NDI - Montenegro

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

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

December 2010

Local Partners Work to Bring Accountability to Elections

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Egyptian candidate debate organized by Partners in Change.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nicaragua Leadership Program Supports Emerging Leaders

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

Montenegrin Ministries Changing the Way they Approach Policy Making

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

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

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

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

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

Women Win, Lead in Jordan and Southern Africa

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

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

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

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

Montenegrin Ministries Changing the Way They Approach Policy Making

rrunyan — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:30:24 +0000

Full integration into Europe – through membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – is high on the agenda for Montenegro. But certain membership requirements still must be fulfilled.

One area that government ministries are addressing is communication with the parliament, municipal governments and civil society, and they have asked NDI for help. The Institute was approached by the minister of environment and spatial planning for help with internal communication and external outreach. Scott Persons, NDI’s resident director in Montenegro, explains how NDI is helping.

Full integration into Europe – through membership in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – is high on the agenda for Montenegro. But certain membership requirements still must be fulfilled.

One area that government ministries are addressing is communication with the parliament, municipal governments and civil society, and they have asked NDI for help. The Institute, which has been working in Montenegro for more than 10 years on political party development, election reform and parliamentary strengthening, was approached by the minister of environment and spatial planning for help with internal communication and external outreach.

That program has now expanded to other ministries, including the Ministry of Interior and Public Administration and the Ministry of Finance. Scott Persons, NDI’s resident director in Montenegro, explains how the Institute’s program works.

Listen to Scott explain how the ministry program got started.

What is the biggest challenge Montenegro currently faces?

The country is one of the smallest in Europe with a population of 650,000 and has only been independent since 2006. Since it has chosen to pursue membership in the EU as its top priority, the country must undergo a series of challenging reforms to achieve this goal. The ministries have found that their legacy approach to policy making is not as inclusive as it needs to be. All too often, government officials are surprised when they encounter strong citizen opposition to policies that were formed without citizen input.

How does our programming help to make the government more cohesive?

The NDI governance program in Montenegro was developed to help bring about a more open and accountable process and to give government officials the tools they need to develop a more inclusive policy-making process that considers varying interests at the beginning of the process. NDI offers ministry staff training in strategic thinking and planning techniques to help staff understand the importance of identifying a policy agenda and planning a policy development process that includes interested parties, such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), municipalities and the parliament throughout the process. Overwhelmingly, our partners feel empowered by the techniques we’ve shared and, more importantly, they realize that treating stakeholders as partners in policymaking, rather than adversaries, makes their work more effective in the end.

How does the program benefit citizens?

The program prioritizes serving citizens first. For example, several years ago the government passed a law allowing seven municipalities to establish regional landfills to address a critical problem in Montenegro: waste management However, the law was passed by the government without consulting the municipalities that would need to host these landfills. The municipalities proved unable to implement the law and deliver a critical need in these communities, which created very frustrated citizens. After a series of NDI seminars, the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning recently convened a workshop composed of municipal representatives, the Union of Municipalities, as well as stakeholders from the communal services and business community to discuss their frustrations with the current law. The work group created joint amendments to the Law on Waste Management to remedy the situation in addition to proposing changes to the Law on Communal Services. This working group represented a completely new approach of inclusive policy making that was based on the principles introduced at NDI seminars with the ministry.

Also, the Ministry of Finance has improved its communication with ministries during the budget process. As they develop the budget, they are doing a better job of including language that explains how the government plans to spend tax revenue in the coming year and why these expenditures are beneficial. During this process they ask each of the ministries to provide clear explanations of how the budget expenditures of each ministry benefits citizens. This information will also be helpful to the parliament during the budget adoption process and will allow it to be more active on budget oversight.

How is the program structured?

We have had a number of seminars and workshops with our ministry partners to help them with strategic planning, internal management and communication. We also held a session on message development and identity for the ministries. We thought it was important to identify goals and define the mission of the respective ministry. One workshop with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning focused on developing its agenda for the upcoming year, and how the ministry would engage people throughout the year on the policy issues that it will consider. We also helped this ministry introduce an internal newsletter to communicate how its policy agenda complements its stated goal of sustainable development.

We brought in trainers from Croatia and Serbia to work with members of different ministries on coordinating with civil society. It is constructive for Montenegrins to be able to hear from people from another country about how their government has made them feel more included in the policy making process over time and what they expect of their government. By taking the local politics out of the discussion, true best practice sharing takes place and offers more insight. It allows ministry employees to consider the importance of positive interaction and how their policies can improve by engaging with civil society.

What is the component that is seeking to improve communication between the ministries and parliament?

The ministries want to be able to develop improved briefing packets – small reports that summarize a particular piece of legislation for MPs that sit on the policy and oversight committees. These packets help to inform the parliament, particularly the opposition party, about policy and development issues in an effort to build consensus around what needs to be done. At our final seminar early next year with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, we will be inviting members of parliament who sit on the environment committee to attend, along with environmental NGOs, to discuss how the ministry can improve and systematize its outreach process.

