NDI - Middle East and North Africa

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

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

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

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

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

jordanelection.com

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

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

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

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

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

Related:

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

Published on August 19, 2010

NDI Partners with Stevens Initiative to Inspire Tomorrow’s Political Leaders

erodriguez — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 00:44:02 +0000

As part of the Civic Tech Leadership Program funded by the Aspen Institute Stevens Initiative, NDI and the Institute for Representative Government hosted a live virtual town hall on December 1, in which former Members of the U.S. Congress spoke to over 150 young leaders located in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and United States. Former Reps. Phil English (R-PA), James Slattery (D-KA) and Karen Thurman (D-FL) took live questions from the audience and discussed how youth can engage more in civic life, how technology and social media are transforming politics, as well as how technology is impacting politics in the U.S. in the wake of the 2016 elections.

Belabbes Benkredda discusses his vision for a new Arab public sphere

During the town hall, the former representatives reflected on the early stages of their careers to inspire young participants to be politically active. “I’ve concluded that not only all politics is local,” said Rep. English after sharing how he got first involved in politics, “but by getting involved locally, you can make a real difference.”

Rep. Slattery referenced President John F. Kennedy's inauguration address as the source of his political engagement: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

As a middle school math teacher in Florida, Rep. Thurman was led to politics by a request from her students to prevent the closing of the local city beach. Thurman oversaw the students’ city council appeal and the beach remained open. “You should run for city council,” said the kids after their victory, and with the help of her students Thurman won her first election by five votes.

Participants from Egypt and Algeria asked questions about best practices for effective advocacy and how a non-politician can best influence the policymaking process. To address these questions, the guests emphasized the importance of understanding the incentives of politicians, and figuring out a pressure strategy based on these incentives, coupled with personal storytelling.

The audience also expressed concerns related to the results of the November elections in the U.S. and whether this could affect attitudes toward people from the Middle East and North Africa. The former representatives shared their views that visitors are always welcome and that the U.S. would remain an active and dedicated partner in the region.

A few days later, NDI organized another live conversation between Leadership Program participants and Belabbes Benkredda, the founder of the Munathara Initiative based in Tunis, Amman and Washington, DC, which promotes the voices of youth, women and marginalized communities in the Arab public sphere through community participation, online engagement and public debates. Benkredda shared lessons about facilitating constructive, rational dialogue on sensitive issues in Arab countries and everywhere.

“We are in this era of post-factual discourse where the lines between opinions and facts are becoming increasingly blurred, and this has very serious ramifications for public discourse because it renders impossible constructive engagements,” Benkredda says, “that is why strengthening the sanctity of rational argument is a really critical pillar for the Munathara Initiative.”

Two hundred young civic tech enthusiasts were selected to participate in the Leadership Program from a pool of applicants that consisted of alumni of the Technology for Accountability Lab, a free, open, bilingual online course that NDI developed with Stanford University’s Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). The Leadership Program attracted a diverse cohort of participants from 13 different MENA countries and the U.S. Out of all admitted participants, almost half belong to a group that is underrepresented in the technology sector and in exchange programs, including women, persons with disabilities, refugees and ethnic or other minority groups.

In a cross-cultural learning environment, Leadership Program participants collaborate with teammates to conceive a project idea that uses technology to advance the public good and introduce the idea in a short, bilingual video pitch. By connecting people who are working to address social problems in their own country contexts, the program intends to expand cross-cultural understanding of the challenges faced in different societies, while facilitating a collaborative problem-solving approach to overcoming them.

NDI launched the Civic Tech Leadership Program, in partnership with Stanford University’s CDDRL and the Institute for Representative Government. The Program is made possible through the Aspen Institute Stevens Initiative, with generous support from the U.S. Department of State and the Bezos Family Foundation.

Published on December 23, 2016

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

Increased Success for Women in Jordanian Elections

erodriguez — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:10:46 +0000

With assistance from NDI’s “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Elections” program, Jordanian women achieved unprecedented levels of participation and success in the September 20, 2016, parliamentary elections. More than 250 women nationwide ran for office, and 20 won seats to serve as Members of Parliament. Five of those women won competitive seats, rather than one of the 15 quota seats, demonstrating women’s increasing levels of political activism and influence throughout the country.

Zainab Zubied, a participant in NDI’s program, won a seat in the Northern Badiya district, making her the youngest woman parliamentarian in the history of Jordan at age 30.

Member of Parliament Zainab Zubied is the youngest woman parliamentarian in the history of Jordan, and she credits NDI in helping her win election on September 20, 2016.

Zainab Zubied, a participant in NDI’s program, won a seat in the Northern Badiya district, making her the youngest woman parliamentarian in the history of Jordan at age 30. Involvement in community and civil society activities, starting in her teens, helped Zubied gain support in her region, but working with NDI helped her be successful in getting elected.

“NDI’s presence and efforts in the area of women’s empowerment are quite important. The knowledge and skills I gained through the program encouraged me to run, and enhanced my opportunities to win.”

- Zainab Zubied, newly elected MP

Jordanian societal traditions and conservative tribal communities prevented many women from participating in past elections, either as candidates or as campaign managers and political activists. However, more women - of all generations and in all parts of the country - have been emboldened by new opportunities to take part in Jordan’s democratic development process.

Recognizing these changes, NDI began its election-related program in the spring of 2016, building on its existing programs to increase women’s participation in civil society and politics in non-election periods. The elections program emphasized ways to inform more women of political and electoral processes, diverse ways they could get involved in the elections (whether as candidates or volunteers), and techniques and skills they could use to raise their profiles within the parties and as active members of their communities.

In the six months prior to the parliamentary elections, NDI worked with more than 300 women in all parts of the country, encompassing all 12 governorates as well as Bedouin districts, to increase their campaign and political outreach skills and to assist them in developing campaign strategies. Of the more than 250 women who stood as candidates, almost 200 had been trained by or received individual consultative assistance from NDI. As a result of NDI’s assistance, the number of women candidates increased by more than 30 percent - from 191 to 252. Eleven of the 20 newly elected women MPs were NDI participants throughout the course of the program, including one of the women who won a competitive, non-quota seat.

NDI’s work also has a broader impact on politics in Jordan outside of election campaigns. Dr. Salma Nims, the Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs, highlights that the Institute’s work contributes to Jordan’s National Strategy for Women. NDI’s program “works to provide better and more equitable opportunities.”

“Through these types of partnerships, we hope to soon bring women’s percentage of representation to no less than 30 percent in all policy and decision-making and in various elected and appointed councils.”

- Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary General of Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs

The parliamentary election results established a solid foundation for NDI to continue its work with politically engaged women. The women who participated in the program but didn’t get elected are not discouraged. Almost 150 of the participants are preparing to run in the 2017 Municipal and Governorate council elections. NDI’s ongoing women’s participation program will start work with them as soon as possible to provide political skills, techniques, and expertise as they prepare for their campaigns and to continue to increase the number of women represented in government and politics at all levels.

This program is implemented with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Jordan Accomplishes Inclusive Elections with Expanded Role for Women

erodriguez — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 15:55:26 +0000

On September 20, 2016, the Jordanian people headed to the polls to fill 130 seats for the lower house of parliament. Amid heightened security concerns and a struggling economy, King Abdullah II dissolved parliament on May 29 and set terms for parliamentary elections in the fall.

A joint international election observation delegation supported by NDI and IRI released a preliminary statement about the election. They found that overall:

“Elections took place in a largely peaceful atmosphere and were efficiently organized;
Domestic election observers and candidate agents were present in most polling places;
While there were issues, most voters were able to cast votes without any significant impediment.”

Five women election observers monitor a polling station in the Jerash tribal area.

A joint international election observation delegation supported by NDI and IRI released a preliminary statement about the election. They found that overall:

“Elections took place in a largely peaceful atmosphere and were efficiently organized;
Domestic election observers and candidate agents were present in most polling places;
While there were issues, most voters were able to cast votes without any significant impediment.”

“In a region beset by instability and conflict, and in a part of the world where democratic rights and norms are often diminished or ignored, the leadership of Jordan has demonstrated that it is possible to allow peaceful expression of opinion and political choice even in the presence of security pressures, a refugee crisis and unstable neighbors.”

- John Sununu, Former U.S. Senator, Delegation Co-leader

In a notable improvement in women’s representation, 20 women legislators will be seated in the lower house of the new parliament out of the 130 total seats, a new high for Jordan. Fifteen seats were reserved for women and another 5 won competitive races outside the quota system. NDI trained more than 300 potential women candidates, including 10 of the 20 women elected to office.

"Thanks to NDI and its women's political participation program for conducting this session that clarified the elections law and covered the different aspects of the electoral system. This training will prepare us to participate in the upcoming elections."

- Hayat Al Mseami, Elected MP in the Zarqa Governorate

Women voters totaled 53% of the 4.1 million registered voters in Jordan, and have achieved record representation in the new parliament.

Jordan is struggling with a range of domestic issues including stagnant economic growth, high prices, high unemployment, and pressures from absorbing hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Historically, the Jordanian parliament has been dominated by tribal candidates and business leaders tied to their local districts. Parties and political coalitions are very weak, resulting in a parliament that could rarely agree, initiate legislation or serve as more than a rubber stamp for the government.

Elderly tribal voters cast their ballots.

Recently, King Abdullah has articulated the need for a more empowered parliament and a stronger party system in Jordan. Election laws were revised this year to require candidates to form a “list”, and voters were required to cast ballots for both the list and their preferred candidate(s) on that list.

It remains to be seen whether the new law in practice will achieve Abdullah’s stated goals. More likely, creating an empowered parliament and stronger parties will require that the results of the parliamentary election have a direct relationship to the composition of the government, providing an environment of greater political competition and democratic incentives to which parties and candidates could respond.

In contrast to previous elections, no major political factions boycotted the 2016 elections. The Islamic Action Front, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm in Jordan, won 16 seats and will have a voice in the Jordanian parliament for the first time in nearly a decade.

Stakes were particularly high for Jordanians under age 30, who comprise 70 percent of the population.

After the September election, governing powers will still reside with the King, but the country’s laws must be endorsed by both houses of Parliament. The open question is whether the new parliament will remain simply a rubber stamp for the government, or if it will be able to form cohesive coalitions and help address Jordan’s systemic problems. The roles that women and the Islamic Action Front play will be particularly important to watch.

International delegation leaders included from left to right: Coskun Coruz, former Dutch MP; Michele Dunne, Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; John Sununu, former U.S. Senator; and Atifete Jahjaga, former president of Kosovo. Mark Green, President of IRI, is seated at the right.

“While there were isolated problems, most voters were able to exercise their rights.”

- Atifete Jahjaga, Former president of Kosovo, Delegation Co-chair

The international election mission was funded by USAID. The delegation, comprising 45 observers from 16 countries, included a former head of state, current and former legislators, party leaders, business leaders, and regional specialists.

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IRI and NDI’s International Election Observation of Jordan’s September 20, 2016 Legislative Elections

erodriguez — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 15:33:03 +0000

Author:

NDI & IRI International Election Observation Mission

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/21/2016

Resource Type:

Election Preliminary Statement

Language:

English, Arabic

“While there were isolated problems, most voters were able to exercise their rights. NDI, IRI, and other international organizations will use the mission findings as benchmarks for ongoing work with the Independent Election Commission, political parties, the government, and the parliament to help as they work to increase the levels of transparency and effectiveness in the political process,” Atifete Jahjaga, delegation co-leader and former president of Kosovo said.

A joint international election observer delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) today announced that Jordan’s September 20, 2016 elections took place in a largely peaceful atmosphere and were efficiently organized. Election officials were well trained and professional. Domestic election observers and candidate agents were present in most polling places. While there were issues, most voters were able to cast votes without any significant impediment. “While there were isolated problems, most voters were able to exercise their rights. NDI, IRI, and other international organizations will use the mission findings as benchmarks for ongoing work with the Independent Election Commission, political parties, the government, and the parliament to help as they work to increase the levels of transparency and effectiveness in the political process,” Atifete Jahjaga, delegation co-leader and former president of Kosovo said.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) appeared to have the resources and freedom necessary to conduct a successful election, and the delegation congratulates the people of Jordan for expressing their political preferences and choosing their representatives to the national legislature. “In a region beset by instability and conflict, and in a part of the world where democratic rights and norms are often diminished or ignored, the leadership of Jordan has demonstrated that it is possible to allow peaceful expression of opinion and political choice even in the presence of security pressures, a refugee crisis and unstable neighbors,” John Sununu, delegation co-leader and former United States senator said.

