IFES has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by USAID to support the electoral process in Sudan. The three-year program is aimed at helping the Sudanese electoral administration deliver technically sound and credible elections called for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It will cover both the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative elections planned for 2009 and the Southern Sudan and Abyei referenda scheduled for 2011.

IFES Sudan Election Administration Support Program is designed to accompany all phases of the electoral process. It is comprised of five inter-related objectives to provide advisory and professional services to the election administration in the areas of regulatory framework, organizational set up, operations, training and provision of electoral commodities. It will assist the National Election Commission and its subsidiaries in institutional and capacity building as well as election management.

IFES will be partnering with three leading institutions on this program. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will be providing expertise in enfranchising displaced populations. Blue Law International will support initiatives to provide access to the electoral process for persons with disabilities. IT Shows will be servicing the election administration with information and communication technology support.