Zelenskyy, Power, Portman and Marakova Honored by IFES, Sustainable Democracy and Standing Against Bigotry

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E-NEWSLETTER

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova, USAID DRG Officers, USAID Administrator Samantha Power and Senator Rob Portman to be honored at 35th Anniversary Celebration.

IFES ANNOUNCES CHARLES T. MANATT DEMOCRACY AWARDS RECIPIENTS

“President Zelenskyy has electrified the world with his fiery defense of Ukrainian democracy in the face of Russia’s criminal invasion. Friends of democracy everywhere are inspired by his leadership and the determination of the Ukrainian people. IFES has been a proud supporter of Ukrainian democracy since its independence, and with this Democracy Award, we honor the commitment of our Ukrainian partners, of the Ukrainian people, and of President Zelenskyy to a democratic future,”

- Tony Banbury, IFES President and CEO

IFES will honor three global democracy leaders with its 2022 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova accepting on his behalf; USAID Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) Officers, with USAID Administrator Samantha Power accepting on their behalf; and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Read our full statement

At a polling station in Montserrado County, Liberia, poll workers helped elderly voters who needed assistance to cast their vote in 2017.

IS DEMOCRACY ASSISTANCE SUSTAINABLE? WHAT 25 YEARS OF PROGRAMS HAS TAUGHT US

IFES has revisited 25 years of democracy assistance programs in post-conflict countries in interviews with 88 local partners and 28 implementers. Through these critical conversations, we have gained insight into what factors contributed to long-lasting change, sustainability and self-reliance.

Read the report

IFES COMMEMORATES THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA AND BIPHOBIA

“Everyone is entitled to dignity and equality, no matter who they are, whom they love, or how they identify — and we will continue to engage with allies and partners to advance the human rights of LGBTQI+ people here at home and in all corners of the world.”

- U.S. President Joe Biden

IFES works with election management bodies, organizations and activists around the world, including from the LGBTQI+ community, to promote equal and meaningful participation in political and public life. We are proud of the work we have carried out with local partners across the globe.

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ONLINE DISCUSSION SERIES: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AS AN ANTI-CORRUPTION TACTIC: EVIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE FROM EUROPE?

Join IFES May 31 at 9 a.m. EST/UTC-5 for the 19th installment of our Online Discussion Series, Digital Transformation as an Anti-Corruption Tactic: Evidence and Experience from Europe? This event will examine the evidence and experience around digital transformation and anti-corruption in Europe and share specific lessons from experts in the region who have led such processes.

RSVP

YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES LEAD

As part of the 2022 Global Disability Summit, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and IFES co-hosted a discussion with young leaders with disabilities from around the world. The event, emceed by a young Ukrainian disability rights leader, Iryna, featured two panels and focused on ways the Global Disability Summit and the 2022 Disability-Inclusive Democracy Year of Action, which was announced at the U.S. government’s December 2021 Summit for Democracy, can be leveraged to enhance political access of young people with disabilities.

Watch the event

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Lourdes González P. @LourdesGlezP ·May 6 An honor for me to participate in #1erCongresoInternacionalJCE in Dominican Rep representing @IFES1987 @IFESGender @IFESAmericas . Congratulations to @juntacentral @efecedudo for high level and diversity of participants, mostly women🤩💜 @Maxzal2012 @mdsvetlik @TonyBanbury Quote Tweet EFEC @efecedudo · May 6 Cerramos este 5.º panel con la ponencia de la directora de país para el Salvador y Guatemala de la Fundación Internacional para Sistemas Electorales (@IFESAmericas), @LourdesGlezP, con el tema: Desafíos las reformas en Latinoamérica: aportes del @IFES1987.

Coming soon 👀 @IFES1987 in #Senegal partnered w/ local Organizations of Persons with Disabilities to produce the first ever sign language lexicon of election terms. Through cooperation w/ @usaidsenegal & @DGESenegal , #elections will now be more accessible for the #deaf community.

IFES Youth @IFESYouth May 6 #FlashbackFriday to @IFES1987 & @USAIDDRG's event at the @GDS_Disability

Women’s Political Representation in Sri Lanka: Electoral System Analysis and Recommendations drawing of five women

WOMEN'S POLITICAL REPRESENTATION IN SRI LANKA: ELECTORAL ANALYSIS AND RECOMENDATIONS

In an April report IFES finds that Sri Lanka has taken positive strides to promote gender equity. Still, we find that COVID-19 and other factors have exasperated existing inequality calling for action to promote women’s political representation. Learn more about our analysis and recommendations.

Read the report

DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGES IN EUROPE: RECENT ELECTIONS IN SERBIA AND HUNGARY - WHAT LIES AHEAD?

On April 28, IFES hosted Democratic Challenges in Europe: Recent Elections in Serbia and Hungary — What Lies Ahead? This was the 18th installment of our Online Discussion Series. A panel of experts discussed the potential impact of these two elections on democratic resilience in the region. Read about their findings in our write-up of the event.

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Woman voting in Nepal, people voting in Lebanon people voting in Colombia,

ELECTION FAQS MAY 2022

Throughout May, IFES has followed three important elections. On May 13, Nepal held local elections boosted by an unprecedented youth vote. Lebanon held parliamentary elections despite facing difficult circumstances. Colombian voters will go to the polls May 29 to elect the nations president. Learn more about these elections below.

Elections in Nepal :2022 Local Elections
Elections in Lebanon: 2022 Parliamentary
Elections in Colombia: 2022 Presidential Elections

WORK WITH IFES

IFES is a great place to work! IFES is hiring for a variety of positions at our headquarters in Arlington, Virginia and our field offices worldwide. Among the open positions are:

Deputy Regional Director - Arlington, VA
Country Directory- Burkina Faso

Join us!

IFES MENTIONS

IFES programs, experts and research are regularly featured in the media. We value the opportunity to highlight the importance of democracy assistance and further our mission to build democracies that deliver for all.

Africa: The Africa Union published a press release about a technical review and validation workshop of the draft African Guide on Electoral Assistance, which IFES participated in.

Armenia: The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia reported on IFES’ Jérôme Leyraud and other IFES representatives meeting with Armenia’s national Standing Committee on Labor and Social Affairs.

Brazil: The Superior Electoral Court published a press release announcing the dispatch of an electoral observation mission under the Electoral Network of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries. It also mentioned IFES as one of the international organizations being invited to observe.

Democratic Republic of Congo: ACP Congo reported on an IFES-organized session on mobilizing women’s organizations.

Dominican Republic: Diario Libre reported on the Central Electoral Board holding an international congress, with IFES participating.

Ecuador: Aldia reported on a technical workshop held by the National Electoral Council, in which IFES recommendations on improving information and communication technologies were presented.

Fiji: FBC News reported on IFES and the Fijian Elections Office signing a Memorandum of Understanding together to enhance collaboration on developing electoral practices.

Guyana: Demerara Waves and Kaieteur News reported on the launch of the IFES-supported youth program Youth Advocacy, Linkages, Leadership In Elections and Society (Youth ALLIES).

Kyrgyzstan: AKI Press reported on the Central Commission for Elections (CEC) and IFES’ meeting on cooperation in improving electoral laws.

Mexico: Latin US reported on the recent Electoral Democracy Summit, hosted by International IDEA, and referenced IFES President & CEO Anthony Banbury’s remarks from the event.

Nigeria: The Cable reported on the 2023 Nigerian elections and quoted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, who thanked IFES for its support. The Nigerian Tribune also reported on this, quoting IFES’ Seray Jah about IFES’ involvement. Blueprint Nigeria published an article on the upcoming Ekiti state election and mentioned IFES. The Lagos State Government published a press release about the Lagos State Independent Election Commission working with IFES on a needs assessment. Premium Times Nigeria reported on a new gender policy presented by INEC, implemented in collaboration with IFES.

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FOLLOW THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ELECTIONS

Elections around the world have been impacted by COVID-19. IFES continues to track the latest information on election postponements, adjusted election dates and risk-mitigating strategies adopted during elections.

Visit Electionguide.org

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