Political and technical improvements in the 2016 elections included:

The replacement of the one-person one-vote system as a result of advocacy campaigns conducted by civil society;
In contrast to previous elections, no major political factions boycotted the 2016 polls;
Automatic voter registration, based on the national civil status database, which increased the number of eligible voters who could participate in the electoral process;
Increased technical safety features for ballots and streamlined election day procedures;
More efficient and standardized training of polling center staff;
Communication by the IEC on election day, including the timely announcing of turnout figures;
Additional efforts by the IEC to make polling centers more accessible;
Increasing the franchise by permitting polling officials and civilian employees of the security forces to vote; and
In most cases, the conduct of security officials at polling centers was professional and within their mandate.

In cases where the delegation observed problems on election day, most were quickly addressed by polling officials or the IEC.

Shortcomings remain, such as:

Although the election law prohibits campaigning within 200 meters of polling places, this restriction is routinely flouted. Active campaigning was observed directly outside many polling stations – and in some cases, campaign materials were observed inside;
Secrecy of the vote was not always ensured, as observers noted numerous instances of “public voting”, where voters declared their allegiance or displayed their votes;
While polling station staffs willingly provided assistance to persons with disabilities once in the polling station, many polling locations had very limited access to persons with disabilities; and
The counting process was slow in some polling stations because the longer ballot required by the new election system and the fact that voters could cast multiple votes complicated the counting process. The longer process of counting and verification postponed the announcement of some results 24 hours longer than past elections.

It remains to be seen whether the new law and the political system in practice will fully reflect the statements of King Abdullah and his government who have called for an empowered parliament, effective, policy-centric political parties and a politically engaged citizenry. Achieving these goals will require that the results of the parliamentary election have a direct relationship to the composition of the government, providing an environment of greater political competition and democratic incentives to which parties and candidates could respond.

See below for full preliminary statements

English version

النسخة العربية

For more information, please contact Emily Rodriguez (erodriguez@ndi.org) or Julia Sibley (jsibley@iri.org) in Washington, DC. Ramsey Day (rday@iri.org) or Arianit Shehu (niti@ndi.org) in Amman, Jordan.

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Statement of NDI Pre-Election Delegation to 2016 West Bank and Gaza Local Elections

jfrant — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 22:23:15 +0000

Author:

NDI

Publisher:

NDI

Published Date:

09/08/2016

Resource Type:

Statement

Language:

English

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized a pre-election assessment from August 24 to September 1 in advance of the October 8 local elections in the West Bank and Gaza.

On September 8, the Palestinian High Court ordered the suspension of elections in the West Bank and Gaza scheduled for October 8. The elections would have been the first democratic contest in both territories since those for the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006. The court ruled that the polls cannot take place due to disputes over candidate lists and the inability of elections to be administered in Jerusalem.

The following statement was prepared just prior to the court decision based on an assessment of the electoral environment. While the pending court case was identified as an issue that could disrupt the electoral process, the National Democratic Institute hopes that the issues holding up the polls can be resolved and local elections held as soon as possible to allow the Palestinian people to exercise their right to participate in a democratic political process.

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE PRE-ELECTION ASSESSMENT DELEGATION TO THE 2016 WEST BANK AND GAZA LOCAL ELECTIONS

Jerusalem, September 7, 2016

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized a pre-election assessment from August 24 to September 1 in advance of the October 8 local elections in the West Bank and Gaza. The purposes of NDI’s mission were to: demonstrate the interest of the international community in the development of stronger democratic political processes and governance in the Palestinian Territories; assess the prevailing political environment in the West Bank and Gaza and preparations for the polls; and identify areas where improvements may be needed to enhance the integrity of the process.

The delegation included: Owen Kirby, former Senior Advisor in the Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and currently consultant for the International Republican Institute (IRI); Paula Fynboh, National Field Director for Sandy Hook Promise and grassroots political advisor; Keith Cooper, Vice-Chair of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal and an elected director of the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators; Emily Harding, NDI’s Resident Representative for West Bank/Gaza programs; and Angela Short, Senior Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa at NDI. All aspects of the assessment were conducted in accordance with international standards as set forth in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, which is endorsed by 36 intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including the United Nations Secretariat.

During the course of the assessment mission, members of the delegation met with a range of people involved in the electoral process, including: officials from the Central Elections Commission (CEC); representatives and candidates of political parties; independent candidates; officials of the Ministry of Interior of the Palestinian Authority (PA); domestic election observers; civil society activists; pollsters; journalists; academics; and representatives of the international community. The delegation visited the key population centers of Bethlehem, Dura, Gaza City, Hebron, Jerusalem, Nablus, Qalqilya, and Ramallah to assess electoral preparations and political dynamics.

NDI and the preelection delegation appreciate the hospitality and frankness of all those who participated in the assessment and offer this statement with the hope of strengthening the development of democratic processes and institutions. In issuing this statement, NDI and the delegation seek neither to interfere in nor to render a final assessment of the election process; NDI recognizes that it is only the Palestinian people who can determine the credibility of their elections.

Summary of Observations

Political Context

On October 8, Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza will have the opportunity to elect new local councils. In the 416 cities, towns, and villages in the West Bank and Gaza, 859 political party and independent lists will run for local council seats. 193 localities will hold elections in which multiple candidate lists are competing. In 182 localities, only one list has been certified and will be awarded seats by acclamation. In an additional 41 localities no list was certified, either because none were submitted or because lists did not meet the legal requirements. According to the law citizens in these localities will have the opportunity to submit lists and participate in a second round of elections expected to take place at a later date.

Most Palestinians with whom the delegation met expressed a desire to participate in credible, competitive elections on a regular basis, and most expressed frustration at the history of postponed and canceled elections. Many viewed the October 8 polls as an opportunity to put the democratic process back on track.

Since Hamas’ victory in the 2006 legislative elections and the subsequent division of the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinian governance has experienced a number of setbacks. In both territories, governments have harassed or arrested political opponents, and shut down or pressured organizations with suspect loyalties. In the West Bank, the executive branch has ruled by decree with no legislative oversight for a decade and in recent months has experienced public sector protests and incidents of communal violence leading to heavy-handed responses by the security services. Since its 2007 takeover of Gaza, Hamas has ruled the Strip through parallel government institutions and security forces that many Palestinians and international actors alike view as illegitimate. The shadow of this takeover and crackdown on Fatah supporters continues to loom large in the minds of Gazans. Not surprisingly, public opinion polls show a perceived decline of basic rights and freedoms in both the West Bank and Gaza

Few people view the local elections as the solution to these problems, but the polls do represent an attempt to address the public’s calls for more accountable and responsive government. They also represent a chance to stem the democratic retrenchment of the past few years. While local councils’ mandates are limited to service delivery and subject to limited budgets and oversight from centrally appointed governors and ministries, the local elections are politically significant for several reasons:

