#program updates

[democracyinternational]

DI Supports Local Capacity in Liberia

By: Democracy International’s Elections and Democracy Activity in Liberia team

Grants to local organizations are a crucial component of Democracy International’s USAID-funded Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), which aims to provide civic education and support for women's political leadership in the run-up to elections in Liberia in October 2023. Challenges to getting information about the election process and invigorating participation outside the capital city of Monrovia persist, however. Additionally, local organizations often find it difficult to prepare high-quality proposals for outside funding, and the level of participation of women in grant delivery has also been disappointing. To address these issues, DI and its partner IREX created a series of county-level "Applicant Conferences" at each call for grant proposals. This has furthered our commitment to localization, quality proposals, and organizational development for civil society organizations (CSO) and community-based organizations (CBO) across all 15 counties in Liberia.

Thus, in June 2022, DI and IREX held Applicant Conferences for the civic education grant process in Bong, Gbarpolu, Montserrado, and River Gee, hosting 140 people from 123 organizations in day-long gatherings. The goal was to describe in detail the objectives of the grant and the detailed requirements for the application, answer a wide variety of questions, and distribute copies of all materials (also available online). In July, we repeated this same process in Maryland County, Montserrado County, and Nimba County with another 157 participants from 111 CSOs and CBOs for those interested in the program’s Women’s Leadership grants.

The Applicant Conference and subsequent meetings with applicants provided the opportunity for DI to emphasize with potential grantees its requirement that women play key roles in CSOs receiving grants and in the project delivery, not just as recipients or participants in project activities and outcomes. By drawing in more women-led CSOs and more women from CSOs in this grant process, the Applicant Conferences and additional one-on-one meetings with applicants gave DI and IREX further insight into the organizational development needs of many of its potential partners as well as an opportunity to work with them to co-create specific programs. This reinforced our program decision to invest in capacity-building of groups and women CSO leaders through these grants.

Through the Applicant Conference, co-creation process, and commitment to the organizational development of all grantee partners, the CSOs in the program's orbit will be stronger and better equipped to continue to address the needs of a more diverse set of Liberians, especially outside the country's capital. As a result of DI’s intervention through the EDA, the quality of grants focused on civic education and women's leadership in Liberia is stronger, reflects a more diverse set of players, and engages Liberian organizations at the local level.

Even those who joined the process but did not receive grants under the program improved their skills for seeking future funding and are likely to fare better in subsequent applications to any program funder, not just USAID. This outcome can only help these CSOs serve the people of Liberia better. With elections coming later this year, the EDA has made seven grants to advance civic voter education and women's political leadership—launched through this applicant conference process—that are all now underway with hundreds of Liberians engaged across the country.

Photo credit: Supporting Citizen Initiative for Development in Africa (SCIDA), an EDA grantee

[democracyinternational]

Poll Workers, the “Unsung Heroes” of Liberia’s Elections, Celebrated by the National Elections Commission and USAID

By: Democracy International’s Elections and Democracy Activity Team

Through the Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA) poll worker essay contest in 2022, poll workers are finally getting the recognition they deserve on Liberia’s national stage. The contest offered an opportunity for local poll workers to share their stories and inspire others to get involved in the electoral process.

Historically, the National Elections Commission (NEC) has found recruiting local poll workers challenging, requiring a need to bring in workers from Liberia's capital, Monrovia, to more remote areas of the country. This influx of poll workers from outside local communities contributes to a misperception by some that the NEC “controls” the election from elsewhere. When the NEC hires poll workers from within local communities, however, confidence in the election process rises.

The EDA advertised a call for essays by poll workers nationwide describing their experience during elections to increase interest among citizens in becoming a poll worker in their communities, called "My Duty, My Country, My Future." The EDA extended the call for more stories into May, which resulted in dozens of essay submissions from all regions of the country. With stories of challenge and triumph, all equally lauded the power of contributing to Liberia's democracy through this form of service.

A selection committee of seven EDA, NEC, and USAID staff chose three essayists who most exemplified the role: Marroline Nohn Dangan, an election day queue controller in Sanniquellie District #2, Nimba County; Michael T. Yennego, a queue controller in Electoral District #10 in Monrovia, Montserrado; and Othello B. Seekie, a queue controller in the 2020 Special Senatorial election in Bandaquoi Town District #2, Grand Bassa County.

The USAID Mission Director hosted an award ceremony for the winners to celebrate their contributions. With the full Board of Commissioners in attendance, as well as remarks from the US Ambassador, the NEC Chairwoman, and the EDA Chief of Party, the event demonstrated that "This program represents a great partnership between the National Elections Commission, civil society organizations, and the United States Government," as noted by Ambassador Michael McCarthy.

Following the ceremony, the winners joined a talk show to read their essays and discuss their experiences further. The EDA rebroadcast the show on 18 more community radio stations around the country and published the essays in two nationally syndicated newspapers.

The EDA's domestic election monitoring partner, the Election Coordinating Committee, joined the call inviting Liberians to support the NEC as poll workers or volunteer monitors to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in 2023 and beyond. By featuring and celebrating poll workers in advance of the NEC's call for more in 2023, this activity will encourage more Liberians to participate and can increase the expression of civic duty and confidence in the process. In early 2023, the NEC's Board of Commissioners called on the contest winners to serve as "ambassadors" as voter registration and poll worker recruitment began. With a history of election-related violence in Liberia, this celebration of the poll workers directly involved in delivering elections in their communities is a significant contribution toward advancing the security of all Liberians.

[democracyinternational]

Elections and Democracy Activity Helps Liberia’s Elections Coordinating Committee Receive First USAID-funded Grant

By: Democracy International’s USAID-funded Elections and Democracy Activity Team

For more than a decade, the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) has worked to ensure the trust of Liberian citizens in the country’s electoral process. Established in 2010, the ECC is the largest domestic election observation network in Liberia comprised of seven civil society organizations (CSOs) to observe elections, report on election results, and make recommendations on electoral reform. Despite monitoring two general and presidential elections and several special elections and by-elections, the ECC did not qualify for direct funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

With the help from Democracy International (DI) and the USAID-funded Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), the ECC made strides toward becoming eligible for direct USAID funding. Furthering efforts to localize elections processes in Liberia, through the EDA, DI supported the ECC to register and to build its institutional capacity to become eligible for a direct award from USAID before Liberia’s general elections this coming October.

Under EDA, DI provided both technical assistance and a transitional grant to the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG), an ECC steering committee member, as DI helped the ECC update its registration and open bank accounts as a separate legal entity. DI also provided the ECC with funding to activate its Secretariat, develop its constitution, craft its strategic plan, set up a financial management system, and establish a Board of Directors. After less than a year and having achieved the milestones under the initial grant from CDG, the ECC received its first standalone grant from DI as a CSO.

The ECC's National Coordinator, Barwudu Johnson-Williams, attributes the partnership with EDA for the gains made that shifted them from "functioning on an ad hoc basis, with minimum staff capacity, and in the absence of primary institutional policies" to "a more professional Secretariat taking the lead on all ECC operations and activities, with an updated website, five-year strategic plan, and strengthened system."

Following these efforts, and under that grant, DI continued to work alongside the ECC to improve its governance systems, establish a full spectrum of operational policies and procedures, secure long-term office space, and update its website. By mid-September last year, DI recommended to USAID that the ECC was ready for consideration for a direct grant. As a result of the ECC’s improved capacity, USAID awarded the ECC with its first direct award this past February, an outstanding achievement for both the ECC and the EDA.

This direct USAID award will greatly advance the ECC's independent work moving forward, ensuring its critical election monitoring and electoral reform advocacy continue beyond the life of this project. "The Liberian people listen to the ECC," said Commissioner Boakai Dukuly of Liberia's National Elections Commission. DI will continue its partnership with the ECC to support Liberian voters' continued trust in their electoral processes through the 2023 National and Presidential Elections and beyond.

[democracyinternational]

Democracy International Deploys Election Observers for Liberia's By-Elections as a Part of the Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA)

November 18, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Xav Flowers, EDA Chief of Party [email protected]

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Democracy International (DI) congratulates the people of Liberia for their peaceful participation during the November 16, 2021, House of Representatives by-elections conducted in Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, and Nimba Counties. We applaud the National Elections Commission (NEC) and NEC polling staff members for their effective and professional administration of these elections. Amid the persistent COVID-19 pandemic, we observed the NEC and poll workers enforcing health and safety protocols to ensure that voters could safely cast their ballots.

