NDI - Partner Spotlight

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

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

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

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

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

jordanelection.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

Published on August 19, 2010

Nigerian Film Challenges Young Citizens to Engage with Elected Leaders

ntekeei — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:48:20 +0000

A civic education film recently released in Nigeria asks the question, in Nigerian pidgin, “Aftercount, I Vote Wetin?” or “I Voted, Now What?” It was made by the Youngstars Foundation, a Nigerian nonprofit organization, with the goal of encouraging younger Nigerians to stay involved in the political process between elections. The group is run primarily by young people and has reached tens of thousands of youths in rural and urban Nigeria.

Cast and crew prepare to film a scene on the set of “Aftercount, I Vote Wetin?”

Approximately one-third of Nigeria’s 170 million people are between the age of 10 and 24, according to the United Nations. The foundation seeks to inspire this large youth population to become community leaders.

The film tells the story of a young man named Jairo and his journey from citizen to activist as he attempts to bring water to his village after his sister is injured carrying water home across a dangerous intersection. With help from a local civic group, Jairo lobbies his state representative to address water access problems. In the process, he gains a better understanding of cooperation and about the power of citizens to bring about positive change.

Watch the film

Produced with technical and financial assistance from NDI, the film stars two popular Nigerian actors, Ali Nuhu and Lilian Esoro, and Nigerian musician Jeremiah Gyang, who donated their time to the film. Esoro said she joined the project because she wanted young Nigerians “to learn that it’s actually easy to communicate with the people they voted into power because their votes actually count.”

Youngstars released an accompanying handbook to help aid discussions about political engagement at viewing parties across the country. To further promote the film, the movie’s theme song will be released to radio stations across Nigeria.

“I Vote Wetin?” is the second film collaboration between NDI and the Youngstars Foundation. The first film, “My Vote Can Change Nigeria,” (“My Vote Fit Change Naija”) highlighted the importance of voting. The film reached an estimated 45 million Nigerians around the country and abroad through social networking sites, television broadcasts and youth-initiated viewing parties.

NDI has been actively supporting Nigeria throughout its recent election cycles, which have seen significant improvements over previous polls. NDI fielded a long-term international observation mission for the parliamentary and presidential elections in 2011. The Institute also provided financial and technical assistance to two coalitions of Nigerian civil society organizations that deployed more than 30,000 Nigerian domestic election monitors. NDI’s partnership with one coalition, Project Swift Count, included the use of a statistical observation method known as a parallel vote tabulation (PVT), or “swift count,” which the group used to verify the accuracy of the official results for the presidential and 11 gubernatorial elections that took place in 2011 and 2012.

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Published April 12, 2012

Persistence by Rights Group in Macedonia Leads to a Significant Win for Citizens with Disabilities

rrunyan — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:59:49 +0000

It took many years, but disabled citizens in Macedonia now legally have the right to equal treatment under the law.

The change came late last year when the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia ratified the U.N. Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a set of government commitments to give full rights to disabled persons rather than treating them as objects of charity and institutionalization. Macedonia’s ratification of the convention resulted from a long-term advocacy campaign led by a disability rights group that overcame considerable political and institutional obstacles to see its goal realized.

Poraka members visit Assembly Speaker Trajko Veljanoski to urge ratification of the U.N. Convention.

It took many years, but disabled citizens in Macedonia now legally have the right to equal treatment under the law.

Historically, Macedonia’s approach to disability emphasized segregation for disabled children, menial employment for disabled adults, and carried few if any policy tools to integrate disabled people into mainstream society. Left with few options and often confronting social stigma, many families institutionalized disabled relatives. Ratification of the U.N. convention means, in broad terms, a start to correcting past wrongs and to the meaningful integration of disabled citizens into the country’s social and economic life.

Heading the effort for ratification was the Republic Center for the Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability, or Poraka, a nationwide, nongovernmental organization representing the rights and interests of more than 20,000 Macedonian citizens with intellectual disabilities. It engaged members of parliament and the public in a wide-reaching campaign that included lobbying party leaders, publishing opinion pieces and organizing international conferences to garner the parliamentary support needed to ratify the convention, which the government had signed in 2007.

