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She Leads Program: Q&A with Katie Ryan
She Leads, a flagship program of IFES, works to empower women with the skills and knowledge to participate and take on leadership roles in political and electoral processes through a series of beginner, intermediate and advanced trainings. In this Q&A, Katie Ryan, lead author of She Leads, discusses the origins and impact of the program, which has trained over 2,600 women in four countries and continues to expand.
News & Updates
Feature
Promoting Voting Rights for Persons with Disabilities in Sri Lanka
In February 2018, Sri Lanka held a local government election to elect over 8,000 representatives under a new mixed-member proportional representation system. IFES worked with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and civil society partners to conduct targeted voter education initiatives for voters with disabilities ahead of the elections.
News & Updates
Feature
She Leads: Empowering Female Candidates Ahead of Local Elections in Sri Lanka
Ahead of Sri Lanka's February 2018 local government election, IFES carried out a women’s leadership program, She Leads SL, that equipped 458 Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim women with practical campaign skills including fundraising, networking and coalition building, campaign messaging, social media use, public speaking, and development of personal campaign action plans. As a result of the She Leads SL training, nearly 43 percent of alumnae participated as candidates in the 2018 local government elections, utilizing skills gained from the training to elevate their campaigns.
News & Updates
Feature
Photo Gallery: Sri Lankans Learn About their New Voting System
Sri Lanka’s February 10, 2018 local government election introduced numerous changes to the electoral system. Under its U.S. Agency for International Development-funded “Improved Election Management Program,” IFES is working with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (EC) and local partners to support implementation of inclusive voter awareness-raising programs.
Election FAQ
Elections in Sri Lanka: 2018 Local Government Elections
On February 10, Sri Lanka held elections for all of its 341 local government bodies, after a two-year delay due in part to the adoption of a new, mixed-member proportional (MMP) system and the subsequent need for a new delimitation of electoral wards. To help you understand this important electoral process, IFES provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Elections in Sri Lanka: 2018 Local Government Elections.
News & Updates
Feature
The Principles of Election Reporting
Sri Lanka’s upcoming local government election will introduce numerous changes to the electoral system. The public will need to be informed of these changes in a balanced, impartial and fair manner. To meet this need, on January 8 and 9, IFES organized a two-day media training on principles of election reporting for 37 journalists from Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities from across the country.
News & Updates
Feature
A Multi-Stakeholder Approach to Addressing Violence Against Women in Elections
Sri Lanka looks to hold local government elections in early 2018, which will introduce thousands of new women leaders as the country implements its first-ever women’s quota. There is a critical need to mitigate violence against women in elections (VAWIE). To address this need, IFES is working with the Election Commission and civil society partners to implement a series of initiatives that aim to engage a diverse group of electoral stakeholders in comprehensively addressing election violence against women.
News & Updates
Feature
IFES Field Staff
Mike Yard is a recognized international election administration and technology expert with over 25 years of experience. He has advised election authorities in over 15 countries and served as the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Chief of Party in Kenya and Uganda. In this Q&A, Yard discusses his experience during South Africa’s historic 1994 general elections, the role of technology in democratic progress in Africa, and other democratic achievements on the continent.
News & Updates
Feature
Mandela Day Book Drive Benefiting Turner Elementary
On Wednesday, August 23, members of the IFES Africa team delivered books collected for its Mandela Day Book Drive to Turner Elementary School in neighboring Congress Heights. The book drive’s target was to collect 441 books for the school (one for each student in grades K-5), but ultimately far exceeded its goal by collecting over 600 books. In honor of anti-apartheid advocate and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela's 67 years of public service, the United Nations-designated holiday encourages people to give with the goal of bringing enduring, positive change in our local communities through collective action.
News & Updates
Feature
Remembering Senarath Attanayake, Sri Lankan Politician and Advocate for Disability Rights
IFES is deeply saddened by the passing of Uva Provincial Councillor Senarath Attanayake. He was the first person with a disability to enter politics in Sri Lanka and hold ministerial portfolios. Attanayake was serving his fourth term as a member of the Uva Provincial Council (UPC), becoming one of the longest serving elected politicians with a disability in the world.