Hamas, the second largest party in the Palestinian Territories and the ruling entity in Gaza, is participating in the elections in both the West Bank and Gaza for the first time since it won the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in 2006. It remains identified as a terrorist organization by most Western governments, which is likely to cause reverberations within the West Bank and Gaza, Israel, and internationally depending on the October 8 outcome. Hamas’ participation also raises questions about democratic norms and democratic elections as it has not renounced violence or given up arms, yet is a contestant in a political process which should represent peaceful political competition.
The elections will be the first time that a new generation of voters will have the opportunity to choose from across the political spectrum, with nearly 25 percent of registered voters not old enough to have participated in the January 2006 parliamentary vote.
The October 8 polls will be the first elections called by the PA since 2006 that will include citizens in both the West Bank and Gaza and will take place on time—four years since the last municipal elections held in the West Bank in October 2012. In this regard, these polls are a meaningful democratic exercise in holding regular elections for Palestinian citizens.
In 2006, Hamas ran a well-organized campaign and is anticipated to do the same for this upcoming vote. While Hamas has not participated in formal polls for local or national-level elected bodies since 2006, the movement has demonstrated its continued influence in the West Bank through university and union elections. Hamas has compiled lists of technocrats rather than political figures in order to allay fears of repercussions from voting for Hamas-branded lists, and to demonstrate to citizens it can address the service delivery requirements of municipalities. Hamas’ participation will make the election competitive, therefore making for a more robust campaign environment, but may also give rise to security concerns. There have already been reports of Hamas members being arrested by Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority security forces and the Israel Defense Forces.
For citizens in Gaza, these polls represent the first elections of any kind in ten years. While Palestinians in the West Bank have had the opportunity to participate in university student elections, labor union elections, and elections for other bodies, Gaza has had no parallel democratic exercises since the 2006 legislative elections.
The Palestinian Authority is allowing Hamas to administer elections in Gaza. Schools, teachers, and security forces are instrumental in election day administration and during the campaign period. While the recognition of these institutions is only for election purposes, it represents at least temporary legitimacy of the Hamas apparatus in Gaza and coordination between Hamas and Fatah. However, a court case has been initiated in the West Bank to challenge the legitimacy of Hamas-run institutions to administer elections. It is unclear when a decision will be rendered.

Regardless of which parties and candidates claim victory in the elections, the power they will wield as members of local councils is limited. Governors, who oversee local councils, are appointed by the PA, as are the security forces omnipresent throughout the Palestinian Territories. Additionally, the Ministry of Local Government disburses funds for localities and is beholden to the PA and not to locally elected officials. Families and clans also wield significant power and influence, and in many localities familial ties outweigh party affiliations.

Electoral Framework

Local elections in the Palestinian Territories are conducted using a proportional representation system with closed candidate lists. Each list’s candidates are ordered based on candidate priority, but the names of the candidates will not appear on the ballot, only the names and symbols of each party, coalition, or independent list. The number of candidates in a list cannot be less than the majority of local council seats in that list’s locality. In discussions with the delegation, some candidates and observers said they would prefer to vote for individuals, rather than lists.

Each list that obtains eight percent or more of the valid votes is allocated a number of seats in proportion to the number of valid votes obtained, following the SainteLaguë method whereby a formula is used to calculate successive quotients for each list. The seats are allocated to the candidates according to the order of their names on the list. Many people, including electoral competitors, expressed confusion surrounding the electoral system, pointing specifically to the complicated mathematical formula used in the Sainte-Laguë method.

The elections law mandates a minimum level of participation of women on the local councils, and includes a quota for women on candidate lists. A council with 13 or fewer seats must include at least two women, and a council with more than 13 seats must include at least three women. If a local unit contains fewer than 1,000 voters, that council is exempt from the quota requirements. For councils with 13 or fewer seats, candidate lists must include a woman among the first five names and a woman among names six through ten. For councils with more than 13 seats, a woman must also be included in the final five names on the list. Approximately 25 percent of candidates for the October 8 polls are women, and some lists are led by women. In the West Bank town of Dura a list comprised completely of women is competing.

As referenced above, there is a court case that has been filed by a syndicate of lawyers in the West Bank to challenge the legitimacy of Hamas to oversee elections in Gaza. Lawyers argue that since the authorities in Gaza are not officially recognized, the security forces and other institutions do not have the legal mandate to conduct polls. It is unclear whether this could be used by the PA as a technical rationale to scuttle the elections.

Technical Preparations

Most people with whom the delegation met expressed high confidence in the CEC’s ability to administer the elections in an impartial and professional manner. Palestinians expect election day to proceed smoothly, and for polls to be conducted professionally and in accordance with the law. Many people display an impressive command of the electoral system, calendar, rules, and processes—a function of both the high degree of sophistication of Palestinian political actors and the CEC’s efforts to maintain regular communication with candidates and party leaders, observers, and other stakeholders.

Election and security officials expressed confidence that negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli officials will result in agreements for the movement of materials and personnel throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

Security forces in the West Bank and Gaza will be able to vote on October 6. This is the only alternative voting mechanism used in the election.

Citizen Engagement

Public opinion polls have demonstrated for some time that Palestinian citizens are supportive of elections to choose their leaders, particularly national-level leaders whose mandates expired in 2011. This interest in participating in elections is reflected in high voter registration figures: voter registration in Gaza is 91 percent of eligible voters, versus 78 percent in the West Bank. Based on conversations the delegation had, citizens are significantly more motivated to vote in the upcoming polls in Gaza, where the October 8 vote will be the first opportunity for citizens to participate in a democratic exercise of any kind in ten years.

In the West Bank, citizens in districts where multiple lists are competing seem more interested in the polls. However, as local elections occurred in the West Bank in 2012, as well as university and union elections since then, the significance of these elections is felt less in the West Bank than in Gaza.

While the official campaign period had not begun at the time of the delegation’s assessment, numerous candidates and civic activists indicated that campaigns will rely on social media in addition to traditional voter outreach tactics such as flyering and rallies. However, as many candidates are from well-known families, it was inferred that not much campaigning would be needed to educate voters about themselves.

The representation of women on lists is around five percent higher than the quota requirement. Activists in the West Bank and Gaza expressed satisfaction with this result, and activities are planned to support women candidates during the campaign period in both territories. Activists have plans to raise awareness about women’s issues through radio, brochures and murals, and also to encourage women and persons with disabilities to observe elections.

