Asia
AFGHANISTAN
International Election Monitoring, Election Reform, and Civic Advocacy (2009-present). Over the second half of 2009, Democracy International conducted a comprehensive election observation project in Afghanistan to evaluate the degree to which the conduct of the country’s presidential election and the broader political and legal contexts conformed to accepted international norms of election administration, human rights, and democratic representation. These elections were seen as vital to the consolidation of democracy in Afghanistan and as a critical component in the country’s ongoing struggle for peace. DI is an endorsing organization of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, issued at the United Nations in 2005, and has operated in accordance with those principles.
For elections in August 2009, DI sent a 62-member mission of experienced international observers and foreign policy and Afghanistan experts from the United States and other countries. This was the largest U.S. delegation. DI deployed the delegation in two phases to various regions of the country. In July, DI dispatched long-term observers, who assessed the electoral preparations and the local political climate. Before Election Day on August 20, DI sent short-term observers to 13 provinces around the country to observe and report on the balloting and counting processes. DI subsequently maintained an ongoing presence in Kabul to monitor the vote tabulation process and the resolution of complaints. In late October, DI began to deploy a second election observation mission to the runoff election scheduled for November 7, which was ultimately cancelled.
Through the end of 2009 and into 2010, DI has continued to work with the Afghan Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Election Complaints Commission (ECC) on issues of international and domestic election observation, civil society engagement in electoral processes, and election reform. In 2010 DI has been working with domestic civil society organizations, local media, the national assembly and international organizations. DI currently plans to organize international election observers for parliamentary elections planned for September 2010.
BANGLADESH
Advice to Political Parties on Voter Registration Verification (2007). In March 2007, DI Principal Glenn Cowan advised political parties and gave the key-note address at a multiparty conference organized by the National Democratic Institute in Dhaka, Bangladesh on voter registration verification, election issues, and communications strategies in the lead up to politically charged elections.
HONG KONG
Election and Democratization Assessment (2007). DI Principal Eric Bjornlund traveled to Hong Kong as part of a National Democratic Institute assessment team in March 2007 and was the principal author of the team’s assessment report on the Chief Executive Election and prospects for democratization and constitutional reform. Since 1997, Mr. Bjornlund has led periodic NDI assessment missions on elections and rule of law and has co-authored eight reports in the series on The Promise of Democratization in Hong Kong. These reports have assessed the election process and legislative, district council, and chief executive elections in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007; the political environment before and after reversion to Chinese sovereignty; the status of autonomy, rule of law, and civil liberties under Chinese sovereignty; reforms of governing institutions introduced in 2002; the impact of pro-democracy demonstrations in 2003; and the state of the transition and prospects for democratization.
INDONESIA
Review of Australian Assistance to the 2009 Elections in Indonesia (2009). In September 2009, on behalf of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), DI conducted an independent qualitative review and assessment of the appropriateness, efficiency, and effectiveness of Australia’s support for the 2009 election process in Indonesia. AusAID channeled this support through the UNDP Multi-Donor Electoral Program, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), The Asia Foundation (TAF), and the Partnership for Governance Reform (Partnership). Eric Bjornlund led a team that met with representatives from AusAID and its implementing partners as well as with commissioners and senior staff members of the election commission, representatives of the government of Indonesia, civil society groups, election analysts, and aid officials from other countries. The team assessed the project according to criteria from AusAID’s standard independent evaluation framework and made recommendations for future election support in Indonesia.
Program Evaluation for the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (2009). In May 2009, DI conducted an evaluation of the democracy assistance programs of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) and its local partner, the Indonesian Community for Democracy (KID), including “democracy schools” around the country and a program of political party consultations. Working with Indonesian Political Economist and Evaluation Expert Sugeng Bahagijo, Eric Bjornlund conducted a series of interviews with NIMD board and staff members in The Hague; visited democracy schools in Malang, East Java, and Tangerang, Banten province; and conducted interviews with political parties, members of parliament, civic activists, journalists, donors, and other stakeholders and observers in Jakarta. DI’s report was featured on the home page of the NIMD website (http://www.nimd.org/).
