International Foundation For Electoral Systems Activities In Asia

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) operates a number of election support missions in Asia. Following their elections plus approach, IFES has participated in a diverse number of programs, both enhancing the governmental organizations that directly enhance elections and enhancing civil society through the endorsement of non-governmental organizations.

Afghanistan

IFES has worked in Afghanistan since 2002 helping the country's Independent Election Commission (IEC).Support to the Electoral Process (STEP)
USAID Afghanistan, July 20, 2009. Accessed July 22, 2009. Also, the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, an organization which includes other democracy promotion organizations, participates in additional programs in the country.

Azerbaijan

IFES began cooperation with the Azerbaijani government through their central election commission in 2000.IFES and Azerbaijani CEC prolong term of cooperation memorandum
AZ Today, December 16, 2005. Accessed July 08, 2009. Their cooperation was renewed in 2002. In 2005, the Azerbaijani CEC had 2 IFES election observers registered along with a number of other international observers. IFES's support of the Azerbaijani CEC was praised by the head of the commission, Mezair Penahov. He stressed that IFES has "efficient cooperation with both international organizations in the direction of raising voter’s awareness and awareness of the members of lower election commissions."Mezahir Penahov received representatives of USAID and IFES
AZ Today, October 5, 2005. Accessed July 08, 2009. While coordinating efforts with the Azerbaijani CEC, IFES has consulted the UK based Association of Electoral Administrators.

When USAID reviewed its programs in Azerbaijan in 2009, IFES along with NDI both made proposals to continue work in the area. The International Republican Institute discontinued its partnership in these programs.

Bangladesh

In 2009 IFES was commissioned by UNDP to take a series of surveys in order to check the accuracy of the digitized voter registration list in Bangladesh.Mehboob, Ahmed Bilal
Lessons from the Bangladesh polls
The International News February 02, 2009. Accessed July 27, 2009. The poll showed that 99% of the Bangladeshi thought it was accurate. This is an improvement over the previous undigitized system which had approximately 13 million ineligible votes.

Indonesia

IFES helped establish the TV station Swara Channel in 1999.

A series of tracking surveys conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems between December 2003 and late June 2004 showed the popularity of each presidential candidate among voters throughout the selection and campaign periods. IFES also conducted a tracking survey in the Indonesian legislative elections in 2004 which showed that not all voters knew how to vote for candidates for the new Regional Representative Council or were even aware of its existence.

Between May 2007 and October 2009, USAID contracted the IFES to implement a $2.45 million contract to support the National General Election Commission. IFES was among eight organizations that monitored the elections in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province during the 2009 legislative elections.EIGHT INT'L INSTITUTIONS TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN ACEH
TMCnet via Asia Pulse Data Source, April 07, 2009. Accessed July 29, 2009.

Pakistan

In 2006, IFES implemented a 9 million dollar contract through USAID used to install a computerised electoral rolls system for the Pakistani government.Computerised electoral rolls system installed
Daily Times (Pakistan), September 10, 2008. Accessed July 23, 2009. This roll system, despite its new technology, is having a considerable number of errors.Tufali, Mazhar
Electoral rolls are full of errors
The International News (Pakistan), August 3, 2009. Accessed August 7, 2009. These errors appear to be the result of both mis-communication between the software developer, Kalsoft a division Khanani and Kalia International (Private) Limited, and errors in the programs implementation.

IFES also advised the Pakistani Election Commission during the 2008 elections. This election was delayed by the death of Benazir Bhutto.Pennington, Matthew. Pakistan Holds Election Key to Democracy. Associated Press, Feb 18, 2008. Accessed July 07, 2009.

IFES is helping with the election official training programs in Pakistan. Part of this activity was the establishment of a Federal Election Academy.Capacity building key to meet modern day challenges
The International News (Pakistan), July 14, 2009. Accessed August 7, 2009. This program includes the establishment of a library with the help of organizations such as USAID, NDI and UNDP.

Philippines

IFES provided election observers for the May 14, 2007 elections.
The Daily Tribune (Philippines) August 10, 2009. Accessed August 18, 2009.

IFES currently supports the electoral process in the Philippines. Leading up to the 2010 elections, IFES conducted a study that determined which populations in the Philippines were least likely to vote and began designing programs to increase voter registration in these groups.UK hopeful RP polls will push through
The Daily Trinune (Philippines), July 9, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2009. This program is funded by the British government in an effort to get marginalized groups, like indigenous peoples, the disabled, youths and women, ready for the May 2010 elections.
Business Mirror, July 09, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2009.

IFES and USAID support Citizens CARE, an organization that bolster election reform in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.Manar, Malu Cadelina
Poll volunteers to evaluate monitoring
Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, August 15, 2009. Accessed August 17, 2009 They are carrying out a program titled "Strengthening Electoral Process through Voters’ Education and Election Monitoring in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao”.Poll watchdog to evaluate foreign-funded election monitoring project in ARMM
Minda News, August 15, 2009. Accessed August 18, 2009. This project is active in 1500 barangays in 80 towns.

Timor-Leste

IFES participated in the USAID program to develop the electoral and political process in Timor-Leste, which began in 2001 and ended in 2008. pp 4-7 The focus of IFES work in the country was the development of electoral framework in processes in the country.

References

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Election and voting-related organizations