While many Palestinians think the legal age to run as a candidate should be lowered from 25 to 21, there is evidence of strong youth engagement in the elections. Young people under 30 make up nearly 70 percent of the Palestinian population, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics’ 2015 study. Individuals who have reached the legal voting age of 18 since the last local elections in 2012 and are eligible to vote for the first time in 2016 comprise close to 17 percent of current registered voters, while the total number of registered voters who are 30 and younger constitutes more than 41 percent of the overall electorate, making youth a powerful voting bloc. Organizations with a focus on young people in Gaza have reported that more than 100 youth will be involved in poll watching. Youth in other localities have plans to launch issue-based campaigns in advance of the elections. The desire to participate and cast a vote is strong, especially in Gaza.

Political Parties and Campaigns

Since 2006, Hamas and Fatah have made various attempts at reconciliation. Earlier this year there were three rounds of talks, the last of which took place in Qatar and dissolved on the first day of the meeting. There is discord on several issues about how to share power across the West Bank and Gaza, namely how to manage security forces that are allegiant to Fatah and Hamas respectively. While using local elections as a tool within the reconciliation process does not seem to be the strategy of Fatah or Hamas, local elections are likely to yield municipalities where power sharing is necessary. For example, Gaza City elections will likely produce a mixed council with Fatah and Hamas representatives where they would need to negotiate with the Ministry of Local Government for resources.

A potential sign that reconciliation could be possible is that Fatah and Hamas were able to agree at the local level and submit unity lists in some districts, most notably Nablus.

Local elections could help pave the way for Palestinian Legislative Council and presidential elections. Some speculate that local elections are logically a precursor to national elections, which could produce a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation by vote, but this is not certain. Prior to the current coordination and participation by both Fatah and Hamas in local elections, the relationship between the two movements held little hope for meaningful reconciliation.

While Fatah in the post-Arafat era continues to be riven by internal divisions that witnessed the party submitting rival lists within the same district for the 2006 parliamentary elections, it is displaying greater unity and discipline in the lead up to the October vote. Notably, single Fatah-branded candidate lists were submitted in all 25 Gaza localities.

Hamas is not branding lists as Hamas, but rather supporting independent lists of professionals (engineers, doctors, lawyers, business leaders)—a strategy employed in previous elections. Analysts estimate that clearly identified Hamas-supported lists and candidates are competing in only around ten percent or less of West Bank localities. It is thought that Hamas will likely organize its members to support specific independent lists in most other localities.

Small leftist parties have formed a coalition called the Democratic Alliance that is fielding candidates in the West Bank and Gaza. The coalition is comprised of five parties: Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA); Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP); Palestinian People’s Party (PPP); Palestinian National Initiative (PNI); and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The coalition aims to be an alternative within the polarized Fatah-Hamas landscape.

While NDI heard few specific policy proposals, candidates with whom the delegation met described a determination to keep the campaign focused on local issues. The delegation did not hear of plans for candidate debates or other forums through which citizens can compare policy proposals.

The relatively short 13-day campaign period is followed by a oneday silence period. Candidates and party representatives expressed some confusion about the definitions of acceptable activities before and during the campaign period. Some candidates also expressed concerns about equal access to media, an issue that could be exacerbated by the lack of campaign spending regulations.

Electoral Integrity and Operating Environment

While there is some faith that the security forces in the West Bank and Gaza can keep calm during the campaign period, citizens and party officials believe the elections will not operate in a fully peaceful environment. The Independent Commission on Human Rights reported that it received numerous complaints from candidates about intimidation and harassment from security forces and anonymous sources. Lack of trust and suspicion of the other has been reported from both Fatah and Hamas-leaning camps.

Fatah questions whether it will be able to operate freely in Gaza. One Fatah campaigner in Gaza City shared with NDI that Hamas gave a directive to all hotels that they cannot host Fatah events without written permission from Hamas. This campaigner also reported online bullying and slander of Fatah operatives and candidates, as well as threats from unidentified people over the telephone. On August 29 it was reported that two Fatah campaigners were kidnapped and tortured for hours in Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.

It is reported that Hamas has similar concerns about operating in the West Bank. On August 16 the sole Hamas member on the CEC was arrested by the Israel Defense Forces on charges of incitement. Palestinian Authority arrests of Hamas affiliates have also been reported.

All participating parties signed a Code of Conduct for the election period.

Recommendations

The delegation respectfully suggests that the following steps be considered to further enhance confidence in the October 8 polls, and in future elections:

The delegation recommends that Palestinian civil society organizations, political parties, candidate lists, and the media increase their efforts to generate debate and discussion on local priorities during the campaign period. Parties should have realistic platforms that address citizen priorities. Candidate debates or other public forums could provide an opportunity for citizens to compare policy proposals.
The Palestinian leadership should take all necessary steps to provide a peaceful environment conducive to the free expression of voters. Officials at all levels should ensure the neutrality of security forces and take steps to guarantee that public resources, including government funds, vehicles, communications equipment, materials, and work hours of government employees, are not used for the benefit of individual candidates or lists.
Regional actors with interest in the Palestinian elections should not intervene in or disrupt the process, respecting the right of the Palestinian people to participate in a democratic process and freely elect their officials. For example, as they have been recognized for doing to date, Israeli officials should continue to facilitate the transit of election-related materials and personnel from the West Bank to Gaza.
Following elections, the delegation recommends that authorities initiate an inclusive debate among stakeholders about the electoral system, including: the use of closed candidate lists and other elements of the proportional representation system, quotas for women, the age of candidacy, and the list certification process.
Following elections, local councils should ensure that they play their proper role in responding to citizen interests and offering the public opportunities for direct engagement. Elections should be held on a regular schedule.
Following elections, considering the complicated and nuanced environment of local politics in the West Bank and Gaza, local analysts and activists and the international community should resist viewing the results solely as a test of strength of one party over another. If the election process is completed to an acceptable standard, the desire for Palestinians to exercise democratic rights, transparency, and accountability will have been demonstrated and the credibility of local governments should be enhanced.

