BRIDGE to election expertise in Nepal

Election officials in Nepal have given an enthusiastic response to a training course designed to assist them with voter education and registration. The training took place in five different regions on the eve of a (real) voter registration exercise. It was happening in March 2009 while Nepal was in the midst of political turmoil and also preparing for by-elections. Some participants had to use creative methods such as walking long distances and crossing the national borders to reach the training venue during local shutdowns.

The training was part of the ongoing BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) programme run by International IDEA in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and Nepal’s Election Commission to be carried out 2008-2010. The sessions were delivered by national BRIDGE facilitators who were advised by two international experts.

BRIDGE offers a comprehensive professional development course aimed at improving the skills, knowledge, and confidence of election professionals and others in the electoral process. International IDEA’s programme in Nepal is focused on constitution building. In April the country elected a Constituent Assembly which is charged with building a new constitution. 

During the 15-day course, participants took part in practical exercises aimed at broadening their understanding of election standards and practice around the world. For example they learnt how Afghanistan provides separate election centres for women, who are not allowed to vote alongside men. Feedback suggested the participants found it useful to look at things from other perspectives.

“I am very much impressed by this training,” reported one participant. “In my opinion the BRIDGE training is very useful as it is based on the practical and implementation methods.” Another participant was interested to note similarities between the Australian experience and that in Nepal. In both countries, educated, male and urban people were more likely to be active in the political process.

The training took the form of group discussion, brainstorming, role play, and competitions. It also included a field visit to villages where the participants interacted with residents, discussing the registration process, the previous elections (for the Constituent Assembly) and the upcoming by-elections.

"Before this I had only heard about the theoretical obstacles in the process of voter's registration and the systems of registering voters in the world,” said Gopal Prasad Bagale, District Election Officer from Palpa District. “But this training helped me to learn about the types of voter's registration systems especially the practical sessions. Nepal has been practicing the periodic registration systems."

The only criticism was that participants felt the course should have been longer. Some said they would like to receive more training on issues such as gender, inclusion, governance and technology. The facilitators will use the feedback to help design further training, which might incorporate issues specific to Nepal, such as how to deal with the fact that some Nepalese women do not take their husband’s name after marriage.

The next module in July will focus on Electoral System design for Constituent Assembly members.