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International Network Shares Techniques for Organizing Candidate Debates
Participants in the International Debate Symposium at NDI break into groups to discuss building regional debate networks.
Practitioners from nearly 20 countries gathered in Washington, D.C., last month to discuss methods and challenges involved in organizing candidate debates. The 27 participants spent three days sharing experiences in putting on debates in their own countries and discussing the fundamentals of organizing debates, how to produce a live debate broadcast for TV and radio, and the role of debate moderators, among other topics.
Debates help voters make informed choices at the ballot box, reduce the potential for violence in countries coming out of civil war, and encourage candidates to focus on public policy issues rather than personality. As debates are becoming more a part of the electoral landscape, debate practitioners are increasingly turning to colleagues around the world to share techniques.
This was the third gathering since 2009 of the growing international debate network. The meeting, sponsored by NDI and the U.S.-based Commission on Presidential Debates, included guest speakers such as Bob Schieffer, chief Washington correspondent for CBS News who has chaired three debates, and Jim Lehrer of the PBS NewsHour, the “dean” of debate moderators who has presided over 12 face-offs going back to 1988. Read more»
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Afghanistan Parliament Honors NDI
NDI’s work with Afghanistan's 34 provincial councils, which are the only face of government for many citizens, has been recognized by the Afghan National Assembly. NDI has worked with provincial councilors since 2006, providing assistance with constituent outreach, community development, government oversight and building bridges between councilors and the national parliament. Read more»
In Burkina Faso, Journalists Work to Avoid Gender Stereotypes
Print, radio, television and online journalists from across Burkina Faso came together recently to discuss how men and women are portrayed differently in the media and to talk about how to avoid gender stereotypes. Women are often portrayed as objects of state care or helpless victims, which can prevent them from being taken seriously as political leaders. Read more»
Monitoring Yemen's National Dialogue
Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference is well underway to set the groundwork for a new government. The dialogue is an integral part of the country's peace process and is designed to usher in a political transition. A local coalition is using its experience observing elections and voter registration to monitor the proceedings and to be the "eyes and ears of the Yemeni people," promote transparency in the process and inform the public about the work of the dialogue. Read more»
Albanians Vote for Change in June Elections
Albanians voted resoundingly for change in June 23 parliamentary elections, with the opposition coalition winning 60 percent of the seats in parliament. After eight years with a government led by the Democratic Party (DP), voters will now be looking to the Socialist Party (SP) to deliver on their demands for accountable and responsive government. Read more»
NDI Staffer Seeks to Connect Somali Women in Parliament, Civil Society
NDI Somalia staff member Hodan Ahmed, the winner of the Institute's 2013 Andi Parhamovich Fellowship, spent three months in Washington researching how to help Somali women in parliament and civil society work together to advance causes they both support. Now, she’s returned to Africa to put her knowledge into practice. Read more»
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Nigerians Use Radio Drama to Promote Women, Youth Political Participation
“The most important thing is that we all [speak with] one voice. That is the only way we can create change,” said Sakina, a character in the Nigerian radio drama Dukan Karshe, or “The Last Straw.” The nine-part series used the stories of its main characters to guide young Nigerians on how the political process works and how to advocate for reforms. Read more»
NDI's Patrick Merloe Testifies Before Congress on Cambodia
Patrick Merloe, NDI director of electoral programs, testified July 9 before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. During the hearing, “Cambodia’s Looming Political and Social Crisis,” Merloe said that despite some progress, Cambodia — which held parliamentary elections July 28 — is still plagued by corruption. Read more»
Promoting Democracy in West Africa
Nearly 40 countries have signed the AU Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which lays out standards of good governance and democracy in areas such as elections, rule of law and condemning unconstitutional changes of government. But many West African countries are struggling to carry it out. Members of the West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) are trying to change that. Read more»
Tunisians Seek Real Dialogue in Final Stages of Political Transition
While Tunisians are concerned about the direction their country is going, they are committed to participating in the country’s transition by voting in the next elections and promoting tolerance, NDI focus group research found. Read more»
Strengthening Parliaments in the Digital Age
Representatives from parliamentary monitoring organizations (PMOs) and parliamentarians recently gathered in London to talk about how technology can be used to increase government openness and improve responses to citizen needs. The study group was organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in partnership with NDI. Among other things, the study group called on parliaments to review the principles contained in the Declaration on Parliamentary Openness – a set of principles developed by PMOs to improve the openness, transparency and accessibility of parliaments. Read more»
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