Difference between revisions of "International Foundation for Electoral Systems"

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==Summary of activities==
 
==Summary of activities==
#Redesigning electoral laws
 
#Advising in electoral mechanics
 
#Setting up civic groups and organizing them for political purposes
 
#Pre-election surveys
 
#Overall political surveys
 
#Strategic advice to political groups
 
#Contracting to carry out [[NED]] projects
 
#Assisting journalists in coverage of elections<ref>[http://www.ijnet.org/Director.aspx?P=Article&ID=307128 Arab journalists can apply for workshop on elections], International Journalists' Network, 17 January 2008</ref>
 
  
==Actions around the world==
+
On its website current in 2004 IFES stated that to date it had:
 +
* Established field offices in more than 35 countries
 +
* Conducted over 50 Pre-Election Technical Assessments
 +
* Carried out Poll Worker Training Programs in more than 20 countries
 +
* Administered more than 75 on-site Technical Assistance Programs
 +
* Managed election equipment and commodities procurements in over 40 countries
 +
* Directed Voter and Civic Education Programs in over 30 nations
 +
* Coordinated more than 15 Regional Networking Programs of election officials, donors, and NGO representatives
 +
* Overseen more than 45 Election Observation Programs
 +
* Built a cadre more than 1,500 democracy and governance consultants
 +
* Created a Center for Participatory Democracy with 6,500 items on contemporary elections and political processes to assist scholars, election practitioners, and other democracy building institutions
 +
* Issued more than 215 publications on democratic development worldwide.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040213193120/www.ifes.org/mission.htm Mission and Goals], IFES website, version placed in web archive 25 Jan 2004, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2009</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Programmes around the world==
 
*[[IFES Africa Programs]]
 
*[[IFES Africa Programs]]
 
*[[IFES Asia Programs]]
 
*[[IFES Asia Programs]]
Line 21: Line 26:
 
*[[IFES Middle East Programs]]
 
*[[IFES Middle East Programs]]
  
==Election Guide==
+
==Election guide==
IFES has produced a website which enables the monitoring of elections, the election process, and information about parties.  The website was paid for by "a generous grant" from USAID.
+
IFES has produced a website, Election Guide (http://www.electionguide.org), which enables the monitoring of elections, the election process, and information about parties.  The website was launched in 1998 and paid for by "a generous grant" from USAID.<ref>[http://www.electionguide.org/about.php About Us], Election Guide website, accessed 14 Sept 2009</ref>
 +
 
 
===Contact and personnel===
 
===Contact and personnel===
 
*[[Dorin Tudoran]]  -- Editor in Chief
 
*[[Dorin Tudoran]]  -- Editor in Chief
 
*[[Karen Buerkle]] -- Data Editor
 
*[[Karen Buerkle]] -- Data Editor
 
*[[Oana Luca]] -- Research
 
*[[Oana Luca]] -- Research
Website: [http://www.electionguide.org/about.php www.electionguide.org]
 
  
==Handing out prizes==
+
==Handing out prizes for democracy==
In October 2007, IFES, a private company and contractor, awarded Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jos&eacute; Miguel Insulza.<ref>[http://media-newswire.com/release_1055528.html IFES Honors OAS Secretary General Insulza With Its Annual Democracy Award], Media Newswire, October 2007. (Accessed: 9 October 2007)</ref>
+
In October 2007, IFES, which is a private company and contractor, awarded Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Jos&eacute; Miguel Insulza.<ref>[http://media-newswire.com/release_1055528.html IFES Honors OAS Secretary General Insulza With Its Annual Democracy Award], Media Newswire, 4 October 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009</ref>
 
 
==Pontificating about elections==
 
Besides handing out prizes, many of IFES's operatives lecture on how elections should or should not be conducted. The emphasis is on the process or mechanics of elections and not on the nature of the political system.<ref>Achara Ashayagachat, [http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/17Nov2007_news09.php Close monitoring by public urged], Bangkok Post, 17 November 2007.</ref> IFES, an American corporation, is suggesting that money-dominated elections yield corruption and vote rigging. However, the US is the most money-intensive election systems. It is a case of double standards.
 