What is the difference between doing parliamentary assistance, as NDI has done for some time in Montenegro, and working with the ministries?

Some elements have definitely crossed over. Early on, we were working more on basic management, organizational and time management skills needed at a staff level in any branch of government. But I think a ministry is different from a parliament because there is much more of a unified structure that enables a ministry to implement assistance more quickly. Parliaments are designed to be deliberative bodies and you have all the party caucuses and the speaker’s office, where the respective actors are managing different political expectations. A ministry does have political dimensions, but it is much more focused around a set of issues.

What is the long-term impact of a program like this?

In Montenegro, we are fostering skills and developing processes with our partners that can be replicated for any policy issue whether working in policy development, team management, coordination with the parliament, or correspondence with the community. We are also hearing positive feedback from NGOs and citizens that interact with these ministries that they have noticed a more open and cooperative partner than before. Those are some of the examples of the developments and improvements we hope to leave as our legacy.

Looking beyond Montenegro, I think this is an important piece of the whole democracy development process, as decisions are made by the executive branch in parliamentary democracies. Parliament has an important role to play in terms of policy development and oversight, but who is the first person to tackle a policy issue? It is somebody or a group of people in the ministry. Whatever the policy may be and how that policy development starts is crucial in the whole process of democracy. I think this is a natural complement to the work NDI has been doing throughout the world.

Pictured Above: Scott Persons, NDI’s resident director in Montenegro

Published December 1, 2010

NDI E-news: Colombia, Haiti, Ukraine, Bahrain | Feb. 2010

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:20:53 +0000

February 2010

Chocó Women Win 2009 Madeleine K. Albright Grant

The Departmental Network of Chocó Women of Colombia (Red Departmental de Mujeres Chocoanas) has been chosen by NDI to receive the 2009 Madeleine K. Albright Grant for its work to create greater roles for women in the region's civil and political life.

The network is an umbrella group of 52 civic organizations from 18 towns in the primarily Afro-Colombian department of Chocó in the western part of the country. It will receive $25,000 for a political training school and to create a network of women political leaders in Chocó. Both will further the organization’s mission: to help Chocoan women achieve greater equality between the sexes and encourage women’s political participation. Read more»

NDI established the Madeleine K. Albright Grant in 2005 to support organizations that create greater roles for women in political and civic life. Winners are selected from a competitive pool of applicants seeking to promote women's political participation. Past recipients include the Women’s League of Burma, the Indonesian Women’s Political Caucus (KPPI), the Mostar Women’s Citizen Initiative of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone.

The Madeleine K. Albright Grant is made possible through the generosity of the Melvin and Bren Simon Foundation.

Initiative Committees Working to Distribute Aid and Information in Haiti

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 brought suffering and destruction to a country that was already facing major development challenges. The situation on the ground changes daily as Haitian and international relief efforts try to help the millions of citizens who now lack food, water, medical care and shelter.

In response, members of a Haitian network of community organizing groups, or Initiative Committees (ICs), are mobilizing to support national and international relief efforts. Developed over more than a decade with NDI support, the ICs are present in 179 municipalities across the country and involve 35,000 Haitians and 3,500 civic organizations, including 400 women's groups.

African Experts Lay Out Recommendations for Credible Elections

Election experts and practitioners from 25 African nations meeting in Ghana last November called for the ratification of the African Union's charter on elections and enforcement of its standards to achieve more peaceful and credible elections on the continent.

The gathering, organized by NDI and nine other organizations, issued a communiqué with recommendations for standards that could mitigate conflict and improve election processes.

Ghana was chosen as the site for the colloquium because of its successful 2008 elections, which were considered credible, despite heated political tensions and a razor-thin margin between the presidential candidates.

NDI Launches Website That Adds Transparency to Afghanistan Election Data

NDI has launched an innovative online mapping tool for analyzing election data from Afghanistan's flawed Aug. 20 presidential and provincial council elections. Designed to make the data more accessible and transparent, the site uses demographic, ethnographic, topographic and security information. The tool also identifies areas that had significant electoral irregularities.

Using a data browser that provides tools to manage a series of maps, filters and overlays, the site provides numerous ways to segment and visualize raw vote count data. Visitors can run customized queries with the results displayed as lists, charts and maps. The website uses all open source software and makes the data easily available for download in CSV format.

NDI Partner Groups Commend Ukrainian Elections, Offer Recommendations for Sunday's Runoff

After the Jan. 17 Ukrainian presidential election, two NDI partner groups that had observed the election issued statements hailing the vote as an improvement over the 2004 presidential poll but also citing shortcomings that they said should be addressed before the runoff on Feb. 7.

Both Opora and ENEMO highlighted procedural and organizational problems with the vote, including updates made to the voter lists on election day and uneven enforcement of provisions regarding mobile voting (voting from home). Both groups directed their recommendations to the Central Election Commission, which has jurisdiction over the issues.

