system — particularly the manner in which citizens vote for representatives in parliament — is seen as one factor keeping the country from membership in the European Union. NDI brought 80 members of academia, government and civil society together to create recommendations on amending the electoral law. Read more»

Former Congresswoman Emphasizes the Value of Oversight to Russian Duma

Constance Morella, former U.S. representative from Maryland, recently appeared before the Russian Duma to testify on behalf of a bill that would increase congressional oversight in Russia — an important legislative branch check on executive authority. Morella was invited to testify by Just Russia, a party NDI has been working with on issues of democratic governance. Read more»

Democracy is...Tolerance

"Voices from the Middle East: Democracy is Tolerance" is a new video using material submitted online through Democracy is..., a public-private partnership in which NDI is a partner. The program asks young people around the world to complete the phrase "Democracy is..." through videos, tweets and photos submitted online. The video combines entries from across the region with common themes of equality, diversity and tolerance.
Watch»

Join the conversation»

Parliamentarians, Business Leaders Work Together in Mauritania to Improve Economy

In Mauritania, parliamentarians joined forces openly with representatives of the business community for the first time in the country's history this month. The two groups agreed to submit an official report to the Mauritanian National Assembly detailing issues and recommendations, and to establish a commission promoting ongoing collaboration between government and the private sector. Read more»

Cleaner Hospitals is Subject for Legislator Training in Ecuador

The poor hospital hygiene that may have been responsible for a recent string of infant deaths in Ecuador became a case study for a legislative training program organized by NDI. The program simulated ways to seek and incorporate citizen input into legislation that would improve regulation of hospital conditions. Read more»

Macedonian Code of Conduct Asks 'What Mark Will We Leave?'

Macedonian political parties signed a code of conduct ahead of snap parliamentary elections, calling on parties to respect the electoral law and foster a tolerant campaign atmosphere free of violent or intimidating rhetoric, fraud, bribery and proxy voting. The code is the eighth NDI has sponsored, and adherence to the codes has increased over the last eight elections. Read more»

Electoral Fairs Bring Politics Out of the Box in Peru

In the weeks leading up to last month's Peruvian elections, NDI partnered with Transparencia, a leading civic group, to organize a series of candidate debates and electoral fairs that gave citizens from outside the capital the opportunity to interact personally with candidates. Read more»

Marching Ahead: A Profile Book of Women Constituent Assembly Members

The April 2008 elections in Nepal marked a historic and unprecedented step forward for that nation's women, who won one-third of the seats in the Constituent Assembly, the body tasked with drafting the new Nepali constitution. A new book, Marching Ahead: A Profile Book on Women Constituent Assembly Members, profiles 24 of these women, sharing their stories as inspirations and role models for the next generation of women leaders. Read more»

In Mauritania, Parliamentarians, Business Leaders Work Together to Improve Economy

rrunyan — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:38:38 +0000

For the first time in Mauritania’s history, parliamentarians and business leaders have come together to discuss how to improve the economic and business climate of the North African country.

The two groups agreed to submit an official report to the Mauritanian National Assembly detailing issues and recommendations, and they plan to establish a commission promoting ongoing collaboration between government and the private sector.

For the first time in Mauritania’s history, parliamentarians and business leaders have come together to discuss how to improve the economic and business climate of the North African country.

At a May 7 forum, the business leaders and members of parliament (MPs) discussed issues affecting the business environment in Mauritania, such as a complicated legal framework, financial instability, undocumented workers and corruption. The two groups worked on how to solve these problems, including how to cut red tape and promote the equal enforcement of laws.

Acting on suggestions from the business community, the MPs agreed on the need to create a national identification number for taxpayers to help streamline and track tax payments on business income, and to promote good corporate citizenship with the aim of discouraging corruption. They also agreed to consult with the African Development Bank, which provides guidance and ideas for promoting the private sector in Africa.

The event marks the first time a parliamentary committee has consulted publicly with the private sector. Previous attempts at dialogue involved small groups of citizens meeting with individual MPs to discuss specific problems.

NDI partnered with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) to help both sides prepare for the event. CIPE, a nonpartisan nongovernmental organization that fosters free enterprise and business around the world, helped business associations develop their proposals and coordinate a common platform of the most pressing issues to take to the parliament. NDI worked with members of the Committee on Economic Affairs on the mechanics of the forum and the role that MPs would play.

As one representative of the business sector explained: “All of us know the problems, but we have to think about solutions.” Meanwhile, the MPs talked about their perspectives on the issues and expressed a desire to work with business leaders.

Both sides agreed that this first meeting set a standard for moving forward. “The way this meeting was organized will help change the dynamics for how to have a positive dialogue as partners in the future,” said Sid’Ahmed Ould Mohamed Ould Ahmed, chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs.

Related:

Pictured above: A representative of the business community presents his ideas before the committee.

Published May 16, 2011

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

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

February 2011

Now the Hard Work Begins...

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Egyptians celebrate in Tahrir Square. Photo by RamyRaoof.

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

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

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

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

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

African Election Roundup: Nigeria, Sudan, Niger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NDI President Urges International Support for Belarusian People

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

Colombian Municipal Councilors Hone Good Governance Skills

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

NDI Adds 2010 Afghanistan Elections Data to Mapping Website

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

New NDI Publications

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

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

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

Party-building in the Middle East

fgalleto — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:45:19 +0000

Author:

Leslie Campbell

Publisher:

International Journal

Published Date:

12/22/2010

Resource Type:

Article

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the article	117.19 KB

Mauritania Elections Bulletin 2009

rrunyan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:44:21 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

07/16/2009

Resource Type:

Newsletter

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Issue 1: July 6, 2009	74.69 KB
Issue 2: July 13, 2009	105.42 KB
Issue 3: July 24, 2009	171.47 KB

Latest Mauritania Bulletin Details Fallout from Presidential Election Amid Allegations of Fraud

rrunyan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:26:58 +0000

The Mauritania Elections Bulletin provides an overview of political developments in the country in advance of presidential elections scheduled for July 18. The first issue, published June 30, introduces the nine candidates still in the race.

Democratic progress faltered in Mauritania, when in August 2008, less than two years after Mauritanian citizens democratically elected Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi as president, senior military officers led a coup d’état which overturned the government. A military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ruled the country during the proceeding months of political gridlock which saw the rise of a coalition of political parties standing in opposition to the junta, demanding return to constitutional order. Under an agreement signed in Dakar in late June 2009 which forged a compromise between the ruling junta and the opposition, a national unity government is steering the country toward presidential elections scheduled for July 18, with a potential run-off on August 1.

Read the latest issue of the Bulletin

Past Editions
- Issue No. 2 – July 7 - July 13, 2009 | Read this issue »
- Issue No. 1 – June 30 - July 6, 2009 | Read this issue »

NDI warns against 'unilateral electoral process' in Mauritania | March 20, 2009

ggreene — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:45:25 +0000

Afrique en ligne | Link to story »

Nouakchott, Mauritania - The regional director and program manager of the US National Democratic Institute (NDI) to the Middle East and the Maghreb, Leslie Campbell, has warned the Mauritania junta against embarking on a unilateral electoral process in the contest of the forthcoming presidential election in the African nation.

Link to story »

NDI Speaks Out on Minimum Conditions for Successful Mauritanian Elections

fgalleto — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:24:20 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/18/2009

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the release	149.12 KB

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