  
 
== IFES principals and staff==
 
== IFES principals and staff==
 
===Board members===
 
===Board members===
*[[William J. Hybl]], Chairman
+
As of September 2009, board members of IFES are:<ref>[http://www.ifes.org/board.html About IFES: Board], IFES website, accessed 14 Sept 2009</ref>
*[[Jean-Pierre Kingsley]] &ndash; President and Chief Executive Officer
+
* [[Peter G. Kelly]], Chairman
*[[Peter G. Kelly]], Vice-Chairman
+
* [[William J. Hybl]], Vice-Chairman
*[[Richard Soudriette]], IFES President and member of the US State Dept.
+
* The Honorable [[Leon J. Weil]], Secretary
"advisory committee on democracy
+
* [[Lesley Israel]], Treasurer
promotion"[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1558290,00.html]
+
* The Honorable [[Howard Henry Baker Jr.]]
*[[Leon J. Weil]], Secretary
+
* The Honorable [[Mary Banotti]]
*[[Joseph Napolitan]], Political consultant; president and CEO of [[Napolitan Associates]]; founder of the [[American Association of Political Consultants]] and co-founder of the [[International Association of Political Consultants]]; author of numerous articles and books on political campaigns; campaign advisor to various candidates both in the U.S. and abroad.
+
* [[Judy A. Black]]
*[[Judy Black]]
+
* [[Ken Blackwell]]
*[[Don V. Cogman]]
+
* [[Hank Brown]]
*[[Judy G. Fernald]]
+
* [[Sean Cleary]]
*[[Tyrone Freeman]]
+
* [[Frederick P. Furth]]
*[[Frederick P. Furth]]
+
* [[Jeffrey L. Glassman]]
*[[Jeffrey Glassman]]
+
* Ambassador [[Stuart Holliday]]
*[[Steny Hoyer]] -- (US Congress Rep. (MD))
+
* Representative [[Steny Hoyer]]
*[[Patricia Hutar]]
+
* The Honorable [[Barbara B. Kennelly]]
*[[Lesley Israel]]
+
* [[Maureen A. Kindel]]
*[[Barbara Kennelly]]
+
* [[Kathleen M. Linehan]], Esq.
*[[Maureen Kindel]]
+
* The Honorable [[Robert L. Livingston]]
*[[Jean-Pierre Kingsley]]
+
* Senator [[Richard Lugar]]
*[[Kathleen M. Linehan]]
+
* Sheila [[Avrin McLean]]
*[[Robert L. Livingston]]
+
* [[Denise Nappier]]
*[[Jane Bergman Norton]]
+
* His Excellency [[Andrés Pastrana]]
*[[Andres Pastrana]] &mdash; Former President of Colombia (1998-2002)
+
* [[R. Scott Pastrick]]
*[[R. Scott Pastrick]]
+
* [[Michael Pinto-Duschinsky]] Ph.D
*[[Michael Pinto-Duschinsky]]
+
* [[Richard C. Powell, Jr.]]
*[[T. Timothy Ryan, Jr.]]
+
* Ambassador [[Gerard Stoudmann]]
*[[Robert H. Tuttle]]
 
 
 
===IFES Senior Field Staff===
 
<table border="1" bgcolor="beige" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"
 
width="90%" align="center">
 
<tr><th bgcolor="goldenrod" colspan="3">IFES Field-Based Senior
 
Staff</th></tr>
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Bradley Austin]] &ndash; Senior Field Development Manager,
 
East/South Africa</td>
 
<td>[[Dickson Bailey]] &ndash; Project Director, IFES Albania and Kosovo
 
(Elections)</td>
 
<td>[[Dan Blessington]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Azerbaijan</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Elizabeth C&ocirc;t&eacute;]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Guinea</td>
 
<td>[[Almami Cyllah]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Liberia</td>
 
<td>[[Peter Erben]] &ndash; Deputy Director and Senior Advisor, Center
 
for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Ched Flego]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Armenia</td>
 
<td>[[Ben Goldsmith]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Egypt</td>
 
<td>[[Beverly Hagerdon Thakur]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Philippines</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Paul Harris]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Yemen</td>
 
<td>[[Leone Hettenbergh]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Uganda</td>
 
<td>[[Richard John]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Iraq</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Edward Kibirige]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Burundi</td>
 
<td>[[Charles Lasham]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Nigeria</td>
 
<td>[[Dr. Cecile Marotte]] &ndash; Chief of Party (Victims of Violence),
 
Haiti</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[David Mikosz]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Kyrgyz Republic</td>
 