That effort began in earnest in 2009, when Poraka decided it needed help navigating the political and legislative process in Macedonia and approached NDI for assistance. The Institute was involved in a multi-year program funded by the National Endowment for Democracy to support legislative advocacy efforts by Macedonian civic groups. With NDI training on public outreach, media relations, and policy assessments, Poraka developed a legislative strategy and public awareness campaign that eventually led to ratification. Along the way, the group built an advocacy model that could be used by other civic activists in the country.

“This campaign was a long time coming and we are so delighted that our hard work paid off,” said Vasilka Dimovska, program manager at Poraka. “The experience really transformed the way we as an organization think about legislative advocacy and our role in the democratic process. We will apply the lessons learned as we begin to monitor how the convention is carried out.”

Poraka’s campaign began with an opinion column in one of the biggest dailies, Dnevnik, arguing for immediate ratification. At the same time, Poraka designed and produced campaign materials, posters, leaflets and an informational brochure under the banner: “So that Rights Become a Reality!”

Poraka leaders went on the road to brief chapters around the country on the initiative and to strategize on how to lobby members of parliament in their home districts. Poraka representatives met with MPs across the country in 20 constituency offices that NDI had helped to develop five years ago. They even lobbied Assembly Speaker Trajko Veljanoski during a tour of the legislature.

Despite Poraka’s best efforts, politicians missed promised deadlines for ratification, including the 2010 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

A signed pledge by a political party, promising ratification within the first 100 days of the new parliament

But disappointment bred determination to put more pressure on the government. A political crisis last year that led to early elections in June gave Poraka another opportunity--this time in the heat of the election campaign.

Assisted by NDI, Poraka designed an election strategy that involved gathering written pledges from leaders of the main political parties to ratify the U.N. Convention within 100 days of the new parliament convening. In two weeks, Poraka secured pledges from 10 parties. The campaign was widely covered by the national press; Poraka representatives appeared on TV, radio and in national newspapers almost every day during the campaign.

While success did not come within 100 days, parliament did ratify the convention, by unanimous vote, this past December – in time to mark the 2011 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Ten days later, PORAKA and NDI organized a roundtable on the ratification and the related obligations for the Macedonia government. The event gathered more than 60 participants from organizations and groups active in the disability equality movement, and was opened by the Minister for Labor and Social Policy.

At the celebratory gathering, the discussion turned to the challenge of ensuring that words on paper in 2011 lead to real improvements in people’s lives in 2012.

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Published on March 27, 2012

Responding to Citizen Concerns, MPs Work to Expand Health Care in South Sudan

fgalleto — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:31:15 +0000

Doctors and nurses from a U.N. hospital in South Sudan are treating patients in Munuki and Kator, two communities outside the capital that had no access to health care until now. The presence of the hospital staff grew out of a town hall-style meeting that was a first-time opportunity for residents of those communities to meet with their elected members of parliament.

A member of the Bangladeshi medical corps checks a patient's blood pressure in Kator. Photo by Victor Geri Ayub, NDI resident officer.

These meetings, known as constituency dialogues and organized by the South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SuNDE), in partnership with NDI, are new in South Sudan. During the session in Munuki, MPs described how the three branches of government work and explained what MPs can and can’t do — something that citizens may not yet be familiar with in the world’s newest democracy. When the floor was opened for questions, lack of access to health care topped the list of constituents’ concerns.

After the dialogue, SuNDE and NDI organized a meeting with MPs to figure out how to address that problem. MPs reached out to the Bangladesh Army Medical Corps, which staffs the U.N. mission’s hospital in Juba, the capital, and then met with the state health minister to see how the two could partner. The government reached an agreement with the hospital staff for them to provide medical care in those communities.

The program began Feb. 27. Hospital staff are in Munuki on Mondays and Kator on Wednesdays. Doctors provide preventative care as well as basic surgeries. More complex cases are referred to the U.N. hospital for treatment. All services are free.

At a ceremony inaugurating the program, Hastin Yokwe Anisio, deputy speaker of Central Equatoria State where Munuki and Kator are located, thanked the Bangladeshi corps for going above and beyond their mandate. "I hope our people will benefit from this service," he said.

