NDI - Morocco

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

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

Attachment	Size
Morocco Focus Group Report (English)	468.28 KB

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

Attachment	Size
Morocco Focus Group Report 2015 (English)	784.01 KB

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

Attachment	Size
Download in Arabic	3.86 MB
Download in English	3.85 MB

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.

Campaign Schools Mobilize Thousands Across Middle East and North Africa

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

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

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

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

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

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

Click the infographic to view the full size version.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more:

Published on December 22, 2015

Promoting equal access: Moroccan CSOs support right to vote of persons with disabilities

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 16:12:59 +0000

Morocco has made a number of positive steps recently to protect the rights of people with disabilities, but significant barriers still exist that limit the equal participation of these citizens in the country’s political processes. People with disabilities are at risk of being denied basic political rights, such as the right to vote, due to factors that include social stigma, discriminatory legal frameworks and lack of accessible public infrastructure. Through recent reforms, the Moroccan government has shown commitment to ensuring the political and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.

A observer trainer from the Collective for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPD) discusses election observation strategies during an NDI workshop.

According to a 2004 study conducted by the Moroccan Secretariat for Family, Children and Disabled Persons, more than 1,530,000 individuals, or 5.12 percent of Morocco’s population, have some type of disability. The study also found that one in four families is directly or indirectly affected by disability issues and has an active interest in protecting the rights of people with disabilities.

Despite making up a sizeable portion of the population, people with disabilities are at risk of being denied basic political rights, such as the right to vote, due to factors that include social stigma, discriminatory legal frameworks and lack of accessible public infrastructure.

Through recent reforms, the Moroccan government has shown commitment to ensuring the political and social inclusion of persons with disabilities. Morocco ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009, and the revised constitution, which was adopted in 2011, specifically protects the equal rights of persons with disabilities. In addition, Morocco’s election code now requires polling station staff to provide necessary assistance to persons with disabilities to enable them to vote.

Despite these reforms, there are still a number of areas where people with disabilities remain excluded. During the 2011 parliamentary elections, most polling stations were not properly equipped to allow access for persons with disabilities, and most persons with disabilities were not aware that polling staff are required to provide any assistance necessary to ensure their ability to vote. Political parties have also been slow to adopt inclusive policies and practices to engage this important block of voters.

The Collective for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPD) has partnered with NDI to advocate for greater political inclusion of people with disabilities, with a particular focus on the electoral process. Through its work with political parties, CPD is helping formulate policy recommendations to address the needs of persons with disabilities and incorporate their priority issues into party platforms for Morocco’s 2016 legislative elections.

CPD has also strengthened its efforts to improve participation in elections by assessing barriers faced by persons with disabilities on election day. During the September 2015 local elections, CPD conducted a statistically rigorous audit of polling station accessibility. The pilot project included 43 CPD observers, who audited 200 of the 4,566 polling stations in the Rabat/Sale/Kenitra region. During the project, which was conducted with the assistance of NDI, CPD used a sample-based methodology, an international standard for election observation that allows for efficient collection of data from representative sample of polling stations. Transportation issues limited the ability of observers to reach 6 of the 206 polling stations in the sample, but did not impact the reliability of the study’s results.

During the pilot project, trained mobile observers were equipped with an audit form that was developed with NDI assistance, which included eight questions measuring two indicators of polling center accessibility. The indicators were designed to measure ease of access, such as ramps for wheelchairs, and the extent to which the voting booths and ballot boxes were easy to use for people with disabilities. Observers reported their findings to the data collection and communication center.

The audit revealed that fewer than 25 percent of the polling stations observed were accessible to people with disabilities and that less than 50 percent of the voting booths and ballot boxes were designed at a proper height to enable people using wheelchairs to be able to vote without assistance. Building on their findings, CPD developed a series of recommendations to improve voter accessibility before the 2016 legislative elections, which it presented at a press conference on September 15. The press conference was covered by several local and national news agencies, including Hespress, Lakome and Kafapresse. CPD also published a video on youtube to raise awareness of accessibility issues for persons with disabilities ahead of the elections.

Over the next year, the CPD plans to share its recommendations with the Ministry of Interior, Morocco’s electoral management body, and to support the ministry’s development of an implementation plan. CPD will also continue to support the efforts of political parties to better engage with and address the needs of persons with disabilities.