Election Monitoring (2009). For national elections in April 2009, Eric Bjornlund advised The Carter Center on a long-term election monitoring project and led a team of short-term observers as part of a limited observation project. The Carter Center issued a series of reports on election dispute resolution, campaign finance and related issues.
Democracy and Governance Assessment (2008). In 2008, DI conducted a broad, strategic democracy and governance assessment in Indonesia on behalf of USAID, in accordance with USAID’s DG Assessment Framework. Led by Eric Bjornlund, the four-person team met in Jakarta and elsewhere around the country with Indonesian government officials, political parties, civil society groups, journalists, academics, and others as well as with international donors and implementers. The team cited the lack of effective governance and the failure of the judicial system to tackle corruption and inspire confidence as major challenges to consolidating democracy in Indonesia. The team recommended focus on local governance, justice-sector reform, and consolidating the democratic peace in Aceh as DG priorities.
Monitoring and Evaluation for SERASI Project (2008-present). As a subcontractor for International Relief and Development, DI is responsible for the design and execution of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) program for USAID’s SERASI project. SERASI provides grants designed to address social and political conflict throughout Indonesia with special emphasis on potential conflict areas in Aceh, Central Sulawasi, Moluku, and Papua. The M&E plan includes baseline assessments that provide the basis for targeted impact evaluations of the more significant grants. DI staff members are based in Jakarta, Aceh, and Central Sulawesi.
National Public Opinion Surveys (2006-09). Democracy International conducted a four-year project in Indonesia to design, conduct, and analyze nationwide public opinion surveys to assess and monitor trends in the political climate, gauge public attitudes toward democracy and governance, assess public support for political reforms, and monitor progress toward USAID’s democratic and decentralized governance strategic and intermediate objectives.
Local Government Support Program (LGSP) (2005-09). Under the USAID Local Government Support Program, Democracy International worked in provinces throughout Indonesia to support and improve the quality of new processes for direct election of governors and district executives. Led by Senior Adviser Alan Wall, DI experts advised national, provincial, and district election commissions and Indonesian NGOs on regulations for voting and counting, training of election officials, voter information and voter education, a code of conduct for parties and candidates, and similar issues. In addition, DI staff members served for two years as Senior Communications Advisor.
Democratic Reform Support Program (DRSP) (2005-2009). Democracy International advised on major, national-level election-reform issues, including reconstitution of the national election commission, redesign of the electoral system, and political finance reform. DI also worked with the national legislature and civil society groups on strategic communications, freedom of information, anticorruption, and other policy reform initiatives.
Aceh Election Support Project (2005-06). DI supported postconflict democratic elections in the province of Aceh in Indonesia, in the wake of the tsunami disaster in December 2004 and a peace accord signed in August 2005. Leading up to the elections in December 2006, a DI team led by election expert Alan Wall worked with the national and Aceh election commissions and other provincial authorities to register large numbers of internally displaced persons, prepare new regulations, train election officials, and organize the elections.
Local Government Evaluation (2006). In 2006 a Democracy International team led by Eric Bjornlund conducted a comprehensive evaluation of a major local government program in Indonesia, the Center for Local Government Innovation, and advised the USAID Mission on future decentralization and local government programs.
Election Monitoring and Parallel Vote Tabulations (2004). In 2004 DI worked with The Carter Center on a comprehensive monitoring program for Indonesia’s first direct presidential elections. As The Carter Center’s Field Office Director in Indonesia for the five-month-long program, Eric Bjornlund designed an innovative long-term monitoring program and supervised 15 long-term observers deployed across the country and a Jakarta staff of six. He organized 60-person election observation missions for both rounds, advised and accompanied former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a six-day visit in July, and served as delegation co-leader in September. Working with NDI and Indonesian election monitoring and research organizations, Glenn Cowan advised on the design, implementation, and interpretation of high-profile quick counts for all three rounds of national elections in April, July, and September. He also advised on the design, management, and analysis of large-scale programs to conduct voter registration audits, voter motivation studies, and parallel vote tabulations for 2004 parliamentary and presidential elections.