Tongum Rombek , one of the MPs present at the dialogue, emphasized that this solution had originated with the people. “The constituency dialogue connected me with a large number of people,” he said. “They asked questions and we explained to them what we can and cannot do.”

SuNDE and NDI plan to hold 120 constituency dialogues in all 10 states of South Sudan in the coming year.

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Published March 8, 2012

Teen Activist Receives Pakistan's National Peace Award

fgalleto — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:17:29 +0000

Malala Yousufzai, a 13-year-old girl from the tribal area of Swat, has been awarded Pakistan’s first ever Peace Award for Youth for her bravery in reporting the details of a bloody Taliban insurgency in the region.

Yousufzai wrote anonymous diaries for the BBC that related how the Taliban were blowing up schools for girls and engaging in killings and beheadings. In the absence of media reports, Yousufzai’s was the only voice the world was hearing from Swat.

Yousufzai (left) address an NDI political parties event.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani presented the National Peace Award to Yousufzai, which he said is now named for her and will be conferred annually on an outstanding Pakistani under the age of 18.

“I convinced my friends and other classmates of the importance of education and told them that our primary education will decide our future,” said Yousufzai. She said she pleaded with girls and their parents not to bow to Taliban threats against girls’ education and successfully convinced many families to continue educating their daughters. “I am thankful not only to the students but also to their parents for honoring my requests and sending their daughters back to school.”

Yousufzai is an active member of Awami National Party, which participates in NDI programs. In June 2011, she participated in an NDI-sponsored youth policy development workshop in Peshawar.

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Published Jan. 26, 2012

Colombian President Signs Anti-Discrimination Law

ntekeei — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:08:21 +0000

A landmark anti-discrimination law, described by one supporter as “an homage to equality,” was signed into law last month by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. For the first time, it levies prison sentences for acts of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or nationality.

The law is “a form of justice,” said President Santos. “It was time to get tough on this and to ensure the protection of the rights of those discriminated against.”

A group of activists gathered outside the senate just moments before initial passage of the law.

The law is “a form of justice,” said President Santos. “It was time to get tough on this and to ensure the protection of the rights of those discriminated against.”

The legislation was in large part the result of tireless efforts by two local NDI partners. A key figure behind the bill’s drafting and passage was Luis Ernesto Olave, national coordinator of Afro-Colombian issues for the Independent Movement of Absolute Renovation (MIRA), the political party that introduced the bill. Olave participated in NDI’s leadership program for emerging political leaders last year.

The law will “settle an historic debt with the Afro-Colombian population, which continues to face racism,” said Senator Carlos Baena of MIRA.

The legislation originally sought to address racism alone, but to ensure passage, Representative Alfonso Prada of the Green Party expanded the bill’s scope to include discrimination against other vulnerable groups. He was the one who described it as “an homage to equality.”

In the lead-up to passage, NDI helped arrange meetings of the Afro-Colombian Round Table to identify how political parties and Afro-Colombian civic groups could work together to support the legislation. The Institute helped create the forum, made up of party and civil society leaders, to discuss how best to work with legislators on Afro-Colombian issues.

As a result of one of the meetings, more than 60 women’s, Afro-Colombian and LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) leaders coordinated a visit to the Senate on the day of the vote to advocate for its passage. These leaders included groups from the heavily Afro-Colombian department of Chocó and the post-conflict Montes de María region, where NDI focuses its work in Colombia.

Working with all eight major parties to encourage inclusion of under-served sectors of society, NDI helped several parties create secretariats for women and for ethnic affairs. These played an important role in garnering congressional support to pass the anti-discrimination bill.

“With the passage of this law, Congress takes a step forward in recognizing vulnerable populations,” said Germán Rincón Perfetti of the National Secretariat of Women for Peace (Mujeres por la Paz).

NDI provided information and tools to political parties involved with the Afro-Colombian Round Table on representation of Afro-descendant communities. The Institute’s work in Colombia focuses on helping integrate under-represented groups into the political system and on protecting their rights. Colombia’s Afro-descendants, who are concentrated in coastal areas, have long been discriminated against and face high hurdles for achieving effective political participation. Eighty percent of Afro-Colombians live in extreme poverty.

Discriminatory practices have made it particularly difficult for Afro-Colombians and women to win elective office. In response to a new requirement on parties that 30 percent of candidates be women, NDI trained hundreds of Afro-Colombian women candidates from coastal areas on skills needed to run for office.

