Subject: News from NDI: New NDI Blog, International Women's Day, Nigeria's Postponed Elections
From: "National Democratic Institute" <[email-masked]>
To: "Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 06 Mar 2015 15:22:17 -0500

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 		 [1]
 		NDI Launches New DemocracyWorks Blog [2]

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 		March 2015

 		 [2]

At NDI, we are privileged to work with political and civic activists who
work tirelessly to drive more responsive and accountable government. That
is why NDI would like to introduce you to a new blog, DemocracyWorks [3]. 

This platform is a place where NDI staff share stories about the
inspirational and often demanding work of democracy around the globe. In a
world where terrorist attacks and cat memes vie for attention, democracy's
everyday heroes are often overlooked. DemocracyWorks seeks to fill that gap
by highlighting the stories of these democrats who are working for
democracy and making democracy work. 

Since its founding in 1983, NDI has worked in 132 countries, supporting the
efforts of more than 15,000 civic organizations, 10,000 parliamentarians,
850 political parties, 1,300 women's organizations and millions of
individuals. In that time, the world has evolved and so has NDI, but one
thing remains as true today as it was 30 years ago -- democracy is grounded
in the efforts of dedicated individuals seeking to promote a more peaceful,
prosperous and humane world. Visit NDI's new blog » [2] 

-------------------------

NDI Celebrates International Women's Day [4] 

 		 [5]

In celebration of International Women's Day this Sunday, NDI will host
events across its global network highlighting this year's theme, "Make it
Happen." The events will feature how we are working with women and men to
achieve gender equality, women's political empowerment and to advance
democracy around the world. We will feature some of these events on our
website and in our blog over the next couple of weeks. 

On Tuesday, NDI will host an online "TweetTalk" with political party and
gender experts on best practices for empowering women for stronger
political parties. To join the discussion, follow the hashtag #HerParty.
Read more » [6] 

On Wednesday, the Institute will host a discussion between Diane Abbott, a
British member of parliament from Hackney North and Stoke Newington, and
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL, on the progress of civil and political rights
in the United States and the United Kingdom. U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, D-MD,
has been invited to moderate the conversation. You can sign up to attend
here [7]. Read more » [5] 

New Guide Provides Global Approaches to Candidate Debates [8] 

 		 [8]

Over the last decade, a growing number of voters in more than 60 nations
have tuned in to debates to learn more about candidates running for
president, prime minister, parliament or local government offices. 

Behind this rising global trend is the belief that debates provide a rare
side-by-side and unfiltered comparison of candidates, promote
accountability for campaign promises and can help decrease political
tensions and conflict. 

That principle is behind a new comprehensive 50-page guide released this
month by NDI that provides information on how to organize, produce and
evaluate candidate debates by drawing on lessons and examples from more
than 20 countries. Read more » [8] 

Leaders of NDI Observation Missions Call for Nigerian Elections to be Held
as Planned [9] 

 		 [9]

Fourteen current and former leaders of NDI observation missions to Nigeria
from 10 countries have joined the Institute in calling for Nigerian
election authorities to adhere to the March 28 date for presidential and
legislative elections. The polls were originally scheduled for Feb. 14 but
were postponed at the last minute. 

"It is our sincere hope that there will be no further delays to the polls
as any additional postponement would endanger the credibility of the
electoral process and its outcome," the leaders said in their statement.
They called on Nigerian authorities and the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to commit to "maintaining the dates for the March 28
presidential and legislative polls and the April 11 state elections;
providing regular updates on actions undertaken in preparation for the
elections; and guaranteeing the polls are credible and inclusive." Read
more » [9] 

Twenty MPs Participate in Parliamentary Exchange on Leadership in the
Digital Economy [10] 

 		 [10]

In many countries around the world, citizens have embraced social media and
new technology more rapidly than legislatures -- which are, by their
nature, often tradition-bound institutions. 

Bringing governments into the 21st century involves strengthening policies
on transparency, digital security and citizen participation. 

That was the focus of a 10-day parliamentary exchange on "Leadership in the
Digital Economy" co-organized by NDI with the Institute for Representative
Government in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Silicon Valley to help
elected leaders rethink approaches to citizen engagement in the digital
age. Members of parliament from Colombia, Georgia, Ghana, Indonesia,
Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Nepal, Peru, Serbia and Tunisia participated in the
program. Read more » [10] 

Local Mayors Foster Reconciliation in Côte d'Ivoire [11] 

 		 [11]

Two historically rival ethnic groups in Côte d'Ivoire, the Guéré and
Yacouba people, met recently for a soccer tournament organized by mayor
Jacqueline Gueu, one of the country's few women mayors. 

Over the last two decades in Côte d'Ivoire, women have historically been
excluded from leadership positions -- only 10 of the country's 197 mayors
are women. 

The soccer tournament is one of many ways women mayors and political
leaders are working with NDI to further reconciliation efforts in their
communities following decades of conflict. NDI also helped organize
dialogue sessions between the mayors and their constituents to address
reconstruction-related disputes and strengthen the role of women in Côte
d'Ivoire's reconciliation process. Read more » [11] 

Issue-Based Elections Help Bring Clean Water to Malawi [12] 

 		 [12]

It is mid-morning and the temperatures are uncomfortably hot in the Mpomba
area of Nsanje district in southern Malawi. Sixty-year-old Televina Zuwawo
stands proudly as she waits to draw water from a newly dug borehole, a
specially crafted narrow shaft drilled deep into the ground for extracting
clean water. 

Zuwawo can hardly believe that clean water -- normally hard to come by at
this time of year -- is now easily accessible. "I never expected that in my
lifetime the problem of water in my area would ever be solved," said
Zuwawo. 

The Mpomba wells were conceived and implemented by local officials who were
elected on the promise of bringing clean water to the community. That's
unusual in a country where officials are frequently elected based on tribal
allegiances rather than political party platforms. Read more » [12] 

-------------------------

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