BRIDGE is showcased in Sahara Desert to Niger EMB and international partners September 29, 2010

Within the framework of the USAID/CEPPS funded project “Niger: Promoting the Electoral Process”, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is currently implementing a long-term technical assistance program to the newly installed Nigerien National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI). Over the next 6 months, the Niger CENI will be in charge of organizing a series of 6 elections among which a referendum on the new constitution.

In partnership with international organizations on the ground i.e. the UNDP, the European Union and CIDA, IFES will be assisting the Niger CENI in the capacity building of its members at both the national and local levels. Having elected BRIDGE as the training methodology for the Niger CENI, 25 Niger EMB members as well as 5 representatives from international partner organizations were introduced to the BRIDGE concept and methodology and its possible implementation and customization in the Nigerien context.

This is the very first time the BRIDGE curriculum is introduced in Niger as a capacity building tool in electoral administration.  

The workshop was facilitated in French by Mr. Corneille NANGAA (Niger IFES Country Director in Niamey and BRIDGE Accrediting Facilitator) and Ms. Kamissa CAMARA (IFES West Africa Program Coordinator and BRIDGE Workshop Facilitator). The facilitation team was later joined by Mrs. Catherine ANDELA, UN Gender Specialist, who presented on the importance of gender balance in Niger and animated a discussion on possible strategies to reach gender balance goals in the specific case of Niger.