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Published Dec. 20, 2011

Guatemalan Quick Count Aided Public Confidence In Presidential Runoff Results

ntekeei — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:10:43 +0000

Election observation efforts by Guatemalan citizen groups, including NDI’s partner Citizen Action (Acción Ciudadana), helped increase public confidence in the integrity of last month’s presidential runoff election and head off a repeat of problems associated with the first round of voting.

A Citizen Action data entry volunteer enters data from an observer into a database.

Election observation efforts by Guatemalan citizen groups, including NDI’s partner Citizen Action (Acción Ciudadana, AC), helped increase public confidence in the integrity of last month’s presidential runoff election and head off a repeat of problems associated with the first round of voting.

During that initial September poll, candidates and parties raised concerns about delays in the release of results, which were also blamed for several incidents of violence, including the burning of election materials.

For the Nov. 6 runoff, AC, the Guatemalan chapter of Transparency International, released projected results that confirmed the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral, TSE) results. AC’s quick count tally, based on its observations at a statistically representative sample of polling places, differed by only 0.22 percentage points, well within the count’s 1 percent margin of error.

For both elections, AC dispatched approximately 3,500 observers to the country’s 333 municipalities, working as a member of Election Watch (Mirador Electoral), a coalition of citizen groups that organized observation activities for both rounds. Observers noted that during the second round Guatemalans were able to vote without problems at 93 percent of the observed polling stations, a 20 percent increase from the first round. During the runoff, 97 percent of observed polling stations had party poll watchers from two parties. Observers help parties independently verify the impartiality of poll workers and whether there are irregularities in the election process.

The runoff pitted former army general Otto Perez Molina of the Patriotic Party (Partido Patriota) against businessman Manuel Baldizón of the Renewed Democratic Freedom Party (Libertad Democrática Renovada). Despite expectations of a tight race, Perez Molina won 54 percent to Baldizón’s 46 percent.

With NDI assistance, Guatemalan election observation groups, including Election Watch, will draw on their election reports to help develop and advocate for electoral reforms to improve future elections. Campaign spending is one area expected to receive attention; both participants in the runoff far surpassed the campaign spending limit set by electoral law and regulated by the TSE.

From the May 2 start of the campaign period through the end of the second round on Nov. 6, AC’s Anti-Corruption Legal Assistance Office (Centro de Asistencia Legal Anticorrupción) received over 500 complaints related to the electoral process. During the first round, reports included illegally transporting voters for one municipality to another, vote buying, voter intimidation and campaigning outside of the permitted campaign period. There were fewer reports during the second round.

Nearly half of all problems reported involved voters whose names were missing from the voter registry, and almost one-third involved ballot shortages. In the first and runoff rounds, some 17 percent and 7 percent of voters, respectively, experienced problems related to identification cards—such as the fact that some were damaged and therefore not accepted. As Guatemala transitions to new voter cards, both old and new ID cards were accepted, adding a complicating element to the voting process.

Prior to the election, approximately 1.3 million voters were added to the voter rolls — particularly women, youth and indigenous people. This meant that for the first time women represented the majority of the seven million registered Guatemalan voters. According to electoral authorities, turnout among registered voters was approximately 69 percent during the first round and 61 percent during the second round —considerably greater than the 2007 elections, when turnout in the two rounds was 60 percent and 48 percent, respectively.

Mirador Electoral Members

Citizen Action (Acción Ciudadana, AC)
Association for Development, Organization, Services and Sociocultural Studies (Asociación para el Desarrollo, la Organización, Servicios y Estudios Socioculturales, DOSES)
Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, FLACSO)
Central American Institute for Political Studies (Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Políticos, INCEP)
More Women, Better Politics (Más Mujeres, Mejor Política, MMMP)
National Network of Mayan Youth Organizations (Red Nacional de Organizaciones de Jóvenes Mayas, RENOJ)

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Published Dec. 9, 2011

Lebanese Group Using New Policy Platform to Advocate for More Humane Drug Law

ntekeei — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:05:35 +0000

In 1998, Lebanon revised its drug law, decriminalizing drug addiction and treating it as a public health issue, a first step toward viewing addiction as a social and health problem. But in the years since, judges and civil society representatives have found shortcomings in the statute, which they say include a lack of access to healthcare and a tendency to ignore drug users’ civil rights. Tired of waiting for government action, civil society organizations across Lebanon have begun advocacy campaigns of their own.