Youth Leaders Declaration from Belgrade Summit Seeks Regional Cooperation and Peace

With the goals of increasing communication and fostering a network of politically active youth across Europe, NDI co-sponsored a three-day summit in Belgrade that brought together young people from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to address issues of war crimes, rule of law, discrimination and xenophobia.

On the final day of the summit, the group released "The Belgrade Declaration," which pledged to strengthen their ties with their governments, promote new political values and use new technologies to improve communication and understanding.

Bahrain Women’s Union Calls for Action on Domestic Violence Law

The Bahrain Women's Union (BWU) launched an advocacy campaign last month calling for a law against domestic violence. The campaign kicked off with a march to demonstrate public support for addressing the issue, followed by a roundtable for MPs to discuss the cultural roots of domestic violence and ways to legislate against it. The Kingdom currently has no laws or government policies to address domestic violence, despite the fact that it has seen a sharp increase in domestic violence reports over the last four years.

Before the launch of the campaign, NDI worked with the activists to refine their advocacy plan and strategy for reaching key decision makers and allies.

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

NDI E-news: African Elections, Serbia, Cambodia | June 2010

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:11:19 +0000

June 2010

Delegations Praise, Suggest Improvements for African Elections

Keith Jennings, NDI's Southern and East Africa regional director, and Ambassador Nora Schimming-Chase of Namibia present the delegation's findings in Tanzania.

Elections do not begin and end on election day. Successful polls require months of pre-election preparations by candidates, civil society, election commissions and domestic and international observer groups. Successful elections also require transparent counting procedures, a timely and fair adjudication of electoral complaints and a peaceful transfer of power.

In the pre-election periods in Tanzania and Guinea, NDI fielded delegations that assessed conditions and made recommendations to improve transparency, participation and fairness in upcoming elections.

In Tanzania, elections slated for October 2010 will be a milestone in the country's democratic development. The NDI delegation released a statement praising Tanzania's electoral process for its innovation and reform, but pointing out several aspects of the process that need to be strengthened. The delegation focused especially on a July 31 referendum that could enable Zanzibar to form a government of national unity. It also focused on the Election Expenses Act, which could exacerbate the resource imbalance between the government and opposition parties, and the voter registration process, which it said still requires significant improvements. Read more»

In Guinea, where the military junta is preparing to hand over power to a civilian government after the country's June 27 presidential election, members of the NDI delegation were optimistic that the election would be conducted peacefully. Their optimism was merited when the voting proceeded in what was initially seen as a largely peaceful and fair election. In a communiqué released prior to the vote, the delegation said, "The electoral campaign is being held without clashes and major incidents." Areas cited as needing improvement were the election commission's communications with the public as well as Guinea's security forces' role in the electoral process. Read more»

These two elections, in addition to upcoming polls in Rwanda, Kenya and Niger, underscore the value of the guidelines, recommendations and a sample of best practices included in a new report from last year's Ghana colloquium on African elections. The gathering was attended by more than 100 participants from 25 African nations. The report is available in both English and French.

Citizen Hotline Launched Ahead of Ugandan Elections

In an effort to curb electoral irregularities in Uganda, DEMGroup and the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Democracy (CCEDU), both domestic election monitoring organizations, are using technology.

They have put in place a citizen hotline that Ugandans can use to call or text in concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. The comments are being collected, organized and checked out by DEMGroup and CCEDU monitors and digitally mapped on a public website to add transparency to the voting process.

The project is being conducted in partnership with NDI.

In Serbia, Five Pillars for Strengthening Parliament

As the political situation in Serbia has stabilized, attention has shifted to operation of its parliament and the lawmakers' responsibilities to constituents. Rebecca Shoot, a resident program officer in NDI's Belgrade office, discusses the Institute's work helping parliamentarians engage with the electorate.

NDI Brings Together Parliamentary Monitoring Groups in Jakarta

The efforts of civil society organizations to monitor and assess the work of legislatures was the subject of a recent meeting of representatives of parliamentary monitoring organizations (PMO) at the Sixth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The findings of a project to identify and map PMOs around the world were presented at the conference, as was an introduction to the AGORA Portal for Parliamentary Development, an online resource for sharing parliamentary best practices.

Watch the Winning Videos!

You voted for your favorites, now see who won! The Democracy Video Challenge has announced its six winning filmmakers— from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Spain, Iran, Nepal and Colombia — who earned the most votes for their three-minute videos completing the phrase "democracy is..." The six will now visit New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, where they will meet with representatives from government, democracy and other nongovernmental organizations, and the film and television industries.

Watch the winning videos»

Congress Looks to Women as Agents of Change

Women's meaningful participation in politics affects both the range of policy issues considered and the types of solutions that are proposed. In places such as Timor-Leste, Croatia, and South Africa, an increase in the number of female lawmakers has resulted in more legislation related to domestic violence, inheritance and security.

