|
Political Party Strengthening
The International Republican Institute (IRI) has been working with political parties since 1998 to promote political discourse among leaders. IRI assists political parties with organizational and campaign skills development and works with national and regional party leadership to promote greater understanding between Baku and the rest of the country.
In the run-up to the November 6, 2005 parliamentary elections, IRI worked to develop a greater campaign capacity within the parties as well as independent candidates. IRI conducted election observation trainings for hundreds of campaign representatives leading up to the parliamentary elections.
Parliamentary Election Survey
IRI conducts polling in Azerbaijan to improve the major parties' understanding of the basic issues that interest the Azeri electorate and assist the partners in their message development.
In June 2005, IRI conducted a nationwide opinion poll during the run-up to the November 2005 parliamentary elections, in an effort to help provide information to political parties and candidates to help them better develop their platforms and messages. The poll revealed that concerns of the average Azerbaijani were resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, getting public infrastructure in place such as electricity, gas, roads and water, and solving the problems of corruption.
IRI Campaign Trainings
IRI conducted a series of two-day basic campaign management training seminars throughout Azerbaijan. These seminars are intended to provide campaign managers and volunteers with the necessary tools to effectively prepare for the 60-day campaign season. Topics of discussion included message development, get-out-the-vote (GOTV), debate training and media training. More than 1,400 participants representing independent candidates, the ruling party and opposition political parties took part in this training which was provided in 43 election districts through the summer of 2005.
Youth in Politics
IRI seeks to enable Azeri youth to play a significant role in the future of their country by bridging the gap between youth and politics. IRI is conducting a series of events to reinforce the concepts behind democratic political development and to keep young activists engaged in the political process. As a result of IRI's efforts, numerous political parties have established youth chapters with some holding elections for positions within the youth organizations.
On September 9-11 2005, IRI hosted a National Youth Conference, Youth in Politics: Parliament in Action, in Novkhani, Azerbaijan. The conference was the culmination of a successful year of IRI regional youth conferences and community activities involving 16 regions of Azerbaijan.
Youth from across Azerbaijan attended the conference including members of political parties, students and young people working with nongovernmental organizations. During the three-day conference, participants were engaged in team-building exercises and role-playing games designed to encourage them to participate politically and civically in their country. United States Ambassador Reno Harnish along with Intigam Babayev from the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Tourism delivered opening remarks.
During the 2003, 2004 and 2005 elections, IRI conducted a national GOTV campaign aimed at youth. Azeri youth, like youth worldwide, are often suspicious of the political processes and frequently do not participate in elections. The aim of IRI's GOTV campaign was to encourage youth not just to vote, but to be educated voters. The campaigns used television public service announcements, concerts, posters, stickers and brochures to prompt youth to vote.
Women's Empowerment
Azeri women largely remain outside the political process in Azerbaijan, and many cultural mores discourage women's participation in public life. Political parties have women's branches, but they are small and weak. IRI works with Azeri women through civic education and public awareness projects, consults women running for office at the local, municipal and national levels and trains Azeri women in campaign tactics, strategy, grassroots development and media relations.
|