A forum held by PolicyLebanon.org yields discussion on domestic policy issues.

As they advocate for change, they complain that the government is too focused on geopolitical and regional issues and doesn’t pay enough attention to drug use and other domestic policy concerns such as equal access for the disabled, urban planning and animal welfare.

Tired of waiting for government action, civil society organizations across Lebanon have begun advocacy campaigns of their own. On the drug issue, Skoun, a coalition of community and medical organizations receiving support from NDI, has begun pushing for better implementation of the 1998 law and for medical facilities and social services to be in place to address the needs of substance users.

To support Skoun and many of the other Lebanese nongovernmental organizations seeking solutions to domestic policy problems, NDI created the Public Policy Initiative (PPI), which helps groups share information, tactics and successes, and works with them to research and create solutions to Lebanon’s most pressing issues.

As part of that effort, PPI launched PolicyLebanon.org, a “one stop shop” for civil society groups looking for data and like-minded partners. Resources on the site range from academic papers to reports and studies from international and local organizations. Users include Lebanese researchers, civic groups, the media and citizens hoping to find out more information about domestic issues they have an interest in.

PolicyLebanon.org also hosts the Public Policy Forum, a series of debates and discussions that looks at domestic policy issues from a range of viewpoints. In front of a live audience, guests from the public and private sectors debate issues pertinent to the daily lives of citizens. The debates are in a town hall format, with citizens asking questions and interacting with guests. The next Public Policy Forum will debate ways to improve drug policy, with Skoun members presenting their ideas and getting feedback and support from the audience.

With the support of the PPI, Skoun is pressing its advocacy work for a more humane drug law, meeting with key lawmakers to get their feedback and support. The group is also distributing its information in communities across the country and hopes to introduce a bill in parliament in the near future.

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Published Oct. 19, 2011.

Liberian Elections Generally Peaceful, Orderly

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, voting was not free of challenges, including:

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

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

Related:

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

In Zambia, Official Results for Presidential Election Accurately Reflect Votes Cast

fgalleto — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:10:36 +0000

Zambians went to the polls on Sept. 20 to vote in presidential, parliamentary and local elections. The Civil Society Election Coalition (CSEC), made up of eight civil society groups, fielded election monitors across the country to observe the electoral process before, during and after the vote. The group issued a preliminary statement on the voting process, finding the election process, while not perfect, was generally smooth and peaceful.

Following the Electoral Commission of Zambia's release of the final vote count, the CSEC stated "with great confidence" that the official election results accurately reflect the ballots cast.

The CSEC collects election monitors' reports at the data center in Lusaka. Photo by Chris Doten, NDI senior program officer.

Following the Electoral Commission of Zambia's release of the final vote count, the CSEC stated "with great confidence" that the official election results accurately reflect the ballots cast.

Here is its press release:

Based on official results as recorded by polling officials at these polling stations, the CSEC can state with great confidence that the results for the presidential election as announced by ECZ Chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima accurately reflect the ballots cast on Sept. 20.

The Rapid Response Project (RRP) deployed 985 highly-trained, accredited monitors to a representative, random sample of 710 polling stations in all 150 constituencies of the nine provinces of Zambia.

The RRP used a technique that has been developed and applied in more than 30 countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

The findings of the RRP are consistent with the official results as announced by the ECZ, meaning that the official results reflect the votes cast by Zambians. The RRP estimates for the presidential election have a margin of error of +/- 1.4% at a 95% confidence interval. It is important to note, the RRP estimates are based on information from all 150 constituencies while the official results from the ECZ reflect the 143 constituencies announced as of 12:30 a.m. Sept. 23.

In the CSEC’s view, the elections generally met international and regional standards for democratic elections. The CSEC Steering Committee appeals to Zambians, especially all political parties and their supporters, to act responsibly and in the interests of the nation. Zambians have been able to exercise their democratic rights and therefore we are all winners regardless of how we voted. Once again, Zambia has been able to demonstrate a good example for Africa for democratic elections and peaceful transitions of power.

