International Foundation for Electoral Systems activities in Asia

Last updated

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) operates a number of election support missions in Asia. Following their elections plus approach, IFES has participated in a diverse number of programs, both enhancing the governmental organizations that directly enhance elections and enhancing civil society through the endorsement of non-governmental organizations.

Contents

Afghanistan

IFES has worked in Afghanistan since 2002 helping the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC). [1] Also, the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, an organization which includes other democracy promotion organizations, participates in additional programs in the country.

Azerbaijan

IFES began cooperation with the Azerbaijani government through their central election commission in 2000. [2] Their cooperation was renewed in 2002. [2] In 2005, the Azerbaijani CEC had 2 IFES election observers registered along with a number of other international observers. [3] IFES's support of the Azerbaijani CEC was praised by the head of the commission, Mezair Penahov. [4] He stressed that IFES has "efficient cooperation with both international organizations in the direction of raising voter’s awareness and awareness of the members of lower election commissions." [4] While coordinating efforts with the Azerbaijani CEC, IFES has consulted the UK based Association of Electoral Administrators. [5]

When USAID reviewed its programs in Azerbaijan in 2009, IFES along with NDI both made proposals to continue work in the area. [6] The International Republican Institute discontinued its partnership in these programs. [6]

Bangladesh

In 2009 IFES was commissioned by UNDP to take a series of surveys in order to check the accuracy of the digitized voter registration list in Bangladesh. [7] The poll showed that 99% of the Bangladeshi thought it was accurate. [7] This is an improvement over the previous undigitized system which had approximately 13 million ineligible votes. [7]

Indonesia

IFES helped establish the TV station Swara Channel in 1999.

A series of tracking surveys conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems between December 2003 and late June 2004 showed the popularity of each presidential candidate among voters throughout the selection and campaign periods. [8] IFES also conducted a tracking survey in the Indonesian legislative elections in 2004 which showed that not all voters knew how to vote for candidates for the new Regional Representative Council or were even aware of its existence. [9]

Between May 2007 and October 2009, USAID contracted the IFES to implement a $2.45 million contract to support the National General Election Commission. [10] IFES was among eight organizations that monitored the elections in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province during the 2009 legislative elections. [11]

Pakistan

In 2006, IFES implemented a 9 million dollar contract through USAID used to install a computerised electoral rolls system for the Pakistani government. [12] This roll system, despite its new technology, is having a considerable number of errors. [13] These errors appear to be the result of both mis-communication between the software developer, Kalsoft a division Khanani and Kalia International (Private) Limited, and errors in the programs implementation. [13]

IFES also advised the Pakistani Election Commission during the 2008 elections. [14] This election was delayed by the death of Benazir Bhutto. [14]

IFES is helping with the election official training programs in Pakistan. Part of this activity was the establishment of a Federal Election Academy. [15] This program includes the establishment of a library with the help of organizations such as USAID, NDI and UNDP. [15]

Philippines

IFES provided election observers for the May 14, 2007 elections. [16]

IFES currently supports the electoral process in the Philippines. Leading up to the 2010 elections, IFES conducted a study that determined which populations in the Philippines were least likely to vote and began designing programs to increase voter registration in these groups. [17] This program is funded by the British government in an effort to get marginalized groups, like indigenous peoples, the disabled, youths and women, ready for the May 2010 elections. [18]

IFES and USAID support Citizens CARE, an organization that bolster election reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. [19] They are carrying out a program titled "Strengthening Electoral Process through Voters’ Education and Election Monitoring in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao”. [20] This project is active in 1500 barangays in 80 towns. [20]

Timor-Leste

IFES participated in the USAID program to develop the electoral and political process in Timor-Leste, which began in 2001 and ended in 2008. [21] The focus of IFES work in the country was the development of electoral framework in processes in the country. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Palestine</span> Elections in the Palestinian territories

Elections for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) were held in Palestinian Autonomous areas from 1994 until their transition into the State of Palestine in 2013. Elections were scheduled to be held in 2009, but was postponed because of the Fatah–Hamas conflict. President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to stay on until the next election, but he is recognized as president only in the West Bank and not by Hamas in Gaza. The Palestinian National Authority has held several elections in the Palestinian territories, including elections for president, the legislature and local councils. The PNA has a multi-party system, with numerous parties. In this system, Fatah is the dominant party.

