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NDI Vice Chair Daschle Offers Encouragement and Recommendations on Kyrgyzstan's Democratic Reforms

fgalleto — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:30:33 -0400

Despite recent violence and significant challenges ahead, Kyrgyzstan has made progress on democratic reforms, NDI Vice Chair and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle concluded following a recent trip to that country.

Daschle traveled to Kyrgyzstan on behalf of NDI Aug. 17-19 to assess the country's democratic reform efforts, provide encouragement for further reform, and promote broad political participation to aid reconciliation in the wake of that country's June violence. Daschle met with a broad range of political, governmental and civil society leaders, foreign diplomats, media representatives and international organizations.

Following last April's ouster of President Kurmanbek Bakiev, Kyrgyzstan is at a crossroads between authoritarian rule and acceptance of democracy as the path forward. Citizens' hopes for a smooth transition to democracy were tested in mid-June with the sudden outbreak of ethnic violence in the south, when hundreds were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced. Despite these events, nearly two million voters (72 percent) went to the polls on June 27 to overwhelmingly approve a new constitution that significantly limits presidential power in relation to the parliament. Following the referendum, preparations began for Oct. 10 parliamentary elections.

At a press conference on the final day of his visit, Daschle noted several positive steps toward democratic consolidation that Kyrgyzstan has taken in the last four months that will, in his view, "help prevent another backsliding away from democracy." These included:

The strong voter turnout on June 27;
A positive assessment of the referendum from international and domestic election observation groups;
A new constitution that provides for a system of strong checks and balances;
Parliamentary elections in October that are expected to be competitive;
The signing of a code of conduct by more than 25 political parties outlining principles for respectful, tolerant and civil behavior during the parliamentary elections campaign period; and
The interim government setting the stage for a peaceful transition through the October elections.

In meetings with interim government officials, political party leaders, and at the press conference, Daschle also pointed out the significant challenges ahead and offered several recommendations to Kyrgyzstan's leaders to aid democratic reform. These included:

Access for all eligible citizens to participate in the parliamentary elections;
Bold and sweeping measures to reduce corruption;
Responsible behavior by political parties, such as avoiding divisive rhetoric that could incite renewed violence;
Swift, effective and visible efforts to promote reconstruction and rehabilitation in the south;
A comprehensive, objective international investigation into the events in the south;
Merit-based and transparent government appointments before and after the parliamentary elections to earn the trust and confidence of citizens; and
Initial steps toward promoting a more independent and effective judiciary.

During his visit, Daschle also called for greater international support for the people of Kyrgyzstan as they struggle to lay the foundation for democracy.

Related:

Pictured above: Daschle discusses recent developments and challenges with civic leaders in Kyrgyzstan.

Published August 30, 2010

NDI Vice Chair Daschle Offers Encouragement and Recommendations on Kyrgyzstan's Democratic Reforms

fgalleto — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:30:33 -0400

The strong voter turnout on June 27;
A positive assessment of the referendum from international and domestic election observation groups;
A new constitution that provides for a system of strong checks and balances;
Parliamentary elections in October that are expected to be competitive;
The signing of a code of conduct by more than 25 political parties outlining principles for respectful, tolerant and civil behavior during the parliamentary elections campaign period; and
The interim government setting the stage for a peaceful transition through the October elections.

Access for all eligible citizens to participate in the parliamentary elections;
Bold and sweeping measures to reduce corruption;
Responsible behavior by political parties, such as avoiding divisive rhetoric that could incite renewed violence;
Swift, effective and visible efforts to promote reconstruction and rehabilitation in the south;
A comprehensive, objective international investigation into the events in the south;
Merit-based and transparent government appointments before and after the parliamentary elections to earn the trust and confidence of citizens; and
Initial steps toward promoting a more independent and effective judiciary.

During his visit, Daschle also called for greater international support for the people of Kyrgyzstan as they struggle to lay the foundation for democracy.

Related:

Pictured above: Daschle discusses recent developments and challenges with civic leaders in Kyrgyzstan.

