NDI is conducting a pre-election assessment of Zambia’s preparations for presidential, parliamentary and local elections to be held on Sept. 20.

The five-day assessment, Aug. 14-18, reflects the international community’s interest in and support for credible elections in Zambia. It is intended to provide a preliminary assessment of the electoral environment and preparations for the elections as well as a framework for an NDI long-term international observation of the September polls.

Spurred by the recent political crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and the prospect of upcoming legislative elections, experts are convening at the Hotel Tiama in Abidjan to discuss the role that domestic election observation can play in diminishing the potential for political violence.

A constitutional crisis and coup d’etat tore fault lines across Honduran society in 2009, and the rifts have yet to heal.  To help Hondurans reconcile their differences and revive their democracy, NDI launched a series of eight “democracy dialogues” to bring together leaders of traditional political parties, civil society and the organized resistance to the coup for a structured, respectful interaction.