NDI President Kenneth Wollack testified about these gains at a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on "Women as Agents of Change: Advancing the Role of Women in Politics and Civil Society."

Read Wollack's testimony»

Constituents, Representatives Mix in Expanded Program in Cambodia

In Cambodia, members of the National Assembly have few chances to interact with constituents, and citizens rarely have an opportunity to express their views to their elected representatives in Phnom Penh. To address these challenges, NDI is expanding its constituency dialogue program as part of a five-year USAID-funded effort called Accountability in Governance and Politics. The dialogues are attended by 400 to 600 citizens and are similar to town hall meetings. Citizens can speak to and ask questions of their elected representatives.

Analysis: Signs of Optimism in the Balkans

Efforts in the Balkans to turn the page on a troubled past and look to democratic rule as a foundation for political stability are having an effect, according to Robert Benjamin, NDI's regional director for Central and Eastern Europe. In a recent talk, he discussed the outlook in the Western Balkans — Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia — and concluded that despite challenges the region is making real progress toward peace, stability and democracy.

"My optimistic message is that the region is stabilizing in ways we've never seen before," he said.

Read Benjamin's full remarks»

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

Analysis: Signs of Optimism in the Balkans

fgalleto — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:01:24 +0000

The Western Balkans — Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia — face ethnic divisions and other political, economic and social problems that continue to challenge stability in the wake of the violent conflicts of the 1990s. But people in the region are seeking to turn the page on a troubled past and look to democratic rule as the foundation for political stability and integration into the European Union and NATO.

Robert Benjamin, NDI's regional director for Central and Eastern Europe, recently discussed political stability in the Western Balkans at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. While Benjamin points to remaining challenges, overall he believes the region is making real progress toward peace, stability and democracy.

Here are excerpts from his remarks.

"My optimistic message is that the region is stabilizing in ways we've not seen before.

"First, for as problematic and destabilizing as the region's core issues are — principally between Serbia and Kosovo on the latter's independence and on Bosnia — the threat of armed conflict has been measurably reduced and perhaps altogether removed. Governments have eschewed militaristic policies, the armed forces are among the most reformed institutions in the region, and the international structures on the ground — both governmental and military — have ensured peace.

"Second, at a political level, there are increasing signs of cooperation between capitals. Most notably, Belgrade and Zagreb are cooperating on a host of bilateral issues, and both are proving themselves generally constructive in their relations with next-door Bosnia. For their size and prominence, Serbia and Croatia in many respects drive the region; the health of their relations sets a tone that others take their cues from. Turkey's recent diplomatic overtures involving Belgrade and Sarajevo, concurrent with what appears to be a bid for stronger economic ties with Serbia, are also welcome. Albania and Serbia are growing closer, as witnessed by the recent visit to Belgrade — and importantly, south Serbia — by Albania's deputy prime minister. Macedonia's and Montenegro's respective diplomatic recognitions of Kosovo, done not without measurable political risk at home — have also contributed to stability.

"Third, the region was conferred a "European perspective" at the 2003 EU Thessaloniki Summit, and is on track to incorporate into the European Union. Most will find their way into NATO, as Croatia and Albania have already done. For Brussels and Washington, the Balkans represent the remaining piece of the European puzzle. And for the Balkans, EU accession and NATO membership provide the ultimate security blanket. So the mutual interest is there. This year's EU visa liberalization for three of the countries, with Bosnia possibly on deck, and NATO's consideration of Membership Action Plan (MAP) status for Bosnia, help people in the Balkans look forward, not to the past.

"Fourth, even the most longstanding and intractable problems the region confronts — conflict between Serbia and Kosovo over the latter's independence, Bosnia's inability to cohere a functional system of government, and Macedonia's persistent name conflict with Greece — are playing out in an environment where they don't represent the existential threats they might have once did. For all of its vituperation, Belgrade insists that it will pursue its Kosovo policy through peaceful recourse to international law. Bosnia's situation, though politically dire, is not hitting up to the level of renewed conflict, and Athens and Skopje are circling around potential formulas concerning a workable solution to the name conflict, although, to be sure, domestic politics in either country do not necessarily favor a quick resolution.

"Finally, buttressing all of this is public opinion in the region. People don't want to go back. They want to get on with things. In poll after poll, jobs and the economy, not interethnic relations or territorial issues, top the list by a wide margin.

"Lest I sound too sanguine, and at the risk of contradicting myself, let me dent this optimistic scenario by mentioning some challenges and complications — although I still retain my core optimism."

Read the full text»

Published on June 4, 2010

Center-Right Political Party Youth Leaders Gather from across the Balkans to Form Political Network

fgalleto — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:24:50 +0000

As ethnic divisions ease in the Balkans, political parties across the spectrum are finding the need for new approaches that focus on thoughtful policy debate rather than personality and ethnicity. Young leaders in particular will play an important role in these changes.