For further information, please contact:

Emily Harding, NDI Resident Representative, West Bank & Gaza

eharding@ndi.org

+972 (0) 54 555 7152

Angela Short, NDI Senior Program Officer

ashort@ndi.org

+1 202 728 5487

English

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Citizens Express Their Priorities: Moroccan Citizens’ Views and Preferences Ahead of the 2016 Parliamentary Elections

sruiz — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 13:58:07 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/07/2016

Resource Type:

Focus Group Report

Language:

English

Through its USAID-funded program to empower and support political parties, NDI conducted 24 focus groups in six regions of Morocco to gauge citizens’ priorities and preferences in the months leading up to the October 2016 legislative elections. Focus group participants highlighted employment, education, and healthcare as their three top concerns, underlining the need for parties to address these issues in their campaigns. NDI also observed that participants were largely open to voting for women and youth candidates, with a number of participants expressing a desire for more women to run. As Morocco prepares for the upcoming parliamentary elections, parties will need to ensure their campaign strategies, electoral platforms, and selected candidates reflect and take into account these evolving demands from citizens.

English

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NDI Launches Leadership Program Combining Technology and Democracy

jfrant — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 19:31:26 +0000

NDI is pleased to launch the Civic Tech Leadership Program in collaboration with Stanford University's Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). The program aims to cultivate tech-empowered leaders and encourage cross-cultural collaboration between innovators in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the United States. This action-oriented program will connect two audiences: civic activists who have an interest in using technology in their work and technology experts who wish to use their skills to build a more democratic and less corrupt world.

Register Now!

Supported by the Aspen Institute’s Stevens Initiative with funding from the U.S. Department of State and Bezos Family Foundation, the program consists of three components: an online course, a virtual exchange on civic technology, and a study mission for winning participants to Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. English and Arabic speakers will participate in a free and open online course offered by Stanford Online’s Technology for Accountability Lab, which includes discussion boards so participants can interact. The program is free and open to everyone. The course launches on August 9, 2016; registration is currently open.

The course includes 22 videos on seven accountability topics in English and Arabic. Presentations are by leading civic technology experts, including Larry Diamond on the importance of transparency; NDI and Mourakiboun on election tech; Sunlight Foundation on political finance; Transparency International on beneficial ownership transparency; Brazil’s HackerLab; and Tunisia’s Al Bawsala on citizen engagement in legislatures. Some presenters will also appear in webcast question and answer sessions during the course. Participants will also have the opportunity to collaborate with each other on real-world projects. Individuals who complete course requirements will receive a statement of accomplishment from Stanford Online.

Participants in the course who are from the MENA region or the U.S., and 20 to 30 years old will be eligible to apply for a follow-on component -- a virtual exchange on civic technology thatwill begin in October 2016. Participants in this second component will work together in groups to develop civic-tech project ideas based on what ideas and experiences they gained from the Technology for Accountability Lab course. Each group will develop a bilingual video to present their project idea with help from NDI resources and mentors.

Four of the best project teams from the virtual exchange will be selected for a final third component, an in-person study mission to Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C., to be held in January 2017, where participants will have an opportunity to meet decision makers, elected officials and civic tech leaders.

Published on July 20, 2016

Moving Closer to Constituents: Citizen Perceptions of the 2015 Local and Regional Elections

emalina — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 15:57:30 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

11/01/2015

Resource Type:

Public Opinion Research

Language:

English

Media Type:

Public Opinion Research

In September 2015, Moroccans voted in the first regional and local elections since the 2011 constitutional revision. The one-year period between these municipal polls and the October 2016 legislative elections presents an opportunity for political parties to gather, analyze and respond to citizen reactions to the campaign period and to Moroccan elections more broadly. As part of its USAID-funded program to strengthen Moroccan political parties’ relationships with citizens, NDI facilitated a series of focus groups in November 2015, building on two earlier rounds of focus groups in 2014 and 2015 respectively, to identify citizens’ attitudes toward campaign strategies used in the 2015 municipal elections. NDI’s findings reflected that citizens had seen improvements during this election cycle, including less observable corruption, increased women and youth political participation and more sophisticated campaigns. Participants were particularly receptive to direct contact techniques, which had a demonstrable impact on their voting decisions. Using this data, political parties and candidates can enhance their outreach methods, platforms and policies to be more responsive to citizens’ concerns in anticipation of the upcoming legislative elections.

English

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Persistent International Assistance Key to Strengthening Democratic Gains in Africa

jfrant — Thu, 19 May 2016 16:05:40 +0000

How can the United States be a more effective partner in supporting democratic development in Africa? This was the subject of a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing this week, which featured Patrick Merloe, senior associate and director of election programs at NDI. The hearing titled “Democracy Support Strategies in Africa” and chaired by Congressmen Chris Smith and Dan Donovan on May 18 was held against the backdrop of both democratic progress and democratic backsliding on the African continent.

Pat Merloe (second from left), NDI senior associate and director of election programs, testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. The panel also included representatives from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, International Republican Institute and African Immigrant Caucus. Credit: IFES/Lawrence Green

The continent has seen significant democratic gains in recent years. Nigeria’s successful elections last year ushered in the country’s first peaceful transition of political power between political parties. Cote d’Ivoire also experienced a successful election in 2015 -- a remarkable turnaround from tragic post-electoral violence just two years earlier. Kenya has seen significant progress toward democratic consolidation since 2010 political reforms ultimately led to successful elections in 2013. In all three examples, international assistance played an important role in helping to strengthen and legitimize electoral processes.

Despite these positive stories, a troubling trend of African leaders changing constitutions to preserve their own grip on political power threatens to undermine democratic gains. In his testimony, Merloe underscored that elections are an essential but insufficient condition for democracy. “Elections must be viewed as an essential part of broader political dynamics, not isolated from them,” Merloe said.

Effective democracy assistance must view democracy not as an event but as a process that extends throughout the breadth of the electoral cycle and takes into account contextual factors that might subvert credible and peaceful elections. This approach, Merloe emphasized, “highlights the multiple, long-term processes that begin far before election day, continue after it, and even connect up to subsequent elections. Indeed, the pre- and post-elections are critical and merit increased attention.”

“To ensure that elections can resolve peacefully the competition for governmental office and ensure that the will of the people provides the authority and legitimacy for government, at least three principles need to be reinforced in all electoral assistance: inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability…”

Given the importance of consistent international engagement to helping support democratic development in Africa, Merloe warned against the tendency of U.S. policymakers to focus attention and invest resources only to put out fires. “Democracy and governance funding has faced several years of cutbacks, particularly in Africa, which was reduced by more than 40 percent last year,” Merloe said.

Among five critical elections in Africa over the next year, Merloe highlighted Ghana to underscore the need for continued engagement, especially in countries where democratic development is headed in a positive direction.

“[Ghana] is rightly held out as a positive political development example, but actors across the electoral spectrum there are calling for international engagement,” Merloe said. “It is an example where focused attention can help maintain a stable anchor in an important region.”