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Published Sept. 21, 2011. Updated Sept. 23.

Sudanese Youth Express Democratic Values through Art

rrunyan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:15:51 +0000

To help give young Sudanese a voice, caricature art has become a civic education tool. Political cartoons provide a platform where they can express their views on important issues and engage others, including Sudanese who cannot read.

To strengthen those skills, young Sudanese artists participated in a training program at the Ahfad University for Women, Sudan’s leading women’s education institution, sponsored by one of NDI’s partners, the Babiker Badri Scientific Association for Women’s Studies.

One of the political cartoons drawn by a participant

Finding innovative ways to reach those who feel excluded from politics can be a daunting challenge, particularly in countries with high illiteracy rates and little tradition of political engagement.

Sudan is one such location. After years of civil war that ended with the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, southern Sudanese voted earlier this year to create their own nation, the Republic of South Sudan, which came into being on July 9. The decades of conflict stalled progress in many areas, increasing the need for political involvement, especially by young people, as both Sudans adjust to the changed governmental landscape. As the next generation of leaders – in politics, civil society and industry – their participation is critical.

The training covered democratic principles and practice, human rights and the role of caricature art in shaping attitudes and behavior. Afterward, the artists, who were also activists, journalists, academics and women leaders, produced caricatures on such topics as sectarianism, corruption and the horrors of female genital mutilation for an exhibition attended by representatives of government, civil society, media and the general public. At the exhibition, the young artists had the opportunity to explain the cartoons and articulate their views on democracy in Sudan.

The training and exhibition were the first phase of the Babiker Badri Scientific Association’s “Enhancing Youth Political Participation in Sudan” project. The next phase will feature a four-day democracy and human rights training for Sudanese young people from universities, youth clubs and associations in Khartoum. Participants will learn public service skills, including democratic practices, organizational development, strategic communications and leadership.

The participants will then lead five forums on democracy and human rights at five different universities in Khartoum that will provide hundreds of Sudanese youth with an opportunity to engage in constructive debate, share ideas and deepen their understanding of democratic concepts. The goal of the forums is to encourage civic participation by those who take part in the training sessions.

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Published August 29, 2011

First Class of Nicaraguan Leadership School Ready for Political Careers

rrunyan — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:32:09 +0000

The first class of graduates from Nicaragua's Certificate in Leadership and Political Management (CLPM) program are poised to jump into political careers. Already many class members have announced they will run for office in November, and some have been promoted to leadership positions within their parties.

During the strategic planning session, a group of participants from several civil society organizations work together to create a problem tree.

The first class of graduates from Nicaragua's Certificate in Leadership and Political Management (CLPM) program – which NDI reported on late last year –are poised to jump into political careers. Already many class members have announced they will run for office in November, and some have been promoted to leadership positions within their parties.

The five-part training program took place in five locations across the country: two locations in the capital, Managua; Matagalpa in the north; and Bilwi and Bluefields in the Atlantic coast regions, where most of the country’s indigenous and Afro-Caribbean citizens live. The different components focused on leadership, strategic planning, political communication and negotiation, and democracy that delivers results for citizens, including traditionally marginalized groups such as women, indigenous peoples and Afro-decendents.

Nearly 70 percent of Nicaraguans are under the age of 30, but young people in the country remain disengaged from politics and government. They also are increasingly dissatisfied with political parties and government institutions, according to the findings of a recent NDI Democracy Survey.

To bring young people into the political arena and help build the next generation’s confidence in government, a consortium of Nicaraguan and international educational institutions created the CLPM to provide political training opportunities to young women and men. The age of the CLPM’s first class ranged from 16 to 35. The 415 students who received their certificates included 191 women and 224 men – 274 young party officials from 12 different political parties and 141 participants from over 70 civil society organizations.

NDI helped organize the consortium, which includes the American University (Universidad Americana, UAM), the University of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast Autonomous Regions (Universidad de las Regiones Autónomas de la Costa Caribe Nicaragüense, URACCAN), the Institute for Development and Democracy (Instituto para el Desarrollo y la Democracia, IPADE) and the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM).

