Commissioning Unit: | Gambia |
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Evaluation Plan: | 2017-2022 |
Evaluation Type: | Project |
Completion Date: | 12/2018 |
Unit Responsible for providing Management Response: | Gambia
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Documents Related to overall Management Response: |
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Key Action Update History
3.4 Recommendations
Strategic
Capacity Building and Trainings: For all key Government and Non-Government Organizations that are involved in electoral processes and management, there is need to continuously build on their capacities at the national, regional and grass-root levels. Specific ones include IEC, NGO Coalition, GPU, IPC, Women’s Bureau, Local Governments in their various election delivery mandates, roles and responsibilities
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
These will be carried out as per activities in the Consolidating democratic governance for development in the Gambia project, 2018-2021
Key Actions:
Strategic
Strengthening the capacity of IEC: The IEC should consider undertaking an expert-led self- reflection and lessons learnt process in order to deal with the new and emerging political dispensation in effective and efficient electoral process management. This is due to the fact that there is need for future deeper and broader analysis of opportunities and constraints of supporting electoral processes in The Gambia. Upon completion of this exercise there is need to enhance and support IEC in its identified specific targeted areas
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Assessment of lessons learnt from the past elections will be carried out for future support for effective and efficient electoral process management before the next elections scheduled for 2021, to be supported from the project on consolidating democratic governance for development in the Gambia, 2018-2021
Key Actions:
Strategic
The government with the help from the Development Partners both technically and financially should in addition to its current MoU signed support the institutionalization of the Inter-Party Coalition(IPC) as it’s a strong face epitome of national reconciliation, confidence building, unity and peace promotion. In the same breathe there should be establishment of a functional Inter-Party Women’s Network
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Discussions with the IPC to be undertaken through their strategic plan for institutionalization of the IPC and the establishment of an Inter Party Women’s Network. The contribution of the various parties will be a key agenda item in these discussions to be carried out in 2019
Key Actions:
Strategic
The GoG through the NCCE and other stakeholders with the support of Development Partners should develop a comprehensive Civic and Voter Education Policy and strategic framework
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
The Gambia Government will be engaged for further support to the NCCE to undertake continuous civic and voter education through the development of a Strategic Plan
Key Actions:
With the new initiatives of CRC, Electoral Reforms process as well as the TRRP, there is need for the GoG in partnership with Development Partners to put in place a national coordination forum and mechanism so that all the above important processes are linked and interfaced as well as popularized and publicized in a much more coordinated manner since they have broader impact on the short, medium and longer term democracy, peace and stability of The Gambia
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
The Gambia Government will be engaged to establish a coordination forum that will link all the governance reform processes, i.e the elections, CRC and TRRC processes) and bring out the synergies
Key Actions:
Strategic
The Marble Voting System was hailed and should be retained with some modifications and adjustments to accommodate its current shortfalls. This is because the system has the advantages of low cost and simplicity, both for understanding how to vote and for counting the results, though voter secrecy is compromised. The method is reported to have an extremely low error rate for miscast ballots as compared to the conventional ballot paper system. The system also serves and accommodates well the majority voters who are semi or illiterate
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Though the IEC prefers the ballot paper system due to a possible increase in the number of political parties standing for future elections,they will be persuaded in the reflections on past elections to maintain the marble system which has worked fairly well in previous elections and due to high illiteracy rates in the country
Key Actions:
Strategic
National Biometric Registration of Citizens: The Gambia government with support of development partners should plan and start a National Biometric Citizens registration which will help a lot in elections as well as in other service delivery programs and interventions to the Gambians. This will also help the Gambians in Diaspora to participate in politics and development of their country
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
National biometric citizens registration is to start soon according to the Gambia Government and efforts will be made to link this to the new voter registration exercise
Key Actions:
Strategic
Strengthening Monitoring and Evaluation System should be considered seriously not only at the level of individual government agencies/institutions such as IEC or project level but also the government should start looking into future development of a National M&E System across board
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
This will be discussed in the reflection on past elections and adopted for the IEC before the next elections in 2021
Key Actions:
Design
In future, UNDP should adopt participatory approach in designing a project so that implementing partners are well prepared to take on activities where they feel comfortable to efficiently and effectively contribute to outputs/outcomes
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
This will be considered in the preparation of support for the next electoral cycle commencing in 2021-2023, even though there are plans to hold presidential and national assembly elections on the same day as a way of increasing voter turn out
Key Actions:
Design
IEC must in future gazette polling stations with special considerations to people with disabilities in order to enable them to exercise their constitutional right and franchise in a dignified and convenient manner
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
To be taken on board with IEC as part of the reflections on previous elections
Key Actions:
Design
The model of future electoral support to the Gambia should explore more of an enhanced partnership model for broader strategic electoral support and management
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Discussions to be held with development partners sucg as the EC for future support to elections
Key Actions:
Implementation
NCCE should be adequately and directly funded by the Gambia Government: There should be adequate funding from government to ensure continuous National civic education programming and a policy put in place to support such programming. This is to avoid a mentality by the general public and the politicians yet politicians have willingness to support NCCE. NCCE only visible during elections but hibernate after elections. NCCE is struggling to be more visible