Read Mr. Merloe’s full HFAC testimony, which include his specific recommendations to the U.S. government.

Published on May 19, 2016

EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY: Citizens of Tunisia Express Their Views

jfrant — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:17:51 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute, ELKA Consulting, MEPI

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/29/2016

Resource Type:

Public Opinion Research

Language:

English, Arabic

Focus group research, conducted from October 22 to 29, 2015, targeted 144 participants from four cities across Tunisia: Gafsa, Kef, Sousse, and Greater Tunis. The research built on thirteen previous rounds of public opinion research conducted by NDI in Tunisia since March 2011. NDI’s research solicited Tunisia’s perspectives on the performance of parliament and the government on the eve of their one-year anniversaries in office, as well as on drivers of and potential solutions to economic and security issues.

English

Arabic

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Moroccan Women Share Strategies for Achieving Political Equality

jfrant — Fri, 06 May 2016 16:04:28 +0000

Majdouline El Amani and Khadouj Slassi were among the 120 women representing eight Moroccan political parties who came together from all corners of Morocco to share successful strategies for increasing the percentage of elected women in parliament and to discuss how women can advocate for greater leadership roles within their political parties.

The two Moroccan women come from different generations, regions, political parties and ideologies, yet their paths recently came together at the Elections 2016: Women @ the Forefront Conference organized by NDI, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and supported by the Embassies of Spain and France.

Majdouline represents a new generation of Moroccan women who are getting involved in politics. This young political activist eyes light up when she talks about the two passions in her life -- cinematography and politics. Having studied in Berlin, she now teaches cinematography at the Isadac Institute in Sale and serves as director for regional and community festivals. However, her passion for politics and helping her community has also played a large part of her life, which was reflected with her recent election to her local government council. This is a young woman determined to make a difference.

If I could change one thing in my party, I would ask them to make young women a priority and to believe in them” -- Majdouline El Amani

Khadouj’s contribution to politics in Fes and her party are legendary. As a teacher, mother, community activist and former elected councillor she serves as a role model for many women political activists throughout Morocco. By sharing her experiences she exposes the realities for women candidates while also providing inspiration with her stories of perseverance. And her devotion to politics does not stop with her. Also attending the conference was her daughter who shares her mother’s same passion and commitment to politics.

There is a great awareness amongst women activists from all the political parties that we have to overcome our ideological differences and work towards a common strategy to increase women’s participation in political life.” --Khadouj Slassi

Participants mapped out their calls for action to their political parties leading up to the 2016 Moroccan elections and beyond.

In the opening session of the conference, U.S. Ambassador Dwight L. Bush Sr. set the tone for the conference by stating the 2011 constitutional amendments in Morocco “resulted in significant progress in the legal protection of women’s political rights.” Ambassador Bush Sr. went on to comment: “all that is needed now is the political will to enact these gender reforms.” The conference provided the participants with an opportunity for women to help build that political will within their parties and to affect real change for women in Moroccan politics.

Participants had access to various subject-matter experts from Spain, France, Mexico, Canada and Morocco to learn about regional and international experiences to increase the role of women in political parties and public life. The agenda included a briefing from the Association Democratique des femmes du Maroc (ADFM) on global quotas systems and offered workshops on social media, building campaign resources, and the role of women in party policy development plus message development and delivery. The conference also provided participants opportunities to meet within their caucuses to talk frankly about ideas and strategies to create more support for women candidates within their party leading up to the October 2016 elections.

Participants took full advantage of the opportunity to meet in their caucus groups. Recommendations for actions by their parties were debated and developed for presentation at the closing ceremony.

Some of the key recommendations made by the participants included:

increasing the number of women candidates on the national, regional and local lists;
implementing clear, fair candidate recruitment and selection criteria;
supplying dedicated funding to support women candidates;
adopting of voluntary party quotas to increase opportunities for women at all levels of the internal party structures and committees; and
establishing a nation committee of women, from all political parties, dedicated to gender parity pursuant to the constitution.

As the conference drew to a close, the women spontaneously broke out into song and dance to celebrate their shared experience and their proposed roadmap towards increasing the number of elected women in Morocco and increasing their opportunities within their political parties. Majdouline, Khadouj and all the women however fully understand that the hard work lies ahead. They must now engage their political party leadership and secure the necessary changes to take the next step towards political equality for women in Morocco.

Published on May 6, 2016

Getting Closer to Citizens: A Manual on Outreach for Elected Officials

jfrant — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:45:27 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

04/14/2016

Resource Type:

Manual

Language:

English, Arabic

This manual captures the lessons learned and best practices for constituency outreach, based on the experience of the 14 Moroccan members of parliament and their assistants who were trained by the National Democratic Institute.

Media Type:

Manual

English

Arabic

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Moroccan Elected Officials Share Best Practices for Constituency Outreach in New NDI Guide

jfrant — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 15:27:18 +0000

Morocco’s hierarchical political culture has not traditionally encouraged members of parliament (MPs) to engage with citizens about their priorities. Nor do citizens have much experience or confidence in raising concerns with their elected officials. This constituent gap has undermined the development of more representative and responsive government in Morocco.

Amid a wave of citizen protests in 2011, Morocco passed a constitutional amendments that expanded the parliament’s powers and included explicit provisions relating to good governance and to citizens’ inviolable rights and freedoms, with the aim of responding to popular demands for greater governmental accountability. Along with ensuing reforms, the constitutional revision has provided a legal framework for the government’s efforts to mitigate the disconnect between citizens and their elected officials.

Since 2013, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) has worked to address this problem by assisting 14 MPs to establish local offices across Morocco to engage directly with their constituents. In March, as part of this ongoing effort, NDI brought together Moroccan elected officials, political party leaders, and members of the international community for the launch of its new constituency outreach manual, Getting Closer to Citizens: A Manual on Outreach for Elected Officials (English, Arabic). The manual captures the lessons learned and best practices for constituency outreach, based on the experience of the 14 MPs and their assistants who were trained by NDI under a two-year program supported by the U.K. Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), as well as local elected officials with whom NDI collaborates through its ongoing United States Agency of International Development-funded (USAID) program in support of political parties.

Morocco Constituency Outreach Program Results
Number of constituency office visits by citizens	+32,150
Citizen casework received	+9,600
Citizen cases resolved	+2,800
Written and oral questions raised by MPs in parliament	+1,270

Khenifra MP Assistant Naima meets with Ms. Boubker to discuss her case.

MP El Bayed of Casablanca Ain Chok meets with citizens to discuss the lack of public lighting in their neighborhood.