NDI and its partners expect that, as participants progress across various fields, they’ll have opportunities to bring democratic values to a wide array of professions, including but not limited to politics.

“The seed to promote a political, economic and social transformation in Nicaragua in the next 20 years has been planted in our classroom,” said one of the students who spoke at the graduation ceremony. “Such a transformation will prove that politicians can respect the law and its institutions, and simultaneously alleviate poverty and guarantee our nation’s well-being.”

To strengthen the ties developed during the workshops, CLPM organizers intend to go beyond coursework and help form a strong alumni network. Both organizers and graduates have pledged to involve this year’s graduates in working with the upcoming CLPM classes and to seize opportunities to collaborate to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.

“Considering what we’ve learned,” one political party participant said, “I hope we can find equilibrium in which political parties and civil society share common understandings and, furthermore, where we can build together a more democratic Nicaragua.”

The CLPM is an annual program to be carried out over five years with approximately 500 participants per year from civic organizations and all major political forces. The next class will kickoff in January 2012. The program is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Related:

Published July 28, 2011.

Civic Group Invites Nicaraguan Citizens to Participate in Election Monitoring

rrunyan — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:03:09 +0000

As Nicaragua prepares for national elections in November, the domestic observation group Ethics and Transparency (ET) is ramping up efforts to engage citizens in election monitoring activities and a demand for free and transparent polls.

Through a new website, www.vivaelvoto.com, launched June 28, the group is bolstering an ongoing campaign asking all Nicaraguans to become citizen observers and report any electoral problems that compromise the process.

Citizens can report rights violations and other abuses through the interactive website. A map of Nicaragua shows the location of different types of irregularities as they are reported and verified.

The citizens’ reports are grouped into five categories: violations of citizens' rights; lack of voter information; electoral campaign irregularities; intimidation, threats and conflicts; and administrative irregularities. To ensure accuracy, reports may be published on the map only after the information has been verified in the field by one of ET’s 240 expert volunteers.

A member of the Ethics and Transparency group fields questions from reporters at the launch event.

In a country where the last elections generated accusations of fraud and electoral authorities have announced plans to limit national and international observer credentials for November’s elections, the website is a way for all Nicaraguans to become active observers and report incidents that violate their right to free and transparent elections. Reporting can be done by phone, mobile text message, email or in person to ET volunteers working in municipalities.

The website is a key component of a broader ET civic education and participation campaign focused on encouraging every Nicaraguan to become an observer and demand fundamental components of a credible election, including access to a national identity card, fair electoral campaigns, universal suffrage, and a transparent process to count votes and publish results.

NDI provided technical assistance to ET to develop the website and produce promotional materials that will strengthen the “Viva el voto, que gane el voto” campaign, which translates to “Long live the vote, let the vote win.”

The Institute has worked in Nicaragua to strengthen democratic institutions and practices since 1990. This year, NDI is supporting nonpartisan election monitoring by local civil society organizations to promote transparency and the integrity of the national elections, monitor the national identification card distribution process, and provide civic education on electoral reforms and the electoral process.

Related:

Nicaraguan press coverage of the website launch in Spanish in La Prensa and El Nuevo Diario
Nicaragua Leadership Program Supports Emerging Leaders »
Egyptian Civic Group Launches Website to Get Out the Vote for November Polls»
Nicaragua 2009 Democracy Survey: Sharp Drop in Confidence in Public Institutions »

Pictured above: The homepage for vivaelvoto.com

Published July 7, 2011.

Armenian Women Set Priorities for Increasing Political Participation

fgalleto — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:31:30 +0000

More than 300 Armenian women from different political parties, civic organizations, government agencies and geographic regions came together for a two-day conference in Yerevan last month to discuss policy solutions to the challenges they all face. Together, they called for increasing women’s political and economic participation, better access to health care and a reduction in domestic violence.

While women make up more than half of Armenia’s population, they won just 12 of 131 seats in the last parliamentary elections in 2012. Men’s average monthly salary is more than one-and-a-half times that of women. The 2010 report by the World Economic Forum ranked Armenia 106 out of 131 countries for political representation and empowerment of women.