In partnership with the VMRO-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), NDI co-hosted a meeting Feb. 5-7 of 35 young leaders from center-right Balkan political parties. At the meeting in Skopje, Macedonia, participants focused on how to attract youth to conservative values in the 21st century as well as how to tackle a wide range of issues, including those not traditionally seen as conservative.

The young people displayed an enthusiasm to leave behind the Balkans' troubled past of ethnic divisions to "set an example of multi-cultural integration and cooperation," in the words of a declaration signed at the conclusion of the meeting by the young political leaders.

Perspective at the meeting was provided by speakers from conservative parties from elsewhere in Europe who had experience with these issues. For example, Rob Thomas, from the British Conservative International Office, described the conservative experience in the United Kingdom (UK) in the early 1990s trying to modernize the party, reformulate policy and integrate new public communications techniques.

UK conservatives, he noted, began to tackle issues that were not traditionally seen as conservative — such as the environment, health care and social justice — while adhering to European conservative beliefs in a strong government, individual and economic liberty, and thriving civil society. The discussion concluded that conservative ideas of liberty, opportunity and choice should be attractive to young people and need to be presented as dynamic and forward-looking, supporting change and reform.

NDI enlisted Lucinda Creighton, a conservative member of parliament in Ireland, who spoke about her experience as a youth leader in the Fine Gael party and activist in the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP). A spokesman for the Junge Union of the German Christian Democrat Union (CDU) also presented.

At the end of the two-day meeting, the participants co-signed the declaration to establish a network of young, center-right political leaders in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The international secretaries of the parties' youth wings will coordinate regular communications to promote youth engagement on policy development.

The development of such regional networks to share experience and best practices is part of NDI's regional initiative to support political parties in southeastern Europe. NDI assists parties in the development of policy platforms that are based on ideology and represent citizens' interests. NDI has worked with mainstream parties of the left, center and right in the Balkans for more than 15 years, helping them build organizations, bring new people into politics, contest elections responsibly and work in parliament on behalf of constituents.

These political parties are striving to provide leadership as their countries move toward membership in the European Union. They face the simultaneous challenge of articulating their political identity and applying it to policy and reform initiatives, while tackling persistent issues like corruption, the economy and unemployment.

NDI conducts its regional political party initiative with the goal of helping parties in the Balkans learn from each other and from sister parties around Europe on their roles in contemporary Europe. The initiative is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and has active support from a variety of European party foundations. The British Conservative International Office and the German Konrad Adenauer Stiftung joined NDI and VMRO as co-sponsors of the event.

Building on participant engagement on ideological discussion and the need for regional networking, NDI will support these center-right party youth organizations as they work toward common priorities and promote youth engagement on policy issues. The Institute will also use discussions at such gatherings to support center-right partners as they work to articulate ideology and pursue policy reforms.

Picture above: Gerti Bogdani (second from left) is the youngest member in the Albanian Parliament. He built popularity as a mayor of a sub-municipality in the capital of Tirana by addressing constituent needs. In Skopje, Bogdani discussed how his Democratic Party (DP) gathers youth supporters and their proposed education policy reforms in Albania. He sits next to fellow speaker Lucinda Creighton (far left) also the youngest Member of Parliament in Ireland.

Published March 11, 2010

Women Social Democrats of Southeastern Europe Reach across Borders for Shared Goals

fgalleto — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:53:48 +0000

As the countries of southeastern Europe struggle to move beyond a legacy of violent conflict and consolidate their democratic institutions, women leaders play an essential role. Frequently, women serve as the vanguard of political change, willing to break with established traditions and accepted wisdom to advocate for reforms. However, women politicians in the region have little place at their parties’ decision-making tables and are frequently absent when policy is developed. To foster cooperation among like-minded women leaders in the region, NDI, from Oct. 9 to 12, convened women from Social Democratic parties for a conference on the role of women's party organizations and Social Democratic approaches to policy topics.

Forty women legislators and leaders of political party women's forums gathered to discuss their common challenges. They stressed the importance of creating a regional network to develop policy solutions, carrying out joint projects and strategies, training women party activists, and moving issues of importance to women to the top of parties’ policy agendas. The event brought together representatives of 14 Social Democratic parties from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia, and connected them with western European counterparts, including policy experts from Germany and Sweden.

With funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the event was co-organized by NDI, the European Forum for Solidarity and Democracy, the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Olof Palme International Center of the Swedish Social Democratic Party, and Socialist International Women. The Democratic Party hosted the conference in Serbia, following on Social Democratic regional party forums held in Croatia and Serbia in the last year.

Panel sessions focused on the most acute political, economic and social problems facing women from European democracies in transition, including addressing the effects of the current economic crisis, bolstering their position in the labor market, providing labor protections for working women, identifying the role of women's forums in party structures, responding to women's security concerns, and including women's policy platform issues in party agendas.

