A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

IN THIS EDITION...

A Message from the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative

DEP supports pre-election

voter education campaign

EMB capacity needs assessments were

undertaken, and this will provide the
basis for further support in various
priority areas as identified.

Stakeholders' role in mitigating election-related conflict

Underlining the gender and
social inclusion imperative
EMB leaders, senior managers undergo professional
training
Human rights training for
police strengthened
Bolstering capacity of community media practitioners
UN Resident Coordinator
pays a courtesy call on NEC
ZEC staff hone their computer skills
DEP boosts operations of
RPPs office
EMBs get semi-accredited
BRIDGE facilitators
Study underscores NECs institutional strengthening
Technical support provided
to voter registration roll-out
ZEC assessment triggers a
raft of reforms
Community media ready for
marathon voter education

UPCOMING EVENTS

December
Steering Committee meeting

2014

Training of middle-ranking Tanzania

Police Force (TPF) officers in public
order management was completed as
elcome to the inauguplanned and has been well received.
ral newsletter of the
Democratic Empower- ICT upgrading work with the EMBs
ment Project (DEP), a and the RPP is well advanced and
three-year multi-donor initiative aimed should bring immediate benefits when
at capacity strengthening of key insti- completed.
tutions of democracy in Tanzania inSignificant technical support was procluding the National Electoral Comvided to both EMBs on their biometric
mission (NEC), Zanzibar Electoral
voter registration systems.
Commission (ZEC) and the office of the
UNESCOs support for community
Registrar of Political Parties (RPP).
media has run smoothly and will proThe project has been under implemenvide a useful foundation for future protation now for over a year and this pubject initiatives on voter education and
lication fulfils a long standing need for
maintaining a peaceful elections envidisseminating news and information to
ronment.
Development Partners, implementing
partners and the Tanzanian public at- Significant progress was also made
with UN Womens support for inclusive
large.
participation; following stakeholder
I would like to acknowledge all our
mapping and identification of women,
donors and partners and thank each
youth and persons with disabilities
and every one of them for enabling the
seeking nomination the next phase of
project to take off and support Tanzacapacity development will follow.
nian partners.
Via this monthly newsletter we will
In particular, we recognise a number of
highlight milestones and achievements
donors who have pledged additional
and provide you with information upfunds to the project on top of their inidates.
tial planned contribution.
Happy reading,
Among the many project milestones,
BRIDGE training for both Electoral Mr Alvaro Rodriguez
Management Bodies (EMBs) was initiUN Resident Coordinator and
ated with the training of staff as
UNDP Resident Representative
BRIDGE facilitators.

DEMOCRATIC EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (DEP)

In partnership with the National Electoral Commission and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission and managed by the UNDP
The DEP is supported by Canada, Denmark, the EU, Finland, Norway, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland , UNDP, the One UN Fund and UK

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A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

DEP supports pre-election voter education campaign

he NEC is to embark on an extensive public information campaign aimed at sensitizing eligible Tanzanians to register to cast their ballot in a forthcoming
referendum on a proposed constitution as well general elections in 2015.

The campaign is
being supported
by the DEP and
will reach out to a
broad spectrum of
the citizenry including
women,
youth and firsttime voters, persons with disabilities and other
marginalized
groups.

The
proposed
voter
education and stakeholder
engagement will reach out
to a broad spectrum of the
citizenry including women,
youth and first-time voters,
people with disabilities,
non-literate and other
marginalized groups.

a new smart-card like voters card compared to the 2010

laminated card.
This process means doing away with the old national permanent
voter register and creating a new one based on the biometric
technology.
In addition, the public awareness and education will reach out
to key electoral stakeholders who need to understand and have
confidence in the workings of the new biometric technology.
Tanzania has approximately 23 million eligible voters.
The current and future use of biometric technology and fingerprint and facial scanning will enable NEC to eliminate any multiple registration.
Various means will be used to reach out to the public, the electorate and other stakeholders - including radio spots, leaflets
and posters, newspaper adverts and social media.

