Aid in Action

Increasing Voter Awareness as Djibouti Faces Elections

Training strengthens electoral process

 | Wednesday, January 16, 2008

With parliamentarian elections coming up in Djibouti in early 2008, USAID/Djibouti is providing training to increase voter awareness among different segments of society and to strengthen the electoral process. The following reports on workshops being held around the country relate the type of work being done:

Photo: Mohamed Ahmed

Participants receive certificates following a conference on Djiboutian Women's Participation in the Electoral Process. USAID is working to increase voter awareness, especially among women.

Reinforcement of Women’s Participation in the Electoral Process: Political party representatives, parliamentarians and members of feminist associations engaged in a conference on Djiboutian Women’s Participation in the Electoral Process on November 28th, 2007. The conference was conducted by Mohamed Thiam, a specialist in training programs that strengthen women’s participation in electoral and political processes.  Ministers for the Promotion of Women and Interior and Decentralization and the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti attended the opening ceremony and made keynote speeches. The conference, organized with USAID/Djibouti support under the DG program, outlined the role of political parties and civil society in increasing social dialogue, the wider participation in the democratic process, and how women, who represent 43% of voters in Djibouti, can take part in the process. A major milestone of the conference was the attendance of all political parties of the country, opposition as well as majority, for the first time in history.

From Dec 3 - 5, Mohamed Thiam conducted a training workshop to sensitize Djiboutian women on filling in the ballot, the function of the National Electoral Commission and polling stations, and the electoral code of conduct. Thiam distributed a guide intended to inform, train and mobilize all citizens over 18 years of age on their rights and obligations regarding the electoral process.  Djibouti is scheduled to hold Parliamentary elections this month.

Planning and Conducting Voter Education and Candidate Forum: On December 12, 2007, Lazhar Aloui, an international expert in the development of electoral and political processes, civil society development and grants management, conducted a workshop to help Djiboutian civil society become a better partner in promoting voter awareness. The workshop was followed by workshops in Ali Sabieh on Dec 16 and in Tadjourah on Dec 17, in which 33 associations were trained. The training covered best practices, products and communications strategies, effective planning of electoral forums, action plans and codes of ethics. Mr. Aloui has written numerous informative books and training programs promoting participation in the political arena. During the workshop, Mr. Aloui distributed a guide to assist Djiboutian Civil Society Organizations and the media in planning and conducting voter education meetings and candidate forums in preparation for the 2008 legislative election.