Published August 30, 2010

Kenyan Election Observers Approve Referendum Process, Results

rrunyan — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:13:58 -0400

Kenyan citizens overwhelmingly approved a new constitution in a peaceful and credible referendum last week, according to a preliminary statement released by the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), a coalition of civic and faith-based Kenyan organizations.

After the violence that marred the 2007 elections, the successful August 4 referendum was celebrated as Kenyans ratified a new constitution that provides checks and balances on the president, establishes a bill of rights, transfers some powers from the central government to the regions and addresses land distribution issues. It also eliminates the position of prime minister.

ELOG conducted a parallel vote tabulation (PVT), an election observation tool that provides an independent vote count as a means to promote confidence in the official results. The PVT results, from a statistically random sample of polling stations tracked closely the results released by the Interim Independent Election Commission, which tallied 66.9 percent for and 30.7 against the new constitution.

ELOG also noted it did not observe any major incidents that would mar the electoral process. In fact, in 99 percent of the polling stations it observed, ELOG observers said no one attempted to disrupt the voting process. They also reported a similar percent of polling stations where they observed officials following the referendum guidelines, from opening on time to sealing ballot boxes properly.

“ELOG is confident that the process and the results reflect the wishes of Kenyan voters,” the statement said.

In the months before the referendum, ELOG – with NDI’s support – recruited, trained and deployed approximately 10,000 general observers and more than 500 observers who sent rapid results via text messages to the ELOG database for the PVT. ELOG’s observers monitored the campaign period and on referendum day were deployed in all 210 constituencies.

Since April 2010, NDI has been providing assistance to ELOG to design and conduct the pilot PVT for the referendum, as well as support the formation of a new secretariat and constituency level network, which will work beyond the referendum.

Read the full statement

Pictured Above: ELOG members share results of the preliminary PVT at a press conference.

Published August 9, 2010

Transatlantic Dialogue Seeks to Strengthen Cooperation on Democracy Support

rrunyan — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:05:46 -0400

The importance of democracy support was the subject of a dynamic discussion this summer by a broad array of policymakers from both sides of the Atlantic who met in Washington, D.C., for the first installment of a dialogue aimed at bolstering cooperation on democracy and human rights between the European Union (EU), the United States and the broader transatlantic community. The dialogue took place as the administration seeks to recalibrate the U.S. approach to democracy support and as the EU seeks to build greater coherence on democracy assistance policy among its member states.

“Our job,” said NDI Chairman Madeleine Albright at the opening session, “is to make dynamic and unapologetic support for democracy as practical an instrument of foreign policy as possible.”

“It is our job to convince policymakers that democracy belongs in the forefront of their thinking -- because there is nothing more pragmatic or realistic than supporting democratic aspirations and institutions across the globe,” Albright continued in her prepared remarks.

Former Secretary of State Albright co-chaired the dialogue along with Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament; and former U.S. Rep. Vin Weber, a former chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy. Javier Solana, former EU high representative for the common foreign and security policy, while not able to be present at the opening conference, has also agreed to serve as a co-chair of the two-year dialogue.

Through a series of conferences and working groups, the dialogue is engaging senior U.S. and European policymakers who are knowledgeable on democracy support, including current and former members of Congress and the European Parliament, EU and U.S. administration officials, as well as experts from think tanks, academia, and the broader democracy support and transatlantic policy communities.

Each year of the dialogue will result in the publication of a policy paper containing a set of specific, actionable recommendations for strengthening transatlantic cooperation on democracy support. The first paper will focus on policy; the second on implementation, building on the outcomes of the first year.

The opening conference featured a panel discussion at the National Press Club with Albright, Buzek, Weber and two additional dialogue participants: Maria Leissner, Sweden’s ambassador for democracy, and Ana Palacio, former foreign minister of Spain. Katty Kay, Washington correspondent for BBC World News America, moderated the discussion that focused on today’s challenges to democracy promotion.

“There is not one form of democracy that fits everywhere, but we have learned a great deal about how to promote democracy around the world,” Weber said. “We know that the empowerment of women is central to democracy, and it doesn’t look the same in an Islamic country as it is might in Poland or the Czech Republic. We know that an independent media is important, and we know that the activities of NGOs need to be far separated from the state.”