Political parties, the civil society, the media and other key stakeholders are expected to collaborate with the authorities to inThe new voter regform and educate the public about the mechanics of the new
istration will use biometric technology. Under this system, voters will be issued with voter registration process.

Stakeholders role in mitigating election-related conflict

fforts to promote peace and stability requires The performance of the EMBs is seen to be particularly
the active role and collaboration of all key crucial in reinforcing peaceful elections through strong
capacity, credibility and
stakeholders,
transparency and active
according to a
stakeholder engagement.
strategy aimed
at supporting peace infraOn their part, political
structure in the current
parties can credibly comelectoral cycle in Tanzamit to peaceful campaignnia.
ing and the management
of intra and inter-party
The proposed strategy
disputes.
follows a study commissioned by DEP and is deAccording to the strategy,
signed to guide the intecivil society and political
gration of activities in
parties have an important
support of mitigation and
role in enabling the citiresolution of electionzenry make informed elecrelated conflict across the
toral choices.
project .
The ongoing support to
To this end, DEP expects
community radio through
to provide support to a
Community radio practitioners such as depicted are seen to enUNESCO can enhance
number of activities tocourage peaceful conduct of electoral processes
civic participation in demwards capacity building,
ocratic processes includtraining and stakeholder engagement.
ing peaceful resolution of conflict.

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A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

Underlining the gender and social inclusion imperative

The workshop brought together leaders of the NEC, ZEC, Office
of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Tanzania Police
Force so as to identify entry points and strategies to promoting
gender and social inclusion among their activities supported by
DEP.
UN Women is leading DEP work on supporting womens political participation and leadership in electoral processes as well as
a broader inclusion agenda covering youth and persons living
with disabilities (PWDs).
The project will support the training of candidates for nominations by the political parties.
This means addressing the obstacles that mitigate inclusive
participation by these groups and the creation of sustainable
processes to empower and build capacities for effective participation in politics and elections, said Anna Collins-Falk, UN
Women Representative in Tanzania.

Bernadeta Killian. Principal, Mkwawa Constituent College of

Education, presents a paper at the stakeholder workshop

The decision by DEP to support inclusive participation in elecnclusive elections, where all those eligible and interested tions came in response to a decision taken earlier by political
have the opportunity to participate in electoral processes party leaders to support more women, youth and PWDs as canas voters and as candidates, was the theme of a one-day didates in the 2015 election.
workshop in September organized by DEP.

EMB leaders, senior managers undergo professional training

he Democratic Empowerment Project will organise a

training workshop for Commissioners and Directors
of Elections from the two EMBs of Tanzania aimed at
discussing their roles and responsibilities in building
electoral institutions with credibility and good working culture.

Commissioners and Directors of Elections from the EMBs to

discuss some of the major tenets that define their organisations,
their structures and roles and areas of cooperation that might be
explored or improved between the two organisations.

The workshop will introduce participants to theoretical, conceptual and practical aspects of election management including
electoral systems and laws, electoral management designs and
models, EMB-stakeholder engagement and electoral reform
issues.
The overall aim is to introduce participants to best practices and
comparative experiences in electoral management in an effort to
foster improved knowledge and skills necessary to enhance the
quality and credibility of elections.
It will follow the internationally renowned comprehensive professional electoral curriculum based on adult-learning and participatory methodology known as Building Resources for Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE).
Key topics will include the electoral management design, electoral technology, gender and elections, elections and media and
voter education. The workshop is also an opportunity to get the

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Julius Mallaba, NEC's Director of Elections, officiating a past

BRIDGE training event

A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

Human rights training for police strengthened

inety Tanzanian police officers have undergone a

training course in public order management as part
of a programme under the DEP to strengthen the
capacities of the Tanzanian police to ensure peaceful elections for 2015.

complete. It was delivered through four two-week courses in

Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
It is expected that this training would be cascaded to reach as
many police officers as possible through regular training sessions in the regions.
Commanders were then expected to return to their stations and
cascade the training in every region in the country.
This training is timely for the field and operation officers because as we approach the general elections, the question of human rights and managing crowds is inevitable, the Deputy
Commissioner of Police, Simon Sirro, said.
The training would allow police leaders to establish a command
structure and deal with issues regarding human rights, managing crowds, critical incident management, tactical planning and
decision making.
DEP is now working with the police on the content and structure of the next phase of training on human rights, gender and
the role of the police in the elections.