At the gathering, women legislators and senior party officials strategized on how to increase women's leadership in policy development and legislative advocacy and identify advancement opportunities for the next generation of women political leaders. They agreed to create a coordination body to spearhead establishment of a regional network that would help with these tasks.

"I support the idea to establish a network of women of Social Democratic parties, because we all need to learn from each other's experiences," said Gorica Majovic of the Democratic Party of Serbia. "We all have similar legislative frameworks. Why not use this opportunity to create a sub-network of women parliamentarians from Social Democratic parties?"

After the conference, participants from the Socialist Movement for Integration in Albania and the Democratic Party in Serbia collaborated on several bilateral projects to encourage women entrepreneurship. The Institute also sponsored a consultative visit by Sonja Lokar, a leading Social Democratic voice in Slovenia, to work with the women's wing of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) on creating a development plan to coincide with the group’s 10th anniversary.

NDI's regional party development program aims to help parties develop policy agendas and connect with like-minded parties in the Balkans and Western Europe. The program has been funded by the NED since 2005. In 2010, NDI will continue to organize similar gatherings of in southeastern Europe to encourage cross-border exchange.

Pictured above: Women leaders from southeastern Europe gathered with peers in Serbia to brainstorm solutions to common challenges.

Published November 24, 2009

Montenegro Becomes First Test for New NDI Tool to Assess Government Transparency and Accountability

rrunyan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:46:39 +0000

Countries formally applying to join the European Union must meet democratic criteria concerning transparency and accountability in their governance systems.

To help them meet these criteria, and to give citizens a sense of progress achieved in democratic reforms, NDI, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme, has developed a first-of-its-kind assessment tool that examines government performance in such vital areas as institutional checks and balances and equal treatment before the law.

The smallest of the former Yugoslav republics, Montenegro achieved independence through peaceful referendum in 2006 and is on course to join the European Union and NATO. But like some other countries in the region, it still faces challenges that point to the need for more transparency and accountability in its governance system before it can meet the EU’s membership requirements.

Since independence, Montenegro has adopted a constitution and established a number of new governing institutions. But its democratic transition has been frustrated by strong divisions between government and opposition forces that impede the ability of the Montenegrin Parliament to play a meaningful role in the governance process. Also, it is difficult for citizens to obtain information about government decisions, so they are limited in their ability assess the state’s performance.

To help Montenegro, and other countries, deal with these challenges, NDI, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme, has developed a first-of-its-kind tool that can be used to assess the level of transparency and accountability in governing systems. The diagnostic tool provides a way to define values and practices necessary for a governing system to make democracy deliver for its citizens. These include ensuring that laws apply equally to all and providing meaningful checks and balances among the branches of government.

To test the tool, NDI assessed the legal framework and implementation of laws in more than 30 institutions across the executive, judicial and legislative branches in Montenegro. NDI has supported the country’s democratic transition since 1997 through its work with parliament, political parties and civil society groups, so the Institute enjoys strong relations across the political spectrum and is well placed to produce a framework that can be accepted and used by Montenegrins themselves.

In June, NDI and the UNDP held a public roundtable to release publicly the findings of its pilot assessment to government and parliamentary officials, party and civic leaders, journalists, and the diplomatic community. A key finding was that many laws, while reflecting democratic intent, have few enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance. In addition, parliament’s oversight of government is hindered by the legislature’s inability to obtain information about what the government is doing, despite legal provisions guaranteeing all citizens the right to information from the state administration. NDI has recommended that government and parliament greatly increase their communication and the use of oversight instruments, such as hearings and parliamentary question periods, to make government officials more accountable to parliament, and by extension, the public.

NDI has distributed copies of the report to the members of the new government and all 81 parliamentarians. In the coming months, it will meet and work especially with the parliament to encourage adoption of the report’s recommendations. In addition, it will encourage NGOs to engage in the assessment process using the tool NDI has developed, which offers a comprehensive, dispassionate and empirical analysis of Montenegro’s progress toward achieving democratic standards necessary for EU membership. The full assessment report, framework and methodology are available on NDI’s Web site.

Transparency and Accountability in the Montenegrin Governance System

rrunyan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:41:50 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

02/28/2009

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

NDI has developed a first-of-its-kind analytical framework to assess the level of “good governance” in a country. With funds from the United Nations Development Programme, NDI used the framework for a pilot assessment in Montenegro that measured the degree to which its system of governance is transparent and accountable and how it measures up against the criteria for membership in the European Union. The assessment, which looked at the implementation of laws by more than 30 governing bodies across the executive, judicial and legislative branches, includes recommendations to increase accountability and transparency. The assessment tool can be used in other countries to evaluate government and public institutions and civil society organizations.

