BRIDGE Workshop Civic Voter Education Nov 12 to 15 and 25 to 28

written by NEC Press | October 12, 2024

Between 22 April and 28 June 2024, UN IEAT conducted 26 BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) training workshops in Juba, all ten states and Pibor Administrative Area. The workshops were delivered by 13 accredited international facilitators to members of the National Election Commission, civil society, media, and UN IEAT staff. The training workshops covered a diverse range of electoral topics, including management (Building Excellence in Elections); election standards, electoral cycle, and electoral stakeholders (Introduction to Election Administration); election operations; and voter and civic education; voter rights for persons with disabilities, youth and women (Access to Electoral Processes); and training methods for election stakeholders (Train the Facilitator).  

This series of trainings was the largest roll out of BRIDGE in its 25-year history as the leading curriculum for training electoral stakeholders. In total, 679 participants were trained (60% male; 40% female). Nearly half of the participants were from civil society (48%), while others came from the National Election Commission (NEC) (27%), Government authorities (7%), Media (2%), and United Nations (15%).  

Following the swearing in of High Committee at a state-level (SHEC) the NEC will partner with UN-IEAT to conduct a Civic and Voter Education module will also be conducted for SHECs and a reduced number NEC staff. Unlike the previous Civic and Voter Education module that focused on operational planning, this four-day module will focus on implementing the CVE plan of the NEC. Techniques, strategies, and working with stakeholders will be the focus of this module. 

Schedule 

BRIDGE Module  Dates  Participants  Location 
Voter and Civic Education   (4 days)  12-15 Nov  Group 1: State High Committee members (25)   Juba 
Voter and Civic Education   (4 days)  25-28 Nov  Group 2: State High Committee members (25)   Juba 

After the completion of BRIDGE training, all SHEC members will be equipped to undergo the first of a series of operational technical trainings. When there is clarity on the modality and regulations for voter registration, UN IEAT and NEC can proceed with a voter and civic education campaign.