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Government to be engaged for increased subvention to the NCCE to embark on continuous civic education and not only restricted for electoral periods
Key Actions:
Implementation
Boost journalist comprehension of civic education: There is need to boost the Journalists comprehension of civic education which is relatively low. Thus there is need to build capacity of all media practitioners which could go a long way in complimenting efforts of the NCCE
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Increased government subvention to the NCCE will allow the NCCE to work more closely with media houses to boost their understanding of civic education
Key Actions:
Implementation
NCCE should decentralize in order to effectively deliver on its mandate: There is need to decentralize NCCE to widen its capacity and depth of promoting civic education. The engagement by NCCE with regional governors should be continued until decentralization of NCCE is adopted and implemented
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Decentralization of the NCCE is contingent on future increased government subvention
Key Actions:
Implementation
There should be UNDP continuous support to NCCE: UNDP should support NCCE beyond the election period to make sure they utilize opportunities of visibility beyond election period. For example the bill boards space with election messages can be replaced with other messages on civic roles and duties of the citizens
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Depending on future support by government to the NCCE, the UNDP will take this up as part to the NCCE beyond elections
Key Actions:
Implementation
IEC should work hand in hand with GPU to put in place a robust media monitoring strategy: There is need for media monitoring strategies of 3-4 years before elections so that regular press releases are done on election issues before, during and after elections. If reports are issued on weekly basis, politicians would know that what they are doing is being monitored and therefore would be careful at making hate speeches or inflammatory statements. If journalist is also aware that what they are doing is being monitored they would also be careful on what to report in the media
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
This will be taken up with the IEC during the reflection session on previous elections in 2019
Key Actions:
Implementation
UNDP should release funds in time to enable timely implementation of activities: Funds released in time to avoid delay of implementation of the activities like the other UNDP projects do. A lot of delays where banks do not exist and also risky to carry cash for long distance upcountry
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
A micro assessment of the IEC will be conducted in early 2019 to determine funds transfer to the IEC
Key Actions:
Implementation
UN and Development Partners should offer continuous support to CSO and other actors engaged in promotion of free and fair elections agenda: There is need for the international community including the UN to continue supporting CSOs and other actors to continue with civic education which will have a trickledown effect in promoting human rights, good governance and stability
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
DIiscussions to be held with other partners such as the EC for continuous support to the CSO and other actors like the NCCE for the promotion of free and fair elections and not only during the electoral cycle
Key Actions:
Implementation
Refresher training on UNDP processes and procedures: There should be some refresher training for implementing partners by UNDP on procedures and processes . This could reduce on the back and forth movement of papers from the partners and UNDP which often delays release of funds i.e vendors who were registered in house training on the UNDP processors and procedures
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Refresher courses with all partners on UNDP processes and procedures will be carried out annually during programme reviews
Key Actions:
Implementation
Targeted legal reforms to enhance women participation in decision making: The Ministry of Justice should expedite Legal reforms that will enable enhancement of women inclusion in decision making positions particularly adopted the quota system of 30% women representation the way it is in Uganda
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
These legal reforms on women in the decision making processes have been made by women’s group in the on going nationwide constitutional review
Key Actions:
Implementation
Targeted women Capacity building: If you want women in local governments and Parliament then efforts have to be put in civic education. The Low level of education is one of the barriers. For the elected women, we need to build their capacity and confidence so that they serve as role models. They don’t go sleeping in parliament and active in debates so they when they go back to their constituency social media is not awash with pictures of them sleeping in parliament. Capacity building should be a continuous thing for them
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
working through the Inter Party Committee, political parties will be engaged to increase the number of women both in their internal party structures and for standing for elections)
Key Actions:
Implementation
Youth and Targeted Mentorship to girls in high school: Like for the case of women, there is need for strategic and deliberate interventions promoting youth participation in politics and elections in order to have an equitable representation at all levels. In other countries, they have leadership mentoring process done in form of camps. Am happy that girls gender programs are coming up and good areas for membership girls who go through that are more aggressive and assertive. In countries like Cameroon, they have summer camps and girls from each region are identified in the school system and taken through summer camp in which issues of gender ideas , empowerment are imparted to them and by the time they reach university they are ready to take leadership positions and power. The selection could focus on high school girls who are better positioned.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
This will be taken up by the NCCE in their strategic plan for continuous civic education and through the Inter Party Commiittee
Key Actions:
Implementation
Media House should institute a code of conduct: There is need for code of conduct specifically designed for political reporting by journalists so that if any journalist derails, they could be brought in line.
Management Response: [Added: 2019/03/11] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
A Code of Conduct will be prepared by media houses before the next electoral cycle
Key Actions:
Implementation
Sustainability: There should be an elaborate exist strategy to ensure the project results are well anchored in future programming not by default to ensure sustainability. As of now this project as per design lacks a clear sustainability plan. In general the consultant also conquers with CSO coalition statements on.
Management Response: [Added: 2020/11/26] [Last Updated: 2020/11/29]
Key Actions: