Discovering Africa
February 22, 2010
When I first arrived in Liberia on my second field trip for IFES, an unexpected thought crossed my mind: Why am I here? On the surface, there was no obvious connection between me and this distant continent. Five years earlier, I would not have envisioned myself stepping out of a plane into the Monrovian airport.
Democracy Assistance,
Civil Society,
Elections
IFES President & CEO and Africa Regional Director Meet with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
November 02, 2009
Bill Sweeney, IFES President and CEO, and Almami Cyllah, IFES Regional Director for Africa, were in Liberia to kick off IFES’ project Building Sustainable Election Management in Liberia. While in Monrovia, Mr. Sweeney and Mr. Cyllah had the privilege of meeting with the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Vice President Joseph Boakai, US Ambassador to Liberia Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and the President Pro Tempore of the Liberian Senate Cletus Wotorson, among other distinguished officials.
Elections,
Governance,
Election Management,
Election Procedures
IFES Returns to Work with Liberia's National Elections Commission
October 07, 2009
IFES has been awarded a five‐year cooperative agreement by USAID to support various upcoming elections in Liberia: the constitutional referendum, by‐elections, and national and local elections. These polls are of particular importance because of their central role in supporting the country’s continued transition from a devastated, conflict‐torn nation to one that is slowly building the democratic systems, institutions, and processes needed to promote long‐term stability and development.
Democracy Assistance,
Election Procedures,
Civic Education,
Electoral Systems,
Elections
IFES Observes International Day of Democracy
September 15, 2009
In 2007 the United Nations General Assembly decided to observe September 15th as the International Day of Democracy. The preamble of the resolution affirmed that: "while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region...democracy is a universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life."
Gender Issues,
Elections,
Public Opinion,
Democracy Assistance,
Civil Society
Financial Disclosure: a Global Issue
August 12, 2008
At the beginning of 21 century even the most established democracies need to combat grand political corruption. As recently reported by the New York Times, U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, 84, was indicted for failing to report on financial disclosure forms he filed from 1999 to 2006, more than $250,000 in gifts he received from an oil-services company in his home state.
Civil Society,
Rule of Law,
Financial Disclosure
Field Notebook: Tweaking the framework for credible elections
July 10, 2008
In a move to become more financially independent from the government and build trust with stakeholders, the National Elections Commission of Liberia and IFES held an Electoral Democracy Training Conference with key stakeholders using the Bridge Curriculum.
Battling Paper Cities: Harmonizing Local Boundaries in Liberia
June 20, 2008
In the middle of Liberia’s northern region, a town hall is packed with a crowd unusually concerned with the future of their county, and the country at large. Some of Liberia’s most eminent movers and shakers are present and engaged in heated debates and discussions, sometimes in Liberian English
Civil Society
BRIDGE Training Sharpens Liberia's Election Skills
June 26, 2007
IFES, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, known as International IDEA, and the National Elections Commission of Liberia hosted two intensive training courses for commission staff on June 11-22. The courses introduced 60 Liberian election officials to the innovative Building Resources in Democracy.
Elections