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Office of Democracy and Governance
>> Regional Overview >> DCHA Overview >> Office of Democracy and Governance Overview Program Data Sheet
932-002PROGRAM: Central Programs, Office of Democracy and Governance (DCHA/DG)
PROGRAM TITLE: Elections and Political Processes (Pillar: Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance)
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE AND NUMBER: Political processes, including elections, are competitive and more effectively reflect the will of an informed citizenry; 932-002
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,902,000 DA
UNOBLIGATED PRIOR YEAR FUNDS AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,953,000 DA
PROPOSED FY2003 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $2,109,000 DA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY1997 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY2007Summary: The DCHA/DG elections and political processes program provides technical assistance and support to USAID missions worldwide through the development of new methodologies and synthesis of lessons learned in the design and implementation of election assistance and through management of contracts, a grant, and a cooperative agreement. The purpose of this DCHA/DG program is to strengthen USAID programming and reinforce country-based efforts by:
- Assisting efforts for the administration of elections in a credible, impartial and professional manner;
- Training local organizations to monitor elections and educate voters about their rights and responsibilities;
- Providing assistance to improve citizen representation and democratic procedures within political parties;
- Promoting increased political participation of women and historically disenfranchised groups; and
- Training newly elected legislators and local officials to govern effectively.
Inputs, Outputs, and Activities: USAID's election and political process activities continue to serve as one of the Administration's primary means for supporting key foreign policy initiatives in countries in-transition and/or emerging from conflict. Activities to be conducted in FY 2002 and FY 2003 fall into two categories: support for regional and field programs, and continued development of DCHA/DG's technical leadership in election assistance.
Some of the main ongoing field programs that will continue in FY2002 include:
- USAID assistance to the transition to democratic, civilian government in Nigeria will continue with follow-on support to the newly formed government, political parties and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
- Support for political party development following the November 2001 parliamentary elections in Kosovo to foster party professionalism, transparency, and accountability to the electorate.
- Programs to increase women's political participation in Morocco, Paraguay, Senegal, and Yemen by training female candidates interested in running for office and building the capacity of female activists to galvanize support for expanded representation.
FY 2002 and FY 2003 programs are and will continue to be developed in coordination with field missions. To date, plans exist for election support in FY 2002 for Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe, as well as political party development in Bosnia, Georgia, Haiti, and Russia.
DCHA/DG's technical leadership will entail continued research and analysis on innovative topics. For example, recommendations outlined in a forthcoming campaign finance handbook, Money and Politics Handbook: A Guide to Transparency and Open Finances in Emerging Democracies, will be widely circulated and vetted for implementation into political party development and anti-corruption activities. Likewise, challenges to conducting elections and strengthening political parties in transitional, conflict, and post-conflict environments will be further analyzed starting in FY 2002 and through FY 2003. DCHA/DG will continue to focus its attention on expanding the participation of and suffrage for women, minorities, and youth in the political process.
Performance and Results: DCHA/DG continued to support our partners in conducting research and to implement and test key approaches in field programs. USAID funding enabled partners to monitor the pre-election situations in Nicaragua and Zimbabwe; conduct political
party development programs in Haiti, Lesotho, and Peru; implement political leadership programs in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico; and produce new publications including Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Political Party Building, Building Confidence in the Voter Registration Process, Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) Handbook, and Analytical Guide to Promoting Legal and Constitutional Reform for Free and Fair Elections. DCHA/DG also continues to work with partners to ensure the sustainability of the Administration and Cost of Elections project jointly developed with the United Nations and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and the F. Clifton White Resource Center, a Washington-based comprehensive source of worldwide information on elections and political processes.
DCHA/DG is evaluating programs and designing new activities to prevent and mitigate election-related conflict. Major Contractors and Grantees: The primary partner organization for assisting elections and strengthening political processes is the Consortium for Elections and Political Processes Strengthening, which has a cooperative agreement with USAID. Consortium partners are the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, International Republican Institute and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), and sub-grantees include the Carter Center. USAID has separate indefinite quantity contracts with IFES and Development Associates, Inc. for short- and medium-term services in the area of elections and political processes. Sub-contractors are The Carter Center, Decision Strategies Fairfax International, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Mendez England & Associates. DCHA/DG is preparing an agreement with Women's Campaign International.
US Financing in Thousands of Dollars
DCHA/DG Elections and Political Processes, 932-002 Total Economic Support Funds Development Assistance Total Through September 30, 2000 Obligations 24,120 3,316 20,804 Expenditures 21,374 3,220 18,154 Unliquidated 2,746 96 2,650 Fiscal Year 2001 Obligations 3,795 0 3,795 Expenditures 3,050 50 3,000 Through September 30, 2001 Obligations 27,915 3,316 24,599 Expenditures 24,424 3,270 21,154 Unliquidated 3,491 46 3,445 Prior Year Unobligated Funds* Obligations 1,953 0 1,953 Planned Fiscal Year 2002 NOA Obligations 1,902 0 1,902 Total Planned Fiscal Year 2002 Obligations 3,855 0 3,855 Proposed Fiscal Year 2003 NOA Obligations 2,109 0 2,109 Future Obligations 0 0 0 Est. Total Cost 33,879 3,316 30,563 *of which, $325,000 in DA are prior year reobligations.
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