PAKISTAN
International Election Observation (2008). At the request of the U.S. government, on extremely short notice, DI organized the U.S. delegation to observe national parliamentary elections in Pakistan on February 18, 2008. The 38-person bipartisan delegation included recognized leaders from the political, academic, and foreign policy fields, as well as experts in election processes and Pakistani politics. The delegation convened in Islamabad to meet with electoral authorities, representatives of Pakistani political parties and civil society, and other international and domestic election observers. Before Election Day, members of the delegation were deployed throughout Pakistan to meet with local election officials, candidates, and election monitors and to observe conditions in a variety of locations.
In coordination with the Free and Fair Election Network, a Pakistani nonpartisan monitoring group, delegates observed the balloting and counting at polling stations on Election Day and reconvened subsequently in Islamabad to compare their findings and prepare a preliminary statement. The delegation presented its findings at a press conference in Islamabad on February 20. To follow up on these findings, a small team led by DI Principal Glenn Cowan conducted a post-election monitoring mission in April 2008. In May DI issued a comprehensive final report on the entire process, which made a number of recommendations to the government, the election commission, the national assembly, party leaders, and the international community on the institutional framework, voter registration, election procedures, the electoral system, and women’s participation.
Domestic Election Monitoring (2007-08). Over nearly a year leading up to elections in Pakistan in February 2008, DI collaborated extensively with The Asia Foundation in support of domestic election monitoring. DI advised the Free and Fair Election Network, a domestic election monitoring coalition of civil society groups, on a voter registration audit and a nationwide parallel vote tabulation.
Evaluation of Political Party Assistance (2007-08). Building on the extensive experience of DI’s principals with Pakistan’s political parties going back to 1990, USAID selected DI to perform an evaluation of political party assistance in Pakistan in late 2007. A DI team led by Glenn Cowan conducted interviews in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, including meetings with party leaders and activists from North West Frontier and Baluchistan provinces. The team met with representatives of all the major parties including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League- Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q), Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Awami National Party (ANP,) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI). The team also conducted interviews with program implementers, civil society activists, academics, journalists, donor representatives and other democracy and governance program implementers. It offered comprehensive recommendations to USAID on political party programming.
THE PHILIPPINES
Election Reform (2004). In 2004 DI Principal Glenn Cowan coordinated a joint election assessment conducted by NDI, IRI, and IFES and managed several election evaluation workshops for Philippine political parties and other civil society organizations.
SRI LANKA
Political Parties and Local Governance Reform (2005-06). In 2005-06 Democracy International worked with The Asia Foundation in Sri Lanka on a program to engage political parties on local governance reform. DI prepared an assessment of political party attitudes toward local government reform and helped to design a strategy to build political will for these reforms.
TIMOR-LESTE
Research Development Project (2007-10). In 2007 Democracy International began a three-year program in Timor-Leste to help local institutions to conduct survey research and to develop quantitative research skills. DI has trained research organizations and university research centers on how to design surveys, conduct field work, and analyze results using statistical software. DI is helping to develop a core group of professional researchers to conduct public opinion surveys and other quantitative research projects, which will provide information to policy-makers and other stakeholders, and is designing and implementing training programs for field researchers and students. With DI’s mentoring, Timorese research organizations have conducted major quantitative research projects for international organizations. With additional funding, DI has worked with the Cultural Change Institute at Tufts University on further research to study how cultural values affect development initiatives in Timor-Leste. DI has also conducted research addressing the performance of suco (local government) councils. Dicky Dooradi, an expert in quantitative research methods and elections and political processes programs, became Chief of Party in June 2009.