English

Attachment	Size
Transparency and Accountability in the Montenegrin Governance System	1.92 MB
Transparency and Accountability in the Montenegrin Governance System Summary	114.95 KB

Montenegro: Key Findings of Public Opinion Poll, November 2008

ggreene — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:08:55 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

01/06/2009

Resource Type:

Survey

Language:

English

This report presents and analyzes key findings from the second in a series of NDI political research in Montenegro in 2008 and 2009. The current series follows on from a series of 12 polls conducted by NDI between March 2001 and March 2004 and two conducted in 2007. The 2008 series uses a changed questionnaire that reflects current issues in society and will continue with two additional polls throughout the next year. Where possible, comparisons with previous NDI research are presented.

English

Attachment	Size
Read the results	168.3 KB

Liberal Parties in the Balkans Plot a Shared Course Toward the Future

ggreene — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:50:04 +0000

With the Croatian People’s Party (HNS) serving as host, NDI brought some 25 representatives of Balkan Liberal political parties to the Croatian capital, Zagreb, for two days of discussion about advocacy of Liberal views on Balkans issues at the European level.

Highlighting the November seminar were policy workshops on ethics reform, gender equality, national security and economic opportunity. Participants also agreed to co-sign a letter calling for Europe-wide visa liberalization for citizens in the Balkans, in keeping with the Liberal emphasis on individual liberty. The seminar built on a new network of Liberal Parties in Southeastern Europe (Libseen). NDI and the HNS were joined by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung and the Dutch People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) as event co-sponsors.

The seminar was part of an NDI initiative to help political parties in Balkan countries readying themselves for membership in the European Union (EU) and broader Euro-Atlantic networks. As they move slowly toward joining the EU as full-fledged democracies, these nations wrestle with the demons of past ethnic wars along with present-day challenges of corruption, unemployment and other ills. Among the many efforts dedicated to readying Balkan governments, civil society and the private sector for the rigors of EU membership and other Euro-Atlantic alliances, few have focused on democratic reforms needed to make the grade. And fewer still have addressed the role that political parties play in providing the vision, leadership and ideas that will deliver the region from its troubled past and move it on toward Europe.

NDI has worked with mainstream parties of the left, center and right in the Balkans for more than 15 years, helping them build their organizations, bring new people into politics, contest elections responsibly and work in parliament on behalf of constituents. This leaves little time to consider bigger questions of how parties espouse and articulate their political identity, devote energy to developing policies responsive to the public interest and provide anxious citizens with clear reform plans to see their countries through uneasy transitions.

That’s why NDI began the regional party initiative, with the goal of helping parties in the Balkans learn from each other and from sister parties around Europe on their roles in contemporary Europe. The Institute grouped its partners in Social Democratic, Liberal and Conservative groups, respectively. The initiative is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and has active support from a variety of European party foundations.

Liberal parties in the Balkans have an especially important role in championing individual freedoms in a region exiting home-grown communism. Liberal parties have served in government, particularly in such countries as Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania that have seen quicker European integration, more robust economic growth and faster development of a middle class as compared to their neighbors.

The parties gathered in Zagreb – from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia – were joined by counterparts from Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, as well as Liberal International. LI Secretary General Emil Kirjas affirmed the importance of cooperation among Liberals in the region as well throughout Europe.

The vice president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform (ELDR) party and LIBSEEN chair, Vesna Pusic, underscored this point in a keynote address. The ethnic wars of the 1990s that destroyed Yugoslavia were a betrayal of the values that its peoples share, she said, noting that peace and stability will ensue from functioning democratic institutions and civil society that span the sovereign borders that now mark the former Yugoslavia. Democracy cannot be imposed, she added, but rather will grow through the cultivation of home-grown political leaders with common understanding of shared values and issues. In this context Liberal ideas should be pursued throughout the region, she said.

Participants discussed how to form coalitions with parties to the left and right without sacrificing Liberal values, how to enhance national security without damaging individual rights, and whether gender quotas and other policies designed to promote those traditionally excluded from leadership detract from Liberal tenets on individual merit. There was also an interesting discourse on policy formation, led by Christian Moon, deputy head of U.K. LibDem policy and research center, in which he offered that party policies arising from consultation of rank and file often produce positions that don’t mesh with the inevitable compromises that occur within coalition governments seeking broad public support. What emerged through the discussions was a heightened recognition of challenges and opportunities among those who are charged with advocating Liberal ideas and values in the Balkans.

In the seminar’s wake, NDI country teams will put the discussions to good use in supporting the Institute’s Liberal partners in-country. With NDI support, HNS officials visited Kosovo in December to share their experiences in setting up party structures with New Kosovo Alliance (AKR), a new Liberal party. As well, Dutch VVD representatives were in Kosovo recently to assist the Autonomous Liberal Party (SLS), which represents Kosovar Serb communities.

Pictured above: Robert Benjamin (left), NDI director for Central and Eastern Europe, with Vesna Pusic (center), vice president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and chair of the Liberal Southeastern Network (LIBSEEN), and Boris Blazekovic, director of the Croatian People’s Party’s Political Academy, at a November conference in Zagreb, Croatia.

