IFES creates conditions conducive to free and fair elections. Working primarily – though not exclusively – in the international arena, IFES does the practical work of helping to establish independent electoral commissions, drafting new electoral codes, designing get-out-the-vote campaigns, training poll workers, procuring election materials, equipping polling stations and doing everything possible to put the essential mechanisms of democracy in place. Through this real and hands-on approach, IFES provides comprehensive assistance to governments, political parties and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Voter Registration

Election Administration

Voter Education & Information

Campaign Finance

Transition Planning

Global Election Administration Training

Elections and Political Processes Contract

IFES holds a five-year contract with USAID/Democracy Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance that builds on its 17 years of experience of cutting-edge programming in elections and political processes. This is the third generation of the Elections and Political Processes IQC mechanism. The first and second generations, 1995–1999 and 1999–2005 respectively, were also held by IFES. The purpose of the Elections and Political Processes IQC is to support the process by which citizens choose/elect their leaders and participate in all levels of political decision-making, particularly within emerging democracies.

Carrie Gruenloh at USAID is the Cognizant Technical Officer for the IQC

Michael Svetlik, Vice President of Programs (msvetlik@ifes.org, 202-350-6829), is point person at IFES on all general matters related to the IQC.

IFES’ partners include: AMIDEAST, Aristotle Inc., The Association of Former Members of the U.S. Congress, Blue Force/Blue Law, The Carter Center, Institute for Sustainable Communities, International Organization for Migration, InterParliamentary Union, IT Shows, PACT, Partners of the Americas and SUNY/Albany Center for International Development.

Consortium for Elections and Political Processes Strengthening (CEPPS) Agreement

CEPPS is composed of three equal partners: IFES, the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI). CEPPS allows IFES to carry out cost-effective global and regional programming to respond to new challenges in strengthening electoral and political processes towards the following objectives:

Credible electoral administration

Impartial electoral framework

An informed and active citizenry

Effective oversight of electoral processes

Representative and competitive multiparty system

Effective transfer of political power

Effective governance by elected leaders and legislative bodies

Increased political participation of women and historically disenfranchised groups

Throughout the election cycle and into the post-election period, IFES works to maintain dialogue among governing coalitions, government officials, opposition groups, civilians and the military establishment, to ensure transparency, responsiveness and accountability in public institutions. Since its inception in 1987, IFES has promoted good governance by fostering dialogue among key actors such as government agencies, political parties and civil society organizations and coalitions. IFES’ good governance programs focus on building the management and administrative capacity and the independence and professionalism of public officials. Efforts range from providing public policy guidelines through research and publications to promoting responsive and accountable institutions at the national, regional and local levels. Through programs designed to increase public participation in the decision-making process and more effective delivery of services, IFES assists governing institutions to better serve their constituents.

Civil Registration

Decentralization

Public Administration

Institution-Building

Anti-Corruption

Community-Police relations

Encouraging Global Anticorruption and Good Governance Efforts (ENGAGE) IQC

IFES serves as a sub contractor to Casals in the USAID Encouraging Global Anticorruption and Good Governance Efforts (ENGAGE) IQC

The ENGAGE IQC mechanism provides a wide array of support services encompassing short- and long-term technical assistance and other support in innovative anticorruption, transparency, integrity and accountability program areas. The ENGAGE IQC is managed by USAID staff and is typically funded by USAID Missions; however, this contract also allows “buy-in” from other U.S. agencies working overseas.

The objective of ENGAGE is to provide USAID and its partner countries with the broad range of technical assistance and other resources necessary to develop and implement appropriate and meaningful strategies to promote good governance and reduce corruption in economic, political and social service sectors in three main areas:

• Promotion of transparency, accountability and effective governance through public financial, administrative and regulatory measures
• Strengthening of civil society’s capacity to advocate for governmental integrity, implement accountability/transparency programs, and/or oversee public functions and authorities
• Mainstreaming anticorruption understanding and methodologies into other sectoral/sub-sectoral areas, such as environment/natural resource management, and health

Michael Svetlik, Vice President of Programs (msvetlik@ifes.org, 202-350-6829), is point person at IFES on all general matters related to this IQC.