See video of the event at the National Press Club

Buzek stressed the importance of inclusion when talking about democracy support. “We must try to deliver the message of democracy on different levels, on the level of civil society and on the level of government,” he said.

The link between democracy and development was also a large part of the discussion.

“We prefer to regard democracy as part of development,” Leissner said, “…you’re not only poor if you don’t have enough food to put on your table. You’re also poor if you don’t have any political power.”

The closing conference of the first-year dialogue will take place in early 2011, likely in Brussels. The dialogue is being organized by NDI with primary support from the EU Delegation to the United States. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for Democracy and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Other organizations engaged in the dialogue include the Atlantic Council, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the European Council on Foreign Relations, the European Network of Political Foundations, the European Partnership for Democracy, Freedom House, Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Read Albright's remarks as prepared for delivery at the opening session of the dialogue.
Please continue to check http://www.ndi.org/transatlantic_dialogue for more information on the dialogue.

Pictured Above: NDI Chairman Madeleine Albright addresses a question from the BBC’s Katty Kay (l) while Jerzy Buzek (r), president of the European Parliament, listens during the panel at the National Press Club.

Published August 5, 2010

Yemeni Youth Break New Ground in Resolving Tribal Conflict

fgalleto — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:50:15 -0400

In Yemen, tribal conflict is a backdrop affecting the country's economic development, governance and national stability. Disputes over land claims and competition for resources and government services often lead to violence and cycles of revenge killings that can extend over a decade, hindering the work of government and international development agencies, and isolating citizens from the state.

Within tribes, young people are particularly affected by, and increasingly engage in, violence. Research by NDI shows that young people are the most likely to initiate conflict or break established truces. With almost half of Yemen's population under age 15 and another one-third aged 15 to 29, a significant percentage of the population is growing acclimated to violence as the primary means to address or resolve conflict.

Youth Council Delivers Results

Despite its short history, the Al Juba Cross-Tribal Youth Council has already developed solutions to some long-standing conflicts in Mareb.

At first, addressing real conflicts seemed a potentially insurmountable challenge as youth council members were reluctant to broach issues dividing their tribes. Among the council members are two young men — one the son of a prominent sheikh and the other the son of a leading member of a rival tribe — who have been embroiled in an ongoing dispute between their respective tribes. The two were reluctant participants in a broader discussion about tribal conflict and refused to speak directly to each other out of loyalty to their tribes and in keeping with the rules of the ongoing conflicts between them.

Throughout the three-day session, the 40 youth councilors were encouraged to talk about real conflicts they face, and discussions eventually led to the specific conflict that was keeping the two young tribesmen from speaking to one another — a proposal by the Yemeni government to build a school for girls in the district. The young men's tribes were fighting over where the school would be built.

Using skills learned during the workshop and through a role-play on peer mediation with a third member of the council, the two men were able to broker an agreement to resolve the dispute. They proposed establishment of a Ministry of Education committee to study the best location for the school, looking at, among other factors, the number of girls that would benefit by having the school in close proximity to their villages. The two youth council members presented the proposal to the sheikhs of their tribes, who accepted the terms and plan to engage the Ministry of Education.

Drawing inspiration from his peers' success, another council member decided to tackle a decades-old land dispute between rival tribes that want to use the same piece of property to grow crops. This council member, who is also a member of the tribe that controls rain irrigation to the disputed property, approached his fellow council members who are affiliated with the rival tribes and offered to serve as a mediator. After discussing the issue with both sides, he presented three potential resolutions. The council members involved in the negotiation chose an approach in which the rival tribes would share the land, an unconventional solution in Yemen, where tribal boundaries are significant and competition over resources is fierce. They presented their proposal to their tribal sheikhs who agreed.

To help deal with this problem, 40 young men and women, all under the age of 30, came together in July to form the country's first cross-tribal youth council. Located in Al Juba district in the conflict plagued Mareb governorate, the council is part of an 18-month program led by NDI to engage youth in the governorates of Mareb and Shabwa to resolve conflict and build relationships between young people and community leaders to address issues that contribute to violence. The council will advocate for youth to municipal and tribal leaders, learn and teach conflict prevention and problem solving skills to students, and serve as mediators among youth in their communities.