One of the police commanders trained in public order management receives his certificate of participation

It is proposed that through this course the same approach to

Delivered by trainers from the UKs College of Policing, the
public order management and minimal use of force is communitraining in public order benefited ninety senior and middlecated to approximately 10,000 rank and file officers in all reranking officers from every region. The training began in June
gions via a cascade training process.
and took eight trainers from the College a total of two months to

Bolstering capacity of community media practitioners

wenty four media practitioners from five community stakeholders in response to identified needs for common termiradio stations have been trained on codes of ethics, nology and approaches to reporting on conflict sensitive journalgender responsive reporting and conflict sensitive re- ism in Kiswahili.
porting as part of an intervention by the DEP to
strengthen community media as a platform for community dialogue and sustainable development.
The training attracted practitioners from Masasi, Pangani, Micheweni, Makunduchi and Unguja urban.
It highlighted the importance and tactics for promoting inclusive
participation and addressed challenges of minority groups, including PWDs.
Participants gained practical experience interviewing community
members and local government authorities.
The training was organised by UNESCO and aimed at empowering community media as a means for civic engagement including
promotion of a peaceful election and social dialogues.
As part of the intervention, a training manual for conflict sensitive journalism and a conflict sensitive reporting checklist were
drafted for Tanzanian community media practitioners and other

A community radio correspondent puts her training into practice following a workshop on conflict-sensitive reporting

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A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

UN Resident Coordinator pays a courtesy call on NEC

he

UN Resident
Coordinator
and UNDP
Resident
Representative in Tanzania, Alvaro
Rodriguez,
paid a courtesy call on
the chairperson of the
Hon. Damian Lubuva welcomes Mr. Alvaro
NEC, ReRodriguez at the NEC Headquarters
tired Justice
of Appeal, Damian Lubuva. Welcoming Mr. Rodriguez, Mr.
Lubuva, underscored the cordial relations maintained by UNDP
and NEC over the years. He further appreciated UNDPs support to NEC.

Since its establishment in 1993, NEC has carried out four successful elections and now the EMB is preparing to conduct a
constitutional referendum and general election in 2015.
NECs preparations for the next election includes the use of biometric technology in voter registration for the first time. DEP is
supporting this process mainly through technical assistance and
advisory services.
DEP is also supporting NEC through the purchase of 171 computers to support the EMBs decentralisation agenda: interface
between the head office and the districts in day-to-day administrative work, voter registration data and election results transmission.
NEC is also benefitting from DEP support in the renovation of
its registration data centre.
NECs decentralization policy aims at enhancing the EMBs independence through the appointment of its own staff to support
its work at the district level rather than the current practice of
using government officials. Upon the invitation of the NEC
Chair, Alvaro shared his UNDP experience in different countries
including Somalia and Afghanistan.

ZEC staff hone their computer skills

he DEP conducted two computer training workshops dio-visual equipment (camcorder and digital camera) with a
for districts officers of the Zanzibar Electoral Com- total value of 65,000 USD.
mission.
DEP will continue to support ZEC training in the area of ICT
The first leg of the training took place in Pemba be- and beyond, and such support will be based on long-term ZEC
tween 1-4 July and the second one at the ZEC Head office in professional development strategy which will be informed by
the just concluded ZECs capacity needs assessment.
Unguja between 14 -19 July.
About 40 ZEC staff including 10 women benefitted from this
training which covered various aspects of computer use mainly
data and file management and recovery, trouble shooting and
the use of computer applications such as Java, Adobe, Windows
and anti-virus updates.
The training was aimed at contributing to improved ZEC capacity to use ICT in its internal business processes and also in election management.
ZEC IT manager Juma Ussi commended DEP for this training
support saying ZEC needed this training as key electoral stakeholders such as political parties, state and non-state actors,
needed assurance that the quality of the data the EMB produces, processes, stores and disseminates is of high quality.
Earlier this year, DEP donated 19 desk top computers, 24 laptops, 15 printers, 19 uninterruptible power supply and also au-