The “Women in Politics” conference, hosted by NDI with support from the United States Agency for International Development, produced a draft policy platform that women’s groups and political parties can use as a blueprint for change. In the political and economic areas, for example, the women proposed creation of a quota to increase women’s representation in national and local elected bodies and the passage of a gender equity law to improve business opportunities and working conditions for women.

In addition, all but a few conference participants signed a letter to the president of Armenia requesting a 30 percent quota for women on political party electoral lists. They also asked that women be placed on the lists at regular intervals, such as every other spot. Currently, 15 percent of a party list must be women, but their names are often placed near the bottom, where they are less likely to get elected. Under a list system, voters choose a party rather than an individual candidate. The number of seats the party wins is determined by its percentage of the vote, and the people who fill the seats are determined in the order they appear on the list.

Regarding health care and domestic violence, the platform proposed that the government fund preventive testing and health services for all women over 18, and that it pass legislation establishing a legal definition of domestic violence consistent with international norms. It is hard to combat domestic abuse effectively in Armenia — both legally and with public education campaigns — because people’s ideas vary on what domestic abuse is.

The women leaders plan to use the document to encourage political parties to address the issues as they create campaign platforms for next year’s parliamentary elections. It also offers potential platform planks for women who are considering running for office. Civil society groups can advocate for and monitor progress in how the recommendations are carried out.

The recommendations will be refined over the next several months by working groups focusing on the individual issues. The groups will include conference representatives, including women from both the capital of Yerevan and the regions, and political party and civil society members. Experts from academia, international organizations and government bodies also will be invited to lend their expertise.

The momentum and publicity surrounding the event had an immediate effect. In a speech the day after the conference, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan called for increasing the number of women in the executive and legislative branches to 30 percent. There is currently no quota for women serving in the executive branch and the few who do serve mostly as support staff.

A week after the conference, the National Assembly voted on a new election code, which included a requirement that women constitute 20 percent of party lists and, for the first time, that every fifth candidate after the second spot be a woman. These quotas would be some of the most progressive in the region. But there are two ways that parliamentarians are elected: by party list or by single member district. In the latter arrangement, a candidate runs to represent the district and its residents rather than the political party. The Armenian parliament is comprised of 56 single member district representatives and 75 members from party lists.

The draft election code also helps women seek single member seats by reducing the fee to run from 2.5 million to one million Armenian dram ($6,602 to $2,641). This provision will encourage less-established candidates with fewer resources, which women often are. In the last parliamentary elections, only five women competed for this type of seat and none was elected. The draft election code has passed the parliament and is awaiting the president’s signature.

Update: President Sargsyan signed the electoral code into law on June 14.

Related:

Pictured above: Women split into small groups to draft parts of the platform.

Published June 24, 2011. Updated July 6, 2011.

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

rrunyan — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:28:14 +0000

Elections last week in the Sudanese state of South Kordofan were generally well conducted despite a number of deficiencies, according to the findings of a citizen observation group, the Sudanese Group for Democracy and Elections (SuGDE).

Active participation by political parties, improved management of materials and polling committees, and the absence of violence and voter intimidation during the voting period were among the positive steps, SuGDE reported. “However, certain deficiencies remained in other aspects of the election, including late dissemination of voter information and inadequate management of the voter registration process,” the statement said. SuGDE also noted concerns “over incidents of vote buying and campaigning at the polling committees.”

The Southern Kordofan elections were originally slated to take place in April 2010, as stipulated by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that ended the Sudanese civil war, but the polls were delayed by disputes over the national census and voter registration. The National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Sudan’s two major political parties, were battling for control of this key border state.

SuGDE also highlighted in their statement their “concern about rising tensions in the state,” a reference to an ongoing dispute between the National Election Commission (NEC) and the SPLM over voter discrepancies and the fact that both the NCP and the SPLM claimed a gubernatorial victory before the release of official results. The group urged “…all parties to continue to observe the counting and tabulation process peacefully and to deal with all disputes through appropriate legal mechanisms.”

The results of the election were to be announced May 10. However, since then there have been numerous unresolved disputes between the SPLM and the NEC that have kept the commission from completing its tasks. The NEC aims to issue preliminary results on May 15, but has not set a release date for final results.

Related:

Pictured above: Members of SuGDE enter Southern Kordofan election observer data.

Published May 13, 2011