Creation of the council required overcoming significant obstacles and followed a lengthy negotiation process with tribal and government officials. In Al Juba, long-standing and fierce tribal rivalries, cultural norms that keep women largely separated from men, the limited ability of government to deliver services and respond to the root cause of conflict were among the roadblocks.

NDI spent nearly two months meeting with tribal sheikhs from Al Juba, Mareb and other governorates, as well as with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration, the Governor of Mareb, ministry representatives at the local level and local councilors to secure buy-in for creation of youth councils. Government and tribal leaders raised concerns about the described challenges, and local leaders also feared creating demands on the government that it could not meet. But ultimately, the leaders were eager to discuss effective ways to improve youth participation in their communities and tribes and how they could play an active role in the success of the youth council initiative.

In a July launch ceremony in Al Juba, Mareb Governor Naji Bin Ali Al Zaidi and Sheikh M’Fareh Mohammed Buhaibeh, a respected Mareb tribal leader and tribal negotiator, lauded the youth council's aims and encouraged the young women and men as they embarked on the new initiative.

The council's July meetings featured training in strategic planning, fundraising and local resource development, conflict resolution and mitigation strategies, and leadership and team building. NDI has focused on encouraging youth to work together across gender and tribal divides; build and strengthen the relationship between the youth council and the elected local council; create a conducive environment for regular interaction between youth, tribal leaders and the government; and promote discussion of conflicts facing Juba District.

In just three weeks following its launch, the Juba District Cross-Tribal Youth Council raised $745 in local funds to support its work and established a financial committee, chaired by a female member, a media committee and a legal committee. In turn, the Al Juba Local Council committed space in its building for the council, invited council representatives to serve as honorary members of the local council and is finalizing a strategy to engage youth on community development issues.

Throughout the next year, NDI will continue to support the Al Juba council, working to develop members' skills to educate students on conflict, serve as mediators and become advocates for community development initiatives. NDI will also provide guidance and assistance for efforts to form a similar council in Ain District in the neighboring Shabwa governorate.

Since 2005, with support from the United States Agency for International Development, NDI has worked in partnership with tribal leaders and nongovernmental organizations in the governorates of Mareb, Al-Jawf and Shabwa to assist their efforts to end conflict in their regions.

Related:

Pictured above: Members of the youth council work together.

Published on August 27, 2010

Yemeni Youth Break New Ground in Resolving Tribal Conflict

fgalleto — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:50:15 -0400

Youth Council Delivers Results

Despite its short history, the Al Juba Cross-Tribal Youth Council has already developed solutions to some long-standing conflicts in Mareb.

Related:

Pictured above: Members of the youth council work together.

Published on August 27, 2010

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

fgalleto — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:14:06 -0400

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.

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.

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.

Related:

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

Georgian Political Parties Agree to "Win with Women"

fgalleto — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:01:33 -0400

"Georgian women cannot wait another century for equal participation in the governance of our country," said Leila Aptsiauri, a member of a local city council in Georgia. She was speaking at a conference in Tbilisi, the capital, where representatives from 11 political parties discussed with civil society leaders the benefits to including more women on candidate lists and in political party leadership structures.

At the day-long meeting in May, the parties presented their strategies for electing more women to higher office. For example, the ruling United National Movement shared its plan to establish a gender equality department inside the party that would, among other things, work to increase activism by women members and identify women parliamentary candidates. A Christian-Democratic Movement representative talked about having a woman lead the party list in the May 30 local elections, guaranteeing that at least one woman from the party would hold office. Our Georgia-Free Democrats, a newly-established party, pledged to pay special attention to equal representation of women as they continue to build their party structure.

Currently, women make up 6 percent of the parliament, which was elected in 2008, a drop of almost half from the previous parliament.