–

Published on Dec. 23, 2008

Montenegro: NDI Releases Results of November Public Opinion Survey

ggreene — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:03:47 +0000

Key findings of a recent NDI public opinion poll in Montenegro paint a picture of a country progressing toward membership in Euro-Atlantic structures, even while the majority of citizens have yet to see tangible benefits of an improving economy and democratic reforms. The November 2008 poll – the second in a series of four polls to be conducted over a two year period – gauged citizens’ attitudes on such issues as government institutions, reform initiatives, and Euro-Atlantic integration. While participants clearly desire a European quality of life, they still have doubts about the ability of their leaders to help improve their lives.

Among the key findings:

Fifty-six percent of respondents are satisfied with the work of the current government, a six percent decrease since May 2008. Sixty percent of respondents are satisfied with the work of their local governments, which represents a seven point decrease since May 2008.
A majority of respondents cited the cost of energy as the greatest challenge to Montenegro’s continued economic development, while more than a third of respondents believe improvements to the country’s roads should be the government’s top infrastructure priority.
A majority of respondents (54 percent) continue to believe Montenegro should not become a member of the NATO alliance.
Fifty-eight percent of respondents believe that while joining the European Union would be important to Montenegro s international relations, it will not have much affect on citizens’ quality of life in the near-term.

NDI conducts public opinion research as part of a parliamentary assistance program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Institute will work with the Assembly of Montenegro and the political parties represented therein to use the research as tools to improve parliament’s ability to adopt legislation addressing citizens’ concerns.

The poll was in the field when the European Commission released its progress report on Montenegro and during elections for the municipality of Kotor’s government. As with all polls, it is a snapshot of public opinion, in this case during the period of October 31 to November 14, 2008.

More: Read the key findings of the November poll | Read more »

Pictured above: The parliament building (background) and a park in Podgorica, Montenegro.

–

Published Jan. 9, 2009

National Democratic Institute: SMS as a Tool in Election Observation

jbowen — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:18:46 +0000

Author:

Ian Schuler

Publisher:

MIT Press

Published Date:

06/24/2008

Resource Type:

Article

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the article	424.75 KB

Montenegro

mtaqi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:52:43 +0000

In the five years since independence in 2006, Montenegro has won European Union membership candidate status and joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic stepped down at the end of 2010 after leading Montenegro for nearly 20 years; he continues to head the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists. New Prime Minister Igor Luksic has fresh momentum to address longstanding democracy challenges in government transparency, anti-corruption and judicial independence. A power imbalance between the DPS and a fractured opposition has stymied democratic progress, although civic groups are stepping forward to engage the government on critical issues. A 2011 census is renewing some concern over such sensitive issues as ethnic identity and language.

Subscribe to updates about Montenegro

NDI's Democracy Support Program

Starting in 1997, NDI helped political parties, parliament and civil society create a framework for democratic elections, convene public dialogue on policy reform, and improve legislative efficiency and organization. In parliament, NDI supported efforts to strengthen lawmaking and oversight of the executive branch through modernizing parliamentary administration, improving committee review and amendment of legislation, redesigning parliament’s website and helping members represent citizen interests in environmental, urban planning and other key issues. NDI expertise also contributed to improved rules of procedure and committee oversight hearings.

NDI helped to found and supported the development of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT). Through its election and government monitoring and advocacy initiatives, CDT has provided citizens with nonpartisan information on the democratic performance of government bodies and political parties. CDT’s monitoring of the 2006 independence referendum was particularly important in ensuring citizens that the close outcome favoring independence reflected their will.

Text messaging delivers for Montenegro election monitors»

NDI built on the above efforts by assisting three government ministries in their strategic planning, policy development, and internal and public outreach. NDI seminars on message development taught Ministry of Finance staff how to draft clear and cohesive budget talking points for ministers. As a result of NDI training on internal communication, the Ministry of Environment launched a newsletter to promote transparency and clarity in staff structure and responsibilities.

Montenegrin ministries changing the way they approach policy making»

NDI closed its Montenegro office in March 2011 but retains representation in Podgorica to continue incorporating the parliament and political parties into Institute regional initiatives. NDI expresses its gratitude to USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Netherlands government and the United Nations Development Programme, all of which have supported NDI’s democratization work in Montenegro.

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, D.C.
Kent Fogg, Senior Program Assistant
kfogg@ndi.org

Subscribe to updates about Montenegro

Pictured Above: Former Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic addresses members of parliament in plenary. Montenegrin Parliament.

NDI 2005 Annual Report

vrao — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:00:00 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

12/01/2005

Resource Type:

Report

Language:

English

Attachment	Size
Read the report	6.23 MB

NDI - Montenegro

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Montenegro: NDI Releases Results of November Public Opinion Survey

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NDI 2005 Annual Report