NDI will hold a debrief session with CPD this fall to discuss lessons learned from the pilot audit and prepare plans to conduct a national audit during next year’s legislative elections. These findings will provide a wider set of data on accessibility across the country and reveal if progress has been made between election periods.

Published on October 7, 2015

Issues of Concern: Citizen Perspectives on Party Policy Solutions, Morocco, March 2015

smajestic — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 17:28:58 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

03/01/2015

Resource Type:

Focus Group Research

Language:

English

Moroccans have been frustrated with the slow pace of reforms envisioned in the revised 2011 constitution, and increasingly see political leaders as disconnected from their everyday concerns. To help political political parties address this frustration with more responsive outreach and policies addressing citizens’ priority concerns, NDI organized a series of focus groups in February 2014 to identify Moroccans’ priority issues and public perceptions of political parties, which revealed that citizens overwhelmingly prioritize employment, education, healthcare and infrastructure as areas where improvement is most needed. Building on those findings, NDI conducted a second round of focus groups in early 2015 to more deeply explore citizens' reaction to parties' proposed solutions to policy priorities identified through the previous round of research. NDI is assisting political parties in using research findings, discussed in detail in the following report, to develop more effective policies and election platforms to broaden participation in the September 2015 municipal elections and legislative elections expected in 2016.

National Democratic Institute

English

Attachment	Size
NDI Morocco Focus Group Report, Issues of Concern - Citizen Perspectives on Party Policy Solutions.pdf	526.7 KB

Civic Updates

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

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Resource Type:

Civic Update

Language:

English

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

Moroccan MPs Focus on Citizen Outreach in Visit to British Parliament

blesswing — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 14:42:39 +0000

In Morocco, citizens rarely have the opportunity to interact with their members of parliament (MPs), particularly outside of election season. This is partly because the Moroccan parliament does not have an established tradition of citizen outreach, nor does it provide MPs with guidance or resources on how to communicate with constituents.

“There is a big difference between the working environment of MPs in the United Kingdom and Morocco. In the UK, parliament provides MPs with everything they need to perform their representative role,” said MP Naima Rebbaa.

To address these concerns, NDI is involved in an ongoing program, supported by the U.K. Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO), to help Moroccan MPs establish better connections with citizens so they can improve how they represent the public’s concerns in parliament.

As part of this program, NDI traveled with Moroccan MPs to London in February so they could observe how the British Parliament helps its members connect with constituents. The delegation met with MPs, parliamentary staff, oversight bodies and citizen groups to understand not only how the parliament supports its members’ citizen outreach, but also why.

Moroccan MPs meet with Matt Ringer, head of information for the British Parliament, to discuss how elected officials can improve outreach to citizens.

The visit coincided with parliament’s “Open Day,” an annual event where various UK parliamentary bodies offer information sessions for MPs, parliamentary staff and citizens on new casework management and constituency services. Matt Ringer, head of information for parliament, described how he made parliamentary proceedings more accessible through public events like Open Day, as well as through regular media outreach and an interactive website.

The delegation also met with parliamentary staff to discuss strategies for connecting with citizens, and how to incorporate constituent priorities into public policy. Nitin Mehta, customer coordinator for parliament, said that parliament should treat citizens like clients. Parliament’s director of research, Bryn Morgan, described how public opinion research helps MPs draft policies that are more in tune with what constituents want, which in turn helps improve the reputation of parliament.

The trip also focused on how parliamentary oversight of finances can help promote transparency and accountability by elected officials. The delegation visited the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which parliament established to manage and monitor all of the MPs’ expenses and allowances to prevent abuse. IPSA representatives described how they publish all of the MPs’ expenses online. Impressed by IPSA’s work, the delegation expressed interest in adopting a similar system in Morocco.

“The IPSA plays an important role in regulating MPs’ expenses and pensions,” said MP Ahmed Touhami. “The pension process for Moroccan MPs is criticized for being non-transparent, so we need to study how a similar body could benefit Morocco.”

Moroccan MPs meet with British MP Clifton Brown (pictured second from left).