The political parties also signed the Win with Women Global Action Plan, an NDI document with practical recommendations to help political parties become more inclusive of women. Recommendations in the plan range from ensuring the physical safety of women party activists, candidates and elected officials to maintaining a database of women qualified for elected and appointed political positions.

The meeting was attended by more than 100 participants, including members of parliament, government officials, the diplomatic corps, and representatives of domestic and international non-governmental organizations. It was moderated by NDI and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

The participants discussed existing levels of women's participation in elected bodies, challenges facing women in running for office and state mechanisms aimed at increasing gender equality. At the opening of the conference, Rusudan Kervalishvili, deputy speaker of the parliament and chair of its Gender Equity Council, discussed Georgia's Law on Gender Equality, a statute that enhances women's security, equality in the workplace and ability to participate freely in politics. The law was introduced by Kervalishvili and passed in April.

"We call upon the parties to not stop at just this pledge, but to continue working toward greater gender equality," said Laura Jewett, regional director for Eurasia at NDI, who was a keynote speaker at the conference.

The parties signing the Win with Women Global Action plan were the Christian-Democratic Movement, the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Georgian Group, the National Council, the National Democratic Party, the New Rights Party, Our Georgia - Free Democrats, the Republican Party of Georgia, the Way of Georgia, Topadze - Industrialists and the United National Movement.

Related content:

Pictured above: From left to right: Giorgi Chkheidze, executive director of Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, Rusudan Kervalishvili, deputy speaker of the parliament and chairwoman of Gender Equity Council in parliament, Nino Vardosanidze, program officer at NDI.

Published July 1, 2010

NDI Analysis: Burma's Electoral Framework Is Fundamentally Undemocratic

rrunyan — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:02:20 -0400

The process surrounding national elections in Burma, expected later this year, “is clearly designed to guarantee a pre-determined outcome and, therefore, does not meet even the very minimum of international standards,” according to an analysis by NDI that was released Aug. 1.

NDI examined the country’s new election laws and constitution in the context of preparations for what will be the nation’s first national polls since 1990. In that earlier election, the people of Burma voted overwhelmingly for the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military government refused to let the NLD take office and Suu Kyi has spent 14 of the last 18 years imprisoned or under house arrest.

“The upcoming elections,” NDI said, “appear to be designed to gain international acceptance for an illegitimate process.”

The study drew on contributions from numerous experts in the region and comparative election, constitutional and human rights law. Since 1995, NDI has worked with partners to advance the cause of democracy in Burma. The 2010 elections in theory could have provided an opportunity to advance democratic progress and national reconciliation, which in turn could have helped significantly improve the lives of people in Burma. Based on its analysis, NDI came to the conclusion shared by many experts that the election process will not be a step forward and risks being yet another setback.

The Institute cited four areas in particular in which the constitution and the new election laws fall short of basic international standards:

Government based on the will of the people. “In Burma, the constitution establishes a structure designed to perpetuate military rule,” the report said.
Basic human rights. The Institute noted the severe political repression in Burma: freedoms of expression and assembly have been sharply curtailed and the activities of political parties restricted. There is no independent judiciary and the media are prevented from reporting freely on the government and political process. Those who criticize the regime are often physically assaulted or imprisoned, which has led to the government holding at least 2,100 political prisoners.
Freedom to stand for election. This is circumscribed in Burma, both by the election laws and the detention of regime opponents, the analysis said.
Impartial election administration. “In Burma, the electoral administration was appointed unilaterally by the regime and has shown itself to heavily favor the military regime and its allies,” NDI said.

The key predicates that could allow for a credible and transparent process remain those consistently called for by Burma’s democracy activists and their supporters in the international community, according to the Institute. They are:

Burma’s military regime should release political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD and opposition leaders and enter into a serious dialogue with them on a democratic transition process.
All political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and ethnic minority groups must be allowed to participate in elections.
All civil and political rights necessary for elections should be introduced and observed, including the freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
A process should be crafted that would allow for review and amendment of contested elements in the constitution. This process should address specifically the role of the military and the treatment of ethnic minorities.
Election laws and procedures should be revisited to allow adequate time for parties, including those that are prevented from participating or have chosen not to participate because of restrictions in the law, to organize and participate, and to ensure that the elections are administered by an independent commission appointed in consultation with the opposition.