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is an international, non-profit organisation founded in 1987. Based in Arlington, Virginia, United States, the organization assists and supports elections and electoral stakeholders. Since 1987, IFES has worked in 145 countries and has programs in more than 50 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and the Americas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Election monitoring</span> Observation of an election by independent parties

Election monitoring involves the observation of an election by one or more independent parties, typically from another country or from a non-governmental organization (NGO). The monitoring parties aim primarily to assess the conduct of an election process on the basis of national legislation and of international election standards. There are national and international election observers. Monitors do not directly prevent electoral fraud, but rather record and report instances of suspicious practices. Election observation increasingly looks at the entire electoral process over a long period of time, rather than at election-day proceedings only. The legitimacy of an election can be affected by the criticism of monitors, unless they are themselves seen as biased. A notable individual is often appointed honorary leader of a monitoring organization in an effort to enhance legitimacy of the monitoring process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Democratic Institute</span> US non-profit organization to support democracy

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), officially known as the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, is a non-profit American NGO which states its mission as "support[ing] and strengthen[ing] democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Ukrainian presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 17 January 2010. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a run-off election was held between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych on 7 February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Election Commission (Russia)</span> Russian government body

The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation, also known as Tsentrizbirkom is the superior power body responsible for conducting federal elections and overseeing local elections in the Russian Federation founded in September 1993. It consists of 15 members. The President of Russia, State Duma and Federation Council of Russia each appoint five members. In turn, these members elect the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary. The Commission is in power for a four-year term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairness of the 2008 Russian presidential election</span>

The fairness of the 2008 Russian presidential election is disputed, with election monitoring groups giving conflicting reports. Most official reports accept that not all candidates had equal media coverage and that some election monitoring groups had restricted access to perform their role. Monitoring groups found a number of other irregularities, but made no official reports of fraud or ballot stuffing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Erben</span>

Peter Erben is a senior electoral manager with global experience in directing, advising and supporting complex elections in post-conflict, transitional and developing countries, usually working for or along with the European Union, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. S. Sampath</span> 18th Chief Election Commissioner of India

Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath served as 18th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of the Election Commission of India from 2012 to 2015. He succeeded S. Y. Quraishi as the Chief Election Commissioner on 11 June 2012. Born on 16 January 1950, Sampath retired on 15 January 2015 when he attained 65 years of age.

The Elections Reform Support Group (ERSG) was a forum of donors co-chaired by the United States and the European Union to coordinate the reform of the Palestinian electoral system. ESRG was founded in 2002. Members include the states of Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Also international organizations such as the European Commission, the office of the European Union Presidency, the United Nations and the United Nations Development Program participate in this program. International Foundation for Electoral Systems supported the forum in secretarial role.

The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, or EISA, is an organization founded in 1996 in Johannesburg to "promote credible elections, participatory democracy, human rights culture and the strengthening of governance institutions for the consolidation of democracy in Africa."

The Association of European Election Officials or ACEEEO was an organization of election management bodies founded in 1991 to promote the institutionalization and professionalization of democratic procedures in Europe. The organization held annual conferences to discuss theoretical and practical issues important to its members. It dissolved on 11 March 2022 in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign aid to East Timor</span> Overview of aid

Timor Leste, since its creation in 1999, has received aid from many different parts of the International Community to help stabilise this new country. Despite this international support, East Timor still has stability issues.

The Election Support Group (ESG) is an internationally sponsored organization which means to provide analysis and support to the electoral process in Pakistan. The secretariat for the group is the Pakistan branch of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

Pakistan receives foreign aid from several countries and international organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Azerbaijani presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in Azerbaijan on 9 October 2013. The result was a victory for incumbent President Ilham Aliyev, who received a reported 85% of the vote, whilst leading opposition candidate Jamil Hasanli finished second with a reported 6% of the vote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election</span>

Snap parliamentary elections were held in Ukraine on 26 October 2014 to elect members of the Verkhovna Rada. President Petro Poroshenko had pressed for early parliamentary elections since his victory in the presidential elections in May. The July breakup of the ruling coalition gave him the right to dissolve the parliament, so on 25 August 2014 he announced the early election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Azerbaijani presidential election</span>

Presidential elections were held in Azerbaijan on 11 April 2018. The elections were the first since the 2016 constitutional referendum, which extended the presidential term from five to seven years. Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev was re-elected president for a seven-year term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free and Fair Election Network</span>

Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) is the first-ever network of civil society networks in Pakistan dedicated to strengthening democracy through methodically-enacted observation and oversight of electoral, parliamentary, and governance processes. As many as 20 regional networks of over 500 tehsil-level civil society organizations are part of FAFEN, establishing its unmatched outreach to communities of people belonging to all classes, ethnicities, and religions across Pakistan. FAFEN’s work since its inception in 2006, has made it one of the most credible voices in the country for responsive, transparent, accountable, and efficient electoral, legislative, and local governance.So far, FAFEN has observed the General Elections in 2008, 2013 and 2018, Local Government Elections in 2015, and Legislative Assembly Elections in Gilgit-Baltistan in 2009 and 2015, with active support of its partner organizations as well as duly accreditation from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). FAFEN has earned an excellent reputation among various stakeholders, including the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and has been recognized as an authentic organization among political parties, civil society organizations, international community, academia, and the media. After the General Elections 2013 various political parties levelled multiple charges of rigging, on which the Supreme Court of Pakistan had formed a Judicial Commission to investigate the matter. FAFEN was the only civil society organization, which was summoned by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to share its election observation findings.

Rajiv Kumar is a former Indian Administrative Service officer. On 15 May 2022, he assumed the charge as the 25th Chief Election Commissioner of India, succeeding Sushil Chandra.

References

  1. ↑ Support to the Electoral Process (STEP). USAID Afghanistan, July 20, 2009. Accessed July 22, 2009.
  2. 1 2 IFES and Azerbaijani CEC prolong term of cooperation memorandum. AZ Today, December 16, 2005. Accessed July 08, 2009.
  3. ↑ Number of international observers reaches 1060 APA, October 31, 2005. Accessed July 08, 2009
  4. 1 2 Mezahir Penahov received representatives of USAID and IFES AZ Today, October 5, 2005. Accessed July 08, 2009.
  5. ↑ CEC chairman Mezahir Penahov visiting UK. AZ Today, March 03, 2007. Accessed July 08, 2009.
  6. 1 2 "AZERBAIJAN: THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE IS LEAVING BAKU". Eurasianet. 5 November 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 Mehboob, Ahmed Bilal. Lessons from the Bangladesh polls, The International News February 02, 2009. Accessed July 27, 2009.
  8. ↑ Results from Wave XIV of Tracking Surveys (PDF), International Foundation for Electoral Systems, 1 July 2004, p. 5, archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2008, retrieved 2009-06-28.
  9. ↑ na Thalang, Chanintira (June 2005). "The Legislative Elections in Indonesia, April 2004". Electoral Studies. 24 (2): 326–332. doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2004.10.006.
  10. ↑ "Targeted Election Management Assistance". USAID. 20 November 2009. Retrieved December 6, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. ↑ EIGHT INT'L INSTITUTIONS TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN ACEH TMCnet via Asia Pulse Data Source, April 07, 2009. Accessed July 29, 2009.
  12. ↑ Computerised electoral rolls system installed Archived 2008-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Daily Times (Pakistan), September 10, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Tufali, Mazhar. Electoral rolls are full of errors, The International News (Pakistan), August 3, 2009. Accessed August 7, 2009.
  14. 1 2 Pennington, Matthew. Pakistan Holds Election Key to Democracy. Associated Press, Feb 18, 2008. Accessed July 07, 2009.
  15. 1 2 Capacity building key to meet modern day challenges, The International News (Pakistan), July 14, 2009. Accessed August 7, 2009.
  16. ↑ More foreign observers expected to monitor 2010 polls, The Daily Tribune (Philippines) August 10, 2009. Accessed August 18, 2009.
  17. ↑ UK hopeful RP polls will push through The Daily Trinune (Philippines), July 9, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2009.
  18. ↑ Marginalized, vulnerable sectors urged to vote, Business Mirror, July 09, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2009.
  19. ↑ Manar, Malu Cadelina. Poll volunteers to evaluate monitoring, Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, August 15, 2009. Accessed August 17, 2009
  20. 1 2 Poll watchdog to evaluate foreign-funded election monitoring project in ARMM Minda News, August 15, 2009. Accessed August 18, 2009.
  21. 1 2 ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL PROCESSES PROGRAM IN TIMOR-LESTE (PDF) (Report). USAID. February 2008. pp 4-7
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.