After receiving accreditation from the NEC, DI deployed a total of 18 observers across three electoral districts in Bomi, Bong, and Nimba counties, as well as to the Data Center of the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), Liberia’s largest domestic election observation network. The effort was part of the Elections and Democracy Activity (EDA), which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). EDA observation teams arrived in each county two days ahead of the by-elections to conduct a pre-election assessment of the precincts where they would observe polling. EDA observers checked in with the NEC’s magistrates’ offices and the Liberia National Police county offices and spoke with domestic and international observers, media, and others. On Election Day, the teams observed a total of 110 polling places in 24 precincts. Throughout the day, EDA observation teams noted the presence of accredited international and domestic observers as well as political party agents and representatives of independent candidates at the polls, contributing to the transparency and credibility of these elections. EDA observed Liberian security forces providing security in the polling precincts without any interference at polling places.

Due to the limited scope of this observation mission, DI is unable to offer a comprehensive assessment on these by-elections. DI continues to analyze reports from media outlets and other election observation groups, including EDA partner, the ECC. With support from EDA, the ECC was able to deploy 93 observers across all four counties and oversee the real-time result tallying from its central data center in Monrovia.

Throughout the electoral period, DI repeatedly heard from Liberians—elections administrators and voters alike—of their strong commitment to fair elections, strengthened democracy, and continued peace. We observed women and youth exercising their constitutional rights to vote. We also observed poll workers assisting people with disabilities to access the polling centers and supporting elderly people to cast their ballots. Where EDA was able to observe, the overall process was transparent and followed procedure.

DI calls on the people of Liberia, candidates, and political leaders to respond peacefully to the NEC’s official announcement on the results of these by-elections. We encourage political parties and candidates to use established procedures to report grievances through the electoral dispute resolution mechanism established by the Election Law and the Constitution of Liberia. We call on the NEC to adjudicate complaints in a fair and timely manner and to adhere to the established timeline for the inauguration of newly elected leaders.

Democracy International provides analytical services, technical assistance, and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance, and conflict mitigation programs worldwide. DI has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice sector institutions, and others in more than 80 countries. Since 2003, DI has organized election observation missions, deployed specialized election study teams, supported citizen observer groups, and advised election management bodies for over 50 elections in more than 20 countries. DI is a signatory to the Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Election Observation, adopted at the United Nations in 2005.

This press statement is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of Democracy International, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

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[democracyinternational]

Democracy International Sends Team to Country of Georgia Municipal Elections

Democracy International congratulates the people of Georgia for their participation and the Central Election Commission and election workers for their effective administration of municipal elections in the country of Georgia on October 2, 2021. The elections took place despite a challenging political climate and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These were the first elections following recent electoral process reforms intended to increase transparency and consensus.

At the invitation of the Central Election Commission, Democracy International deployed a small technical team to follow the municipal elections. The team observed polling stations on Election Day and spoke with election officials, domestic election monitoring organizations, civil society leaders, and government officials, as well as representatives from the international community. It also analyzed reports about the election process and monitored real-time media coverage. Because the mission was limited in scope, Democracy International cannot offer overall conclusions about the fairness of the process.

Democracy International calls on all political leaders, government officials, and citizens to work toward peaceful, democratic resolution of political polarization in Georgia. We encourage the Central Election Commission, civil society groups, political parties, and citizens to continue to focus on ensuring an effective, fair process in future elections, including the second round of municipal elections planned for later this month. We encourage the international community to support democratic processes and transparent, citizen-focused inclusive governance in Georgia.

Democracy International (DI) provides analytical services, technical assistance, and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance, and conflict mitigation programs worldwide. DI has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice sector institutions, and others in more than 80 countries, including Georgia. Since 2003, DI has organized election observation missions, deployed specialized election study teams, supported citizen observer groups, and advised election management bodies for over 50 elections in more than 20 countries. DI is a signatory to the Declaration of Principles and Code of Conduct for International Election Observation, adopted at the United Nations in 2005.

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[democracyinternational]

USAID INTRODUCES POSITIVE DEVIANCE APPROACH TO HELP PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE IN JAMAICA

Kingston, Jamaica: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Positive Pathways Activity, hosted for the first time, an information session on Positive Deviance and its applicability to the Jamaican context, delivered by internationally renowned expert, Dr. Arvind Singhal. The session was conducted virtually on September 27 at 10 a.m. and a repeat session will be held at the same time on Wednesday, September 1.

According to Dr. Singhal, Positive Deviance is an approach that recognizes individuals who have managed to find better solutions to their problems as opposed to their peers who face the same or similar challenges. “There exist in every community, ordinary people who have found extraordinary solutions to existing problems – against all odds,” he said. These uncommon behaviours and strategies are then promoted among others in the community in the hopes that they will be adopted and result in the transformation of lives for the better.

The Positive Deviance approach to behavioural change has been successful in over 41 countries in areas such as public health, education, and business. USAID intends to implement this approach in its work with youth and parents to prevent youth involvement in crime and violence. The question being asked in these sessions is ‘how can the Positive Deviance approach be used to prevent youth violence in Jamaica?’

Dr. Singhal is a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. He teaches and conducts research on the diffusion of innovations, the positive deviance approach, organizing for social change, the entertainment-education strategy, and liberating interactional structures. His outreach spans public health, education, human rights, poverty alleviation, sustainable development, civic participation, democracy and governance, and corporate citizenship.

Participants in the first session described the Positive Deviance approach as “amazing”, “an awesome concept” and “a hopeful approach.”

Yvette Boucher Gardner from the St. James Probation Office said “[Positive Deviance] can definitely work in the Jamaican context. Especially in communities which are war torn, we can go in using the community members to find out what families are doing to keep their children out of crime and explore and do those practices”.

Participants also remarked that the presentation has changed the way they view their work and their strategies toward preventing community violence. Charlene Coore Desai of UNICEF said, “I love the idea of looking at data differently. As a researcher for many years, it strikes me that too often we have been asking questions in the same way and these types of questions lead to the same type of analyses and conclusions. I really want to explore how we can ask different types of questions and come up with different types of solutions.”

Heidi Clarke of the Sandals Foundation added, “It has shifted my thinking to look at what is working versus what is not. Looking at what is uncommon and doable. I now want to take this and look at our projects and programs that are youth related to address what we have been focusing on and what we should be focusing on. I hope the conversation will keep going and that we can have more exposure to Positive Deviance”.

-End-

[democracyinternational]

Paying it Forward: Young Migrant Brings Skills—and Heart—to Her New Home

Above: Valery with an assignment completed during a CRI-supported program. (Photo Credit: Democracy International) 

Before she emigrated to Trinidad and Tobago with her mother and brother, fourteen-year-old Valery “Val” was one of the lucky ones. Val’s mother, a schoolteacher, was steadfast in ensuring Val gained an education. While many of her peers had no schooling opportunities, Val was able to attend school for a few hours each day. Val’s love of learning drove her to seize every opportunity in her home country and in Trinidad and Tobago, where she has lived with her family for the past two years. When Val’s mother became involved with the Community Resilience Initiative (CRI) Resource Center in Chaguanas operated by Democracy International’s local partner the Ryu Dan Dojo Empowerment Foundation, Val quickly followed.

“During this time [at the center], I have learned many things,” Val said. “I love how their vibe makes me feel at home, part of the family, [and] that they see me as another person on their team is very special to me.”

Early on, Val would accompany her mother every day when she went to work and study at the CRI Resource Center. Inspired by the activities at the center, Val decided to enroll in the CRI English language classes and life skills course for youth. Her English started to improve considerably. So did her happiness and sense of achievement.

“My experience with the courses offered via the CRI program is simply incredible,” she added. “As a result of all these experiences I have the opportunity to coach other Venezuelan migrants and local people in English and Spanish.”

Val has worked very closely with Ryu Dan, one of Democracy International’s four local partners under the USAID-funded CRI program. Beyond participating in classes, Val volunteered her services to translate Ryu Dan’s COVID-19 notices and social media posts from English into Spanish to ensure the Venezuelan community received critical health information. She loved contributing in this way, seeing it as one small step in pursuit of her dream to work in the health industry.

Above: Val, in back and on right, participates in Ryu Dan Dojo’s sewing course as an English/Spanish translator. (Photo Credit: Democracy International) 

Val herself knows what it’s like to be a migrant and to struggle to access necessary healthcare; part of the reason her family relocated to Trinidad and Tobago was due to the inability to secure the life-saving medication Val needed to treat her diabetes in Venezuela.

As Ryu Dan moved their in-person programming to virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions, Val also helped add Spanish subtitles to the martial arts instructional videos produced for the beneficiaries of the Sports Plus program. Now, Val contributes to Ryu Dan’s Support, Educate, and Empower Women (SEEW) sewing course at the Chaguanas CRI Resource Center as a language coach. Each week, she coaches both Venezuelan and Trinidadian women in English and Spanish. In this role, she helps build a stronger local community that embraces both cultures and languages while also creating, as she says, “memories that will follow me for the rest of my life accompanying me in my heart.”  

Above: Valery and her brother pose during a CRI class in the pre-COVID era. (Photo Credit: Democracy International) 

[democracyinternational]

Migrants Find Solace while Learning English

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - While the demand for English language classes by Venezuelan migrants in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has been high since the start of CRI, so too has the need for psychosocial support (PSS). When CRI partner Living Water Community (LWC) noticed that migrants often prioritized language learning over PSS in their limited free time, LWC innovated a solution: incorporating elements of PSS into their English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum.

An LWC psychologist integrated PSS components into basic ESL curriculum and then trained the ESL teachers in core mental health principles. The new curriculum integrated basic English language skills for everyday use, cultural topics to support adaptation to life in T&T, and PSS elements, such as the use of breathing exercises, mindfulness, and journaling. The teachers understood that they were not expected to take on the role of counsellors. Rather, they were to present tools to help students be more aware of their well-being, engage in positive coping strategies, and seek help if they need further support. 

LWC sought referrals for the ESL-PSS classes from colleagues, CRI partners, and stakeholders. These included migrant women, men, and children who were survivors of gender-based violence or who were receiving counselling for various psychosocial issues. Because the instruction was exclusively online due to COVID-19 restrictions, classes were accessible to migrants living in remote parts of the country, as well as seniors, indigenous migrants, and other groups who might not usually be able to attend language classes. LWC divided the classes into four groups—adult men, adult women, young men, and young women, to encourage students to feel more comfortable when dealing with mental health topics, as well as because of the nature of some participants’ psychosocial challenges.  

Indeed, the combination ESL-PSS classes seemed to draw more male participants than ESL classes alone. For men, who usually register for language classes at a much lower rate than women, having their own separate class with a male teacher seemed to work well. According to one student from the men’s class, “[T]he truth is that everything was excellent. Very good teacher with extensive knowledge of both English and Spanish, and it was very nice to receive classes from him. He was very dynamic and I learned many things.” 

There is always hope, even when facing difficulties.

In time, the ESL-PSS courses allowed students to show emotional vulnerability with others with similar experiences. For example, after showing an inspiring video during the men’s class, the teacher noted that several of the students turned their cameras off. They later revealed that it was because they had teared up, but not out of sadness. The students thanked their teacher for reminding them that there is always hope, even when facing difficulties. Similarly, the women’s class grew close, ultimately deciding that they wanted to remain in touch even after the class ended; as a result, the students formed their own online group, which they named “Las Chicas Bilingües” (The Bilingual Girls). 

“He thanked me for being the wind on his back and always encouraging him to never give up.”

The ESL-PSS classes positively affected not only well-being but also language learning. Over 90% of students felt that their English had improved during the course, and 100% strongly agreed that the things they learned would be useful in real life. 

One male student had been ready to quit after a few classes because he lacked confidence, but his teacher convinced him to stay. On the evening after the last class, after scoring 85% on the final assessment, he called his teacher. “Through a cracking voice he shared with me that he never thought he had the ability to learn a new language and for years he always questioned his abilities,” the teacher said. “He thanked me for being the wind on his back and always encouraging him to never give up.”