<td>[[Katherine M&uuml;ller]] --Chief of Party, Tajikistan</td>
 
<td>[[Theo Noel]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Kenya</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Mauricio Claudio L&oacute;pez-Rivera]] &ndash; Chief of Party,
 
Timor Leste</td>
 
<td>[[Carmina Sanchis-Ruescas]] &ndash; Chief of Party, DRC</td>
 
<td>[[Hermann Thiel]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Lebanon</td>
 
</tr>
 
 
 
<tr>
 
<td>[[Rodolfo Ticao]] &ndash; Senior Program Manager, Iraq</td>
 
<td>[[Marcin Walecki]] &ndash; Senior Political Finance Advisor, Center
 
for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance</td>
 
<td>[[Peter Williams]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Afghanistan</td>
 
</tr>
 
  
<tr>
+
===IFES field-based senior staff===
<td>[[Jennifer Wilson]] &ndash; Chief of Party, Kazakhstan</td>
+
As of January 15, 2007:<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070115030933/http://www.ifes.org/field.html Field-based senior staff], IFES website, version archive 15 Jan 2007, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2007</ref>
</tr>
+
*[[Richard Atwood]] – Chief of Party, West Bank and Gaza | [[Bradley Austin]] – Senior Field Development Manager, East/South Africa | [[Dickson Bailey]] – Project Director, IFES Albania and Kosovo (Elections) | [[Dan Blessington]] – Chief of Party, Azerbaijan | [[Bill Chilvers]] – Chief of Party, Nepal | [[Elizabeth Côté]] – Chief of Party, Guinea | [[Almami Cyllah]] – Chief of Party, Liberia
<tr>
+
*[[Staffan Darnolf]] – Chief of Party, Pakistan
<th colspan="3" align="left">
+
*[[Carl Dundas]] – Chief of Party, Ethiopia
[http://www.ifes.org/field.html Source]
+
*[[Rudolf Elbling]] – Chief of Party, Nigeria
</th>
+
*[[Ched Flego]] – Chief of Party, Armenia
</tr>
+
*[[Ben Goldsmith]] – Chief of Party, Egypt
</table>
+
*[[Beverly Hagerdon Thakur]] – Chief of Party, Philippines
 +
*[[Paul Harris]] – Chief of Party, Yemen
 +
*[[Leone Hettenbergh]] – Chief of Party, Uganda
 +
*[[Richard John]] – Chief of Party, Iraq
 +
*[[Edward Kibirige]] – Chief of Party, Burundi
 +
*[[Dr. Cecile Marotte]] – Chief of Party (Victims of Violence), Haiti
 +
*[[Dan Malinovich]] – Acting Chief of Party, Kyrgyzstan
 +
*[[Katherine Müller]] – Chief of Party, Tajikistan
 +
*[[Theo Noel]] – Chief of Party, Kenya
 +
*[[Carmina Sanchis-Ruescas]] – Chief of Party, DRC
 +
*[[Hermann Thiel]] – Chief of Party, Lebanon
 +
*[[Rodolfo Ticao]] – Senior Program Manager, Iraq
 +
*[[Marcin Walecki]] – Senior Political Finance Advisor, Center for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance
 +
*[[Peter Williams]] – Chief of Party, Afghanistan
  
 
===Other Consultants===
 
===Other Consultants===
*[[Andrew Reynolds]]
+
*[[Andrew Reynolds]]<ref>[http://www.ifes.org/features.html?format=print&title=Afghanistan%20Considers%20Election%20System%20Change Afghanistan Considers Election System Change], IFES website, 6 Sept 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009</ref>
*[[Anthony Bowyer]]<ref>Navbahor Imamova,  
+
*[[Anthony Bowyer]]<ref>Navbahor Imamova, [http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-11-07-voa24.cfm Uzbekistan to Hold Presidential Elections in December], VOA News, 7 November 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009</ref>
[http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-11-07-voa24.cfm Uzbekistan to Hold  
 
Presidential Elections in December], VOA News, 7 November 2007</ref>
 
  
 
