IRI Helps Prepare Political Parties for Upcoming Elections

August 19, 2004

In preparation for September Majilis (lower house of parliament) elections, IRI conducted campaign and candidate training. During April through July, IRI conducted 20 training seminars in Almaty and six other regions, as well as on-location consultations for candidates after the seminars. IRI reached a total of 507 participants (30 percent of them women) from 12 registered parties. Participants included candidates, potential candidates, campaign managers, key members of campaign offices, and several election commission members. The training programs were designed to encourage candidates to establish effective campaign teams; develop campaign strategies, plans, and budgets; and utilize technology for candidate image-building. All training sessions were conducted by Yuri Isaev, a political consultant and director of the Center for Electoral Technology in Perm, Russia.

IRI used both individual and multi-party training formats. The multi-party format encouraged healthy competition among the parties. During individual party seminars, participants identified flaws in previous campaign plans and management. IRI’s analysis of the recent maslikhat (local) elections and guidance from the trainer enabled participants to fine tune future campaign strategy.

By August, IRI had completed its candidate training one week before the beginning of the official campaign period.

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