In conversation with British MP Meg Hillier, who represents the London districts of Hackney South and Shoreditch, the delegates traded stories about their challenges as elected representatives. Hillier described how in her early days in Parliament she struggled to build credibility as a woman and was often mistaken for a staffer. The anecdote particularly resonated with Moroccan MP Naima Rabaa, the only woman in the delegation, who described her own challenges building credibility as an elected representative and advocate for women’s rights. The secret, according to Hillier, was to spend a lot of time meeting with constituents personally and reaching out to citizens through social media.

As a follow-up to the trip, the Moroccans plan to produce a report with recommendations that will be shared with colleagues in Rabat. “We are well aware of the importance of outreach and would like to explore new mechanisms that we learned about in the UK model,” Touhami said.

With further funding from the FCO, NDI will conduct a feasibility study this summer to gauge the potential for the Moroccan parliament to adopt its own constituency outreach program, and what such a program may look like. NDI will produce a report of its findings, including recommendations for how the parliament could structure an outreach program, to share with parliamentary leadership. The Institute will also provide technical assistance for parliament to conduct a civic education campaign on its role.

Published on April 15, 2015

Sandra Pepera

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

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

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

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

Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, September to November '14

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 19:29:52 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

11/11/2014

Resource Type:

Newsletter

Language:

English, Arabic

English

Arabic

Attachment	Size
Arabic - Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, September to November '14	2.49 MB
English - Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, September to November '14	2.15 MB

Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, June to August '14

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 14:24:51 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

08/10/2014

Resource Type:

Newsletter

Language:

English, Arabic

English

Arabic

Attachment	Size
English - Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, June to August '14	1.8 MB
Arabic - Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, June to August '14	2.19 MB

Experts to Discuss Critical African Elections at NDI

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 22:09:17 +0000

Author:

National Democratic Institute

Publisher:

National Democratic Institute

Published Date:

09/25/2014

Resource Type:

Press Release

Language:

English

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The implications for democracy of 30 African elections slated through 2016 will be discussed next week by senior Africa experts during a briefing and roundtable discussion at the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

The event will be held on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 9:30 a.m. at NDI, 455 Massachusetts Ave., NW. It is cosponsored by NDI and the Constituency for Africa (CFA).

Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and a member of the NDI Board of Directors, will open the forum. Panelists are Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI regional director for Central and West Africa programs; Keith Jennings, NDI regional director for Southern and East Africa programs; Jeffrey England, NDI deputy director for Middle East and North Africa programs; and Richard Klein, senior advisor for NDI Elections. Kenneth Wollack, NDI president, and Melvin Foote, president of the Constituency for Africa, will provide welcoming remarks.

Thirty African countries are slated to hold elections between now and the end of 2016. They are Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

The conduct of the elections and their outcome could help consolidate nascent democratic institutions and practices across Africa. But if they are viewed as flawed, the elections could result in violence, protracted conflict and democratic backsliding.

The event is part of the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs discussion series sponsored by the CFA.

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.

Every year, CFA holds the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs series in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend. The program is named for the late Commerce Secretary, Ronald H. Brown, who was a leader in forging ties between the U.S. and Africa.

###

WHAT: NDI/Ron Brown Roundtable Discussion on “Critical Elections in Africa 2015/2016”

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.

WHO: Johnnie Carson, former assistant secretary of state for African Affairs;

Kenneth Wollack, NDI president; Mel Foote, president of the Constituency for Africa (CFA);

Christopher Fomunyoh, NDI regional director for Central and West Africa programs;

Keith Jennings, NDI regional director for Southern and East Africa programs;

Jeffrey England, NDI deputy director for Middle East and North Africa programs; and

Richard Klein, senior advisor for NDI Elections

Moderated by
Jennifer Cooke, director, CSIS's Africa program

WHERE: National Democratic Institute, 455 Massachusetts Ave, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001

Attachment	Size
Event invitation.	115.24 KB

NDI - Morocco

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

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

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

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

Campaign Schools Mobilize Thousands Across Middle East and North Africa

Promoting equal access: Moroccan CSOs support right to vote of persons with disabilities

Issues of Concern: Citizen Perspectives on Party Policy Solutions, Morocco, March 2015

Civic Updates

Moroccan MPs Focus on Citizen Outreach in Visit to British Parliament

Sandra Pepera

Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, September to November '14

Morocco Constituency Outreach Newsletter, June to August '14

Experts to Discuss Critical African Elections at NDI

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