==Countries where IFES has been active==
 
==Countries where IFES has been active==
Line 148: Line 101:
 
operations</th></tr>
 
operations</th></tr>
 
<tr>
 
<tr>
<td>Alabania</td>
+
<td>Albania</td>
 
<td>Angola</td>
 
<td>Angola</td>
 
<td>Azerbaijan</td>
 
<td>Azerbaijan</td>
Line 196: Line 149:
  
 
==Affiliations==
 
==Affiliations==
*[[Center for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance]] &ndash; Organization belonging to IFES
+
 
 +
In 2001 IFES's "partners" were listed as follows on its website:
 +
*Agency for Education and Development (AED)
 +
*[[ARCO]] Corporation
 +
*Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA)
 +
*Association of Central and Eastern European Election Authorities(ACEEEO)
 +
*Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)
 +
*Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO)
 +
*Australian Agency for International Development
 +
*Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
 +
*CNN International
 +
*[[Coca-Cola]] Corporation
 +
*[[Department for International Development]] - U.K. (DFID)
 +
*[[Elections Canada]]
 +
*[[Ernst and Young]]
 +
*[[Eurasia Foundation]]
 +
*[[ExxonMobil]]
 +
*Finnish International Development Agency (FINNIDA)
 +
*Government of Japan
 +
*Government of Qatar
 +
*Government of Sweden
 +
*J. Walter Thompson Publishing
 +
*Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
 +
*International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers (IACREOT)
 +
*International IDEA
 +
*International Human Rights Law Group
 +
*[[International Republican Institute]] (IRI)
 +
*Internews
 +
*National Democratic Institute (NDI)
 +
*[[Nokia]] Mobile Phones
 +
*Management Systems International (MSI)
 +
*[[Motorola]], Inc.
 +
*Organization of American States (OAS)
 +
*Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
 +
*[[Oxygen Media]], Inc.
 +
*P.T. Datakom Asia
 +
*[[Research Triangle Institute]] (RTI)
 +
*[[Riggs Bank]]
 +
*Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
 +
*The [[Asia Foundation]]
 +
*The [[Carter Center]]
 +
*The [[Soros Foundation]]
 +
*[[Tinker Foundation]], Inc.
 +
*United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
 +
*United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
 +
*United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
 +
*United Nations Office Project Service (UNOPS)
 +
*U.S. Agency for International Development ([[USAID]])
 +
*U.S. Department of State
 +
 
 +
In February 2003 the following organisations were listed on the IFES website as "partners" or "allied organizations":<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20030205104557/http://www.ifes.org/partners.htm Partners], IFES website, version placed in web archive 5 Feb 2003, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2009</ref>
 
*[[Council for a Community of Democracies]]
 
*[[Council for a Community of Democracies]]
*[[NED]]
 
 
*[[Eurasia Foundation]]
 
*[[Eurasia Foundation]]
 
*[[Freedom House]]
 
*[[Freedom House]]
Line 204: Line 206:
 
*[[International IDEA]]
 
*[[International IDEA]]
 
*[[International Republican Institute]]
 
*[[International Republican Institute]]
*[[National Democratic Institute for International Affairs]] (NDI)
+
*[[National Democratic Institute]] for International Affairs (NDI)
*[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]
+
*[[Radio Free Europe]]/[[Radio Liberty]]
*[[Soros Foundation]]
+
*[[Soros Foundation]].
* United States Agency for International Development ([[USAID]]) (main funding source).
 
*U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) funding [http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/15734671.htm] [http://www.ifes.org//partners.htm Source]
 
  
 
==Contact, References and Resources==
 
==Contact, References and Resources==
Line 220: Line 220:
  
 
===Resources===
 
===Resources===
*Rightweb, [http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/ifes.php  
+
*Rightweb, [http://rightweb.irc-online.org/groupwatch/ifes.php International Foundation for Electoral Systems].
International Foundation for Electoral Systems].
 
  
 
===References===
 
===References===

Latest revision as of 10:46, 16 September 2009

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) was founded in 1987. Based in Washington DC, it fosters "democratic initiatives", extending loans and grants to various "developing" countries, and it provides "targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies". IFES notes: "the end of the Cold War in 1989 created opportunities… to respond to an overwhelming demand for technical non-partisan expertise in democracy and governance."