MP Tchikito discusses the delayed opening of a hospital with hospital administrators.

Khenifra MP Assistant Naima meets with Ms. Boubker to discuss her case.

Constituent outreach is a central role of elected officials. Engaging with citizens to learn about their concerns and priorities helps elected leaders represent public interests in decision-making, and develops public trust. NDI assisted the MPs in applying constituent outreach techniques to directly engage with citizens and to advocate on their behalf. Through one-on-one office meetings, public events and door-to-door canvassing, the MPs became more closely tied to to citizens’ needs. Each MP was supported by an NDI-trained constituency office assistant, who was responsible for receiving constituents in the local office, managing casework, and liaising with the MPs.

To assist political parties and local elected officials in improving their responsiveness to citizens, the Institute has convened targeted trainings on outreach and inclusive policy development techniques, such as drafting informational brochures and holding public forums. With NDI’s help, political parties have also leveraged social media platforms and digital technologies to foster their communication with constituents.

At the launch event, NDI presented a short video it produced to highlight the dedication, commitment and effort of the 14 MPs, the MPs’ assistants, and local elected officials to engage with citizens in their community and address their needs and concerns. MPs who participated in the program shared how their experience in conducting citizen outreach helped them to better understand citizen priorities, and to ultimately be better advocates for them in parliament.

Given the novelty of constituent offices in Morocco, it was unclear whether MPs would fully embrace them as effective platforms for outreach, or whether constituents would respond positively to their efforts. Today, there is little doubt: the outreach offices have been very effective. Specific examples of this project’s impact include:

In September 2015, Khadija Boubker, a young widow struggling to support two daughters in the Khenifra region, visited MP Fouad Hajir, a participant in NDI’s constituency outreach program, to inquire about a government policy that offers financial assistance to help widows care for their children. Following an initial discussion about the new policy, which was enacted as part of the 2014 finance law, MP Hajir and his office assistant helped Khadija submit an application to the local government for assistance. Three months later, the government approved Khadija’s application and began sending her monthly payments of 350 dirhams to support care for each of her children. Khadija was extremely appreciative of the assistance she received through the constituency office. “I have to thank MP Hajir and his assistant Naima for the great service they are providing to our community. There are many illiterate widows like me in this region who feel lonely and abandoned in trying to support our children, and the constituency office offers an important outlet for us to share our problems and seek the appropriate assistance. I have told many other women about my experience in the office who have since visited the office to meet their MP. We are so appreciative of the MP and his staff.”

In April 2015, Bouaddi Halima’s son, Moncef, was born with a cleft lip and palate, a common but serious genetic malformation that can cause difficulty for infants in feeding. Feeling panicked, Bouaddi contacted MP Hajir’s office to seek recommendations for medical assistance for Moncef. After doing some research, the MPs’ assistant, Naima, found a vendor in Casablanca who could deliver a special bottle that would allow Moncef to feed correctly and get proper nourishment. Naima also identified an international organization represented in Casablanca, called Operation Smile, which specializes in facial surgery and could treat Moncef’s condition. Since April, Moncef has received ongoing treatment from Operation Smile, and is currently on track for full recovery in early 2016. “No words can explain how grateful my family is to Assistant Naima,” said Bouaddi. “Her assistance enabled my child and entire family to smile.” After discussing with Bouaddi how widespread this issue is in the Khenifra region, Operation Smile organized a medical caravan to the region to serve other infants born with this condition.

In mid-2014, Mohamed Benmouh’s house in Tiznit was destroyed by the local government without any prior notice, because it was identified as a safety hazard to neighbors due to its dilapidated condition. At a loss for how to deal with the situation, Benmouh visited MP Lahsen Bounouari’s constituency office to seek assistance. MP Bounouari and his office assistant, Mohamed Solhi, immediately contacted the Ministry of Justice to seek compensation for Benmouh. Although the process took several months, the government ultimately provided Benmouh with funding to build a new home. “I am so grateful for the assistance that MP Assistant Solhi provided to solve my case. I never thought that my concerns would be heard at the level of the parliament or national government before this experience. This office makes us feel like our MP is so much closer to the community,” said Benmouh.

NDI’s constituent outreach manual, developed in joint support from the FCO and the USAID, contains examples of successful outreach techniques in other countries that can be adapted to the needs of elected representatives in Morocco. It will serve as an ongoing guiding resource to encourage future parliamentarians, newly elected regional, and local councilors improve their citizen engagement efforts.

NDI - Middle East and North Africa

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

jordanelection.com

NDI Partners with Stevens Initiative to Inspire Tomorrow’s Political Leaders

Seeing the U.S. Election through International Eyes

“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

“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

Increased Success for Women in Jordanian Elections

“NDI’s presence and efforts in the area of women’s empowerment are quite important. The knowledge and skills I gained through the program encouraged me to run, and enhanced my opportunities to win.”

- Zainab Zubied, newly elected MP

“Through these types of partnerships, we hope to soon bring women’s percentage of representation to no less than 30 percent in all policy and decision-making and in various elected and appointed councils.”

- Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary General of Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs

Jordan Accomplishes Inclusive Elections with Expanded Role for Women

- John Sununu, Former U.S. Senator, Delegation Co-leader

"Thanks to NDI and its women's political participation program for conducting this session that clarified the elections law and covered the different aspects of the electoral system. This training will prepare us to participate in the upcoming elections."

- Hayat Al Mseami, Elected MP in the Zarqa Governorate

“While there were isolated problems, most voters were able to exercise their rights.”

- Atifete Jahjaga, Former president of Kosovo, Delegation Co-chair

IRI and NDI’s International Election Observation of Jordan’s September 20, 2016 Legislative Elections

Statement of NDI Pre-Election Delegation to 2016 West Bank and Gaza Local Elections

Citizens Express Their Priorities: Moroccan Citizens’ Views and Preferences Ahead of the 2016 Parliamentary Elections

NDI Launches Leadership Program Combining Technology and Democracy

Moving Closer to Constituents​: Citizen Perceptions of the 2015 Local and Regional Elections

Persistent International Assistance Key to Strengthening Democratic Gains in Africa

EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY: Citizens of Tunisia Express Their Views

Moroccan Women Share Strategies for Achieving Political Equality

Getting Closer to Citizens: A Manual on Outreach for Elected Officials

Moroccan Elected Officials Share Best Practices for Constituency Outreach in New NDI Guide

Moving Closer to Constituents: Citizen Perceptions of the 2015 Local and Regional Elections