When Ilirjana Gafurri, a political party activist in Peja, Kosovo, won a seat on her local council six years ago, she became an advocate for issues such as better health care and women’s equality in her community. But Gafurri had to struggle to make her voice heard in the predominantly male body, where women are often perceived as being passive or not as qualified.

Presidential elections are scheduled for July in Mali, and are viewed by Malians as a major step in the country’s recovery from a coup that toppled the government in March 2012 and subsequent armed incursions led by Islamist rebels. Although major cities such as Timbuktu and Gao have been reconquered by Malian and allied forces, parts of the north are still controlled by rebel fighters.  Approximately 400,000 Malians have fled the area.

Showing courage and resolve in the face of deadly challenges, Pakistanis went to the polls May 11 to elect a new government that will be a critical step in the country’s return to democracy, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) said today.

Wafa Bani Mustafa had already won a seat in Jordan’s parliament. But as she prepared to run for reelection, she wanted to learn more about fundraising techniques, which are not widely used in the region. So last December, ahead of her campaign, she participated in an NDI training program on advanced campaign skills for experienced politicians from 11 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).