If each of these recommendations is adopted, allowing for a meaningful election, unimpeded election observation by domestic and international actors should be permitted to increase confidence in the process, NDI said. Without those fundamental changes, and in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, the presence of observers would be seen as giving legitimacy to a clearly undemocratic process. The Institute has organized more than 150 international election observation delegations over the last 25 years.

Pictured Above: Members of the Women’s League of Burma participate in a protest.

Click here to read the full report.

Published on August 2, 2010

In Angola, Radio Program Connects 'Parliament and Me'

rrunyan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:05:38 -0400

“Parliament and Me,” a new radio talk show in Angola, is working to establish a connection between elected representatives and their constituents as the country rebuilds after a 27-year civil war. The hostilities, which ended in 2002, left the country with its infrastructure in pieces, no nationwide communications network and a lack of certified professionals in everything from accounting to medicine to construction. Now, citizens are looking for ways to participate in the political process to shape their country and benefit from its economic growth.

In a historic step toward a more democratic political system, Angolans held elections for their national parliament in 2008, the first parliamentary poll since 1992. But midway through their first term, the lawmakers and citizens were not interacting with one another, leading parliament to look for ways for citizens and members of parliament (MPs) to come together. No mechanism existed that allowed MPs to explain what they were doing on the job every day.

Similarly, citizens felt disconnected from their representatives. They lacked a connection to the political system and didn’t see any direct connection between government and their everyday lives.

That’s where “Parliament and Me” came in. NDI partnered with Radio Ecclesia, a local radio station with a wide audience in the capital city, and a local, independent radio producer to create the weekly radio program, which educates citizens about the role of parliament. The talk show encourages citizens to link issues they are concerned about and advocacy to the National Assembly. It also provides an objective, balanced presentation of issues being addressed by the parliament.

Each episode of “Parliament and Me” features one MP, interviewed by a journalist, who answers pre-taped questions from citizens and talks about what he or she does during the day and which issues are of particular interest. More than 15 MPs have been interviewed from the five political parties with seats in the National Assembly.

The program is popular among both MPs and listeners. MPs like the format, which gives them a rare platform to talk about their work and initiatives. Deputy Lina Alexandre from the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) said that the program will help citizens to see the parliament as more than just a place for politicians to talk because it shows the daily tasks that engage them.

Deputy Ngola Kabango, bench leader for the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), said the mixture of interviews, statements from MPs and comments by legal experts illuminates the country’s political context and highlights what he considers the healthy environment of fair play that exists in parliament.

Listeners like it because it gives them a window into what elected leaders are doing. “Many listeners doubted that they would ever hear MP Norberto dos Santos ‘Kwata Kanawa,’ the current minister of parliamentary affairs, participating in an Ecclesia program,” said Walter Cristovão, the producer of the program. “The program has already circulated messages from the five political parties in parliament, namely the MPLA, UNITA, Social Renewal Party New Democratic Electoral Coalition and the FNLA, bringing MPs closer to citizens.”

The program also explores historical, political and legal issues that many Angolans may not be familiar with otherwise. “Parliament and Me” has covered the origins of the Angolan parliament, the laws it has passed and their importance, the impact of having 39 percent women MPs, and parliament and its role in the fight against corruption, among other topics.

As the show continues to gain audience and popularity, Radio Ecclesia is hoping that citizens will connect issues in their daily lives to actions that their MPs can take, will advocate and petition the parliament accordingly, and will hold members accountable.

Listen to clips of the radio programming (In Portuguese)

Intro to the radio program and its objectives

The role and functions of parliamentary committees

The role of the 5th Committee (Economy and Finance); how to contact MPs; and the oversight role of parliament

The newly-approved Probity Law

The role of the women’s caucus

The role of MPs who represent provincial constituencies; how constituency offices work; and how citizens may contact MPs in the provinces. This selection includes an interview with an MP representing Benguela

A mix of additional selections from the radio program

Pictured Above: Members of Parliament in the Angolan National Assembly

Published July 28, 2010