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Taking it down: ZEC staff get to grips with the nitty-gritty of

computer use and applications such as Adobe and Windows

A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

DEP boosts operations of RPPs office

he Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) received in trar of Political Parties, highlighted that the provisioning of ICT
equipment to his office was timely and was deemed essential in
September ICT equipment under the DEP.
improving the capacity and credibility of the RPP to contribute
The equipment comprised 30 laptops, 15 desktop
to the democratization of political parties and politics at large.
computers, a digital scanner, 2 printers and a Server.
In a world where information and communications technology
The equipment is expected to bolster the RPP's operational effihas made it possible for institutions to deliver improved serciency including improved
vices, we really apprecicommunication between the
ate this support which
headquarters and its regionwill help improve the
al offices, and more imquality of services renportantly, with its key stakedered by our instituholders and the wider pubtion, said Justice Mulic.
tungi.
The goal of this support is
DEP is also currently
to ensure that the RPP has
facilitating the upgrade
improved capacity to supof the RPPs ICT infraport political parties as
structure at its head
agents of democratic consoloffice in Dar es Salaam.
idation; this is an important
The specific areas of
step towards improved desupport to the office of
mocracy in Tanzania, said
the RPP are ICT, legal
Mr. Philippe Poinsot, UNDand institutional reform
Ps Country Director.
and effective stakeholdJustice Francis Mutungi, Registrar of Political Parties (extreme left)
Receiving the items, Justice
er engagement includFrancis Mutungi, the Regising for intra- and inter-party dispute resolution mechanisms.

EMBs get semi-accredited BRIDGE facilitators

T
DEP.

wenty one staff from the two EMBs graduated in May work with DEP to support more modular training sessions in
as semi-accredited BRIDGE facilitators after attending order to enable more staff to become exposed to the BRIDGE
training and for the
a two-week Traintrained semi-accredited
the-Facilitator (TtF)
staff to become fully acworkshop funded by
credited facilitators.
The ultimate goal of the
programme is to create
sufficient capacity within
the EMBs to accredit
BRIDGE facilitators without the reliance on external facilitators.

The workshop introduced the

participants to the BRIDGE
learning methodology, which
has a strong emphasis on adult
learning techniques by capitalizing on individual experience,
knowledge sharing and peer
learning.

The two EMBs said they

looked forward to using
The trainees are expected to
Participants of the BRIDGE Train the Facilitator workshop proudly
the BRIDGE methodology
undergo further instruction
pose with their certification
and training techniques in
through under the tutelage of
their
training
proan accredited facilitator before they themselves become fully accredited and being able to grammes, particularly for the coming voter registration, the condeliver such training on their own. Both EMBs have agreed to stitutional referendum and the 2015 general elections.

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A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

Study underscores NECs institutional strengthening

he NEC is committed to delivering professional and

technically sound elections and has initiated a process to address organizational capacity gaps to
achieve this objective, according to a study supported
by the DEP.

The Capacity Needs Assessment

(CNA) was conducted between July and September.

NEC needs to

senior management and middle level cadres of staff to strengthen the organization and improve efficiency and service delivery.

Legally and in the longer term, the assessment recommends the

need to establish an expert-based NEC where recruitment
and selection of Commissioners can be through nomination
procedures by the President followed by a screening process
in Parliament.
establish greater autonomy

In the same vein, governIt will assist NEC to defrom government structures to enhance
ment should rethink its
sign and implement effecits
image
as
an
independent
and
funding strategy by providtive strategies to conduct
ing Parliament the wherethe forthcoming referenimpartial body.
withal to approve finances
dum and general elections,
directly to the EMB. A legally
as well as to enhance its longbinding Code of Conduct for political parties needs to be estabterm capacity development requirements to conduct elections.
lished as a way to reduce and prevent the likelihood of conflict
Concurrently, NEC needs to establish greater autonomy from
during electoral events and increase cross-party cooperation.
government structures to enhance its image as an independent
The study noted that the ongoing constitutional review presentand impartial body. According to the CNA, a management deed a useful opportunity for NEC to amend its governing laws
velopment programme should target Commissioners and also
and legal guiding principles.

