Kosovo Enters New Phase of Sustainability with Five Workshop Facilitators

The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) within the framework of “Strengthening Election Administration in Kosovo” project, with the financial support of USAID and in partnership with the Central Election Commission of Kosovo organized two BRIDGE trainings for 36 representatives of Municipal Electoral Offices and staff of Central Election Commission of Kosovo.Two sessions took place during February 6-8, 2013 and February 13-15, 2013 at hotel Dukagjini, Peja, Kosovo.

IFES-Kosovo has organized the Train the Facilitator Workshop in October 2012 for 16 representatives of CSOs and the CEC. To further promote BRIDGE in Kosovo, it was recommended to assist the semi-accredited facilitators in progressing their skills in order to implement future BRIDGE events in Kosovo; therefore to advance to the next level of accreditation – workshop level.
 
The workshop curriculum focused on international principles of Voter Registration, methods of voter registration and its analysis, use of technology in voter registration and role of voter education in voter registration. 
The facilitation teams for the 2 workshops were as follows:
Facilitation Team #1: Natia Kashakashvili (lead facilitator); Arbreshe Zogjani (IFES); Dardan Berisha (IFES); Islam Demolli (CEC)
Facilitation Team #2: Natia Kashakashvili (lead facilitator); Arbreshe Zogjani (IFES); Islam Demolli (CEC); Shqipe Pantina (CSO); Visar Sutaj (CSO); Nexhmedin Hyseni (CEC). Facilitators have performed well in customization as well as during the delivery of the workshop, therefore by the end of the two workshops facilitators were accredited to workshop level.

Seventeen participants participated in the first and nineteen in the second workshop. 32 were the Municipal Electoral Officers, three the CEC staff members and one IFES legal officer. Out of total 36 participants only two were female participants. The workshops were conducted in Albanian with the Serbian (and English) simultaneous translation.

Participant evaluations applauded the BRIDGE methodology and the comparative nature of the curriculum. There was significant interest to learn more about many of the topics covered, particularly use of technologies, scrutinizing voters’ list and advanced countries best practices. Some MEOs also expressed enthusiasm about learning more about their direct roles and responsibilities in elections.
Even though that it is very challenging to conduct the BRIDGE workshop to the group of people, who have never participated in interactive methodology, the workshops were conducted successfully. The objective to familiarize the MEOs of Kosovo with the BRIDGE methodology and giving them alternative way of doing the procedural training was met. At the same time, Kosovo has now five accredited facilitators, who can continue using the BRIDGE methodology and further design BRIDGE workshops based on the interest and needs.