On its website it states:

As one of the world's premier democracy and governance assistance organizations, IFES provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies. Founded in 1987 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, IFES has developed and implemented comprehensive, collaborative democracy solutions in more than 100 countries.[1]

Summary of activities

On its website current in 2004 IFES stated that to date it had:

  • Established field offices in more than 35 countries
  • Conducted over 50 Pre-Election Technical Assessments
  • Carried out Poll Worker Training Programs in more than 20 countries
  • Administered more than 75 on-site Technical Assistance Programs
  • Managed election equipment and commodities procurements in over 40 countries
  • Directed Voter and Civic Education Programs in over 30 nations
  • Coordinated more than 15 Regional Networking Programs of election officials, donors, and NGO representatives
  • Overseen more than 45 Election Observation Programs
  • Built a cadre more than 1,500 democracy and governance consultants
  • Created a Center for Participatory Democracy with 6,500 items on contemporary elections and political processes to assist scholars, election practitioners, and other democracy building institutions
  • Issued more than 215 publications on democratic development worldwide.[2]

Programmes around the world

Election guide

IFES has produced a website, Election Guide (http://www.electionguide.org), which enables the monitoring of elections, the election process, and information about parties. The website was launched in 1998 and paid for by "a generous grant" from USAID.[3]

Contact and personnel

Handing out prizes for democracy

In October 2007, IFES, which is a private company and contractor, awarded Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza.[4]

IFES principals and staff

Board members

As of September 2009, board members of IFES are:[5]

IFES field-based senior staff

As of January 15, 2007:[6]

Other Consultants

Countries where IFES has been active

IFES states that it is active in 35 countries (inc. most of the former Soviet republics), but major activity occurred here:

Countries where IFES has major operations
Albania Angola Azerbaijan
Dominican Republic East Timor Ethiopia
Georgia Guatemala Guinea
Guyana Haiti Honduras
Indonesia Iraq Kazakhstan
Nicaragua Nigeria Pakistan
Palestinian Territories Paraguay Philippines
Tajikistan Yemen  

Affiliations

In 2001 IFES's "partners" were listed as follows on its website:

  • Agency for Education and Development (AED)
  • ARCO Corporation
  • Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA)
  • Association of Central and Eastern European Election Authorities(ACEEEO)
  • Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)
  • Association of Caribbean Electoral Organizations (ACEO)
  • Australian Agency for International Development
  • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
  • CNN International
  • Coca-Cola Corporation
  • Department for International Development - U.K. (DFID)
  • Elections Canada
  • Ernst and Young
  • Eurasia Foundation
  • ExxonMobil
  • Finnish International Development Agency (FINNIDA)
  • Government of Japan
  • Government of Qatar
  • Government of Sweden
  • J. Walter Thompson Publishing
  • Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
  • International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials, and Treasurers (IACREOT)
  • International IDEA
  • International Human Rights Law Group
  • International Republican Institute (IRI)
  • Internews
  • National Democratic Institute (NDI)
  • Nokia Mobile Phones
  • Management Systems International (MSI)
  • Motorola, Inc.
  • Organization of American States (OAS)
  • Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
  • Oxygen Media, Inc.
  • P.T. Datakom Asia
  • Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
  • Riggs Bank
  • Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
  • The Asia Foundation
  • The Carter Center
  • The Soros Foundation
  • Tinker Foundation, Inc.
  • United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF)
  • United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • United Nations Office Project Service (UNOPS)
  • U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • U.S. Department of State

In February 2003 the following organisations were listed on the IFES website as "partners" or "allied organizations":[9]

Contact, References and Resources

Contact

IFES
1101 15th Street, N.W., Third Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
202.828.8507, Telephone
202.452.0804, Fax
Website: www.ifes.org

Resources

References

  1. About Us, ElectionGuide website, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  2. Mission and Goals, IFES website, version placed in web archive 25 Jan 2004, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2009
  3. About Us, Election Guide website, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  4. IFES Honors OAS Secretary General Insulza With Its Annual Democracy Award, Media Newswire, 4 October 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  5. About IFES: Board, IFES website, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  6. Field-based senior staff, IFES website, version archive 15 Jan 2007, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2007
  7. Afghanistan Considers Election System Change, IFES website, 6 Sept 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  8. Navbahor Imamova, Uzbekistan to Hold Presidential Elections in December, VOA News, 7 November 2007, accessed 14 Sept 2009
  9. Partners, IFES website, version placed in web archive 5 Feb 2003, accessed in web archive 14 Sept 2009