Technical support provided to voter registration roll-out

EP is supporting the EMBs to develop detailed voter registration strategies and plans in relation to
the use of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR).

Although the project did not have a direct role in

the procurement of Tanzanias BVR system, DEP
and NEC agreed to cooperate in the rendering of
technical and advisory
services to the BVR rollout and the project is fully
supporting this process.

Beyond that, DEP facilitated two workshops on BVR-related

issues with NEC: on overall BVR planning and on the development of a logistics plan covering arrangements for delivery and
dispatch of the kits, training of personnel, and operational
planning.
DEP previously
supported ZEC in
updating the Zanzibars voter register, conducting
voter education,
producing voter
cards, and providing technical assistance for upgrading and maintaining the voter registration system.

In addition to deploying
an international expert,
DEP also provided lessons from recent experiences in other African
countries that have introduced BVR systems.

In total, 29,660
new voters were
DEP further the overall
Registration of voters in the archipelago of Zanzibar in a past event. Tanzaregistered and
proposed logistical arnia is gearing up to roll out a BVR system across the country
6,792 voters inforrangements for the rollmation was updatout, as well as the customization of the software that will be
ed. The registration process concluded earlier this year.
installed in each kit.

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A monthly newsletter of the Democratic Empowerment Project | November

2014

ZEC assessment triggers a raft of reforms

he Zanzibar Electoral Commission has performed relatively well as an EMB and is developing a solid track
record of credible and professional elections and referenda in Zanzibar, according to a recent study supported by DEP.

Nonetheless, the Capacity Needs Assessment has revealed various structural, systemic and organisational capacity gaps, deficits
and challenges that require a strategic response to improve ZECs
core functions and responsibilities.
The key findings identified capacity constraints amongst electoral
staff as being one of the greatest challenges to the EMBs ability
to deliver on its mandate. Additionally, human resource procedures and processes will require attention, including a gender
mainstreaming policy, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework and a formal staff appraisal system.
Other important challenges include ZEC's capacity to develop
budgets and operational plans efficiently and cost-effectively using the electoral cycle approach. While ZEC successfully introduced a biometric voter registration in 2009, improved systems
to produce efficient and transparent election results, for example,

Stakeholders participate at a validation seminar of the CNA

require staff training and technical assistance. Similarly, inclusive stakeholder participation in all aspects of the electoral cycle
is essential for credible and peaceful elections. The assessment is
the initial step in a process that will assist ZEC in building a more
skilled, professional and service-orientated EMB.

Community media ready for marathon voter education

elect community radios being supported by the DEP will tos and political advertising to the wider citizenry and explain to
embark on a voter education campaign aimed at sensi- the electorate, in clear and simple language pieces of legislation
and other regulations governtizing
Tanzanians
ing the conduct of elections.
about the forthcoming
constitutional referenThey are also expected to
dum and general elections.
mainstream key issues of concern to citizens which political
With financial resources from
parties and candidates should
the project, the radios will air a
address as they seek to be votwide range of key messages in
ed to public office. These invarious formats including radio
clude issues relevant to the
spots, special voter education
elderly and the young, women
programmes and interviews.
and other marginalised
Among the key messages, the
groups. At the same time, comradios will prompt eligible permunity media practitioners
sons to register as voters and to
must continue to demonstrate
actually cast their ballot when
their professionalism. A key
elections are due, provide a platissue in this context is the way
Piencia Etanga, Senior Legal Officer, office of the Registrar of
form for candidates and their
the media deal with electionPolitical
Parties,
speaks
to
community
radio
practitioners
parties to present their manifesrelated conflicts.
CONTACT DETAILS
Nicodemus Odhiambo Marcus
Communications Analyst
Email: nicodemus.marcus@undp.org
MAILING ADDRESS: c/o United Nations Development Programme | P. O. Box 9182, Dar-es-Salaam
TELEPHONE: +255 22 2112576 | FACSIMILE: +255 2111168
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