Context

In fragile state where democratic development has been characterized by hope, expectations and despair, holding legitimate elections is integral to the process of democratic reform and stability; without it, there can be no democracy and sustainable peace. Nevertheless, as Liberia heads for another anticipated free and fair elections in less than 18 months, findings from a recent study conducted by VOSIEDA has established that electorates, particularly rural women and youths (the majority of Liberia’s voters) have always voted out of fear, apathy and ignorance in past elections due to high incidence of illiteracy, poverty and inadequate access to civic and voters’ education. They have always been manipulated by rich warlords and people accused of stealing from public resources, who get elected base lies.

The Intervention:

To address this problem, VOSIEDA worked with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and grassroot democratic civil society organizations to initiate and intensified civic/voters’ education and built capacities of women and youths particularly in rural areas to understand their civic rights and duties, the nature of Liberia’s political processes and options available to them when voting comes elections. This civic engagement has enabled target populations to understand democratic dispensations, voting procedures and Liberia’s political system so that they would vote void of ignorance, ethnic and religious demagogy, avoid vote-selling and support non-violent tactics in the 2011 electoral process.

The Results

VOSIEDA worked with the United Nations Missions in Liberia (UNIMIL), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), National Elections Commission (NEC) and fifty (50) grassroot Liberian civic society organizations in the ten most populated political sub-divisions out of Liberia’s fifteen counties to build democratic network and systematically conduct civic/voters’ education. Trained three hundred (300) grassroot elections monitors and deploy in counties based on population and number of electoral constituencies. The monitors observed the electoral process and give early warning indicators of conflicts and electoral frauds. Trained at least fifty (50) aspiring youths and women candidates in advocacy, leadership and communication to enable them stand for elections.

Key facts

Sector: Governance  and Social Development
Domain: Civic Engagement
Benefiting zone: Liberia
Nature:  Grant
Duration: 2010 – 2012
Status: Completed