After the Arab Spring: Challenges for Credible Elections

December 07, 2011

As citizens of the Middle East and North Africa demand democratic reform through the ballot, it is important to understand the steps that must be taken to conduct elections that reflect the will of the people.

Election Law, Electoral Systems, Civil Society

After the Arab Spring: Challenges for Credible Elections

December 07, 2011

IFES will host a panel discussion on the challenges Arab Spring countries face in holding free and fair elections and ensuring an effective transition to democracy.

Election Law, Electoral Systems, Civil Society

IFES Launches Innovative Website to Decrease the Gender Gap in the MENA Region

November 7, 2011

SWMENA.org, an interactive website that provides data on the status of women in the Middle East and North Africa, is now live.

Gender Issues, Civil Society

SWMENA.org Launches on 3 November

October 28, 2011

SWMENA.org, the digital complement to the Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa (SWMENA) program, will go live on 3 November. The interactive website will feature all data collected between 2009 and 2010 on the social, political and economic status of women in Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen in three languages.

Gender Issues, Civil Society, Public Opinion

Electoral Districts in Lebanon

October 05, 2011

Electoral districting is pivotal to electoral reform in Lebanon. Current parliamentary electoral district boundaries are based on Lebanon’s administrative districts, or Qadas.

Election Procedures

Public Opinion Data and Political and Legal Reform Opportunities for Women in Yemen, Morocco and Lebanon

September 22, 2011

As people across the Middle East and North Africa continue to protest for greater freedom and equality under repressive regimes, women have an unprecedented opportunity to capture some of the newly created political space and ensure gender rights are integrated into political and legal reforms.

Legal Framework, Gender Issues

New Challenges, Opportunities for Women’s Political Participation in the Middle East

August 16, 2011

IFES Senior Research Specialist Rola Abdul-Latif and Deputy Director for Europe and Asia Vasu Mohan shed light on some of the challenges and opportunities facing women in the region during InterAction’s Forum 2011 on Aug. 12 in Washington.

Gender Issues

Electoral Systems Simulator for Parliamentary Elections in Lebanon

July 29, 2011

Ahead of parliamentary elections in June 2013, political debate in Lebanon is focused on potential changes to the electoral system and districts. As part of its work to support electoral reform in Lebanon, IFES developed computer simulation software that allows comparative analysis of these potential changes.

Electoral Systems

“Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region” Project Launched

July 28, 2011

On Wednesday, 20 July 2011, in Lebanon, the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption (ARPAC) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) launched their joint project, Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region. 

Political Finance

After the Spring: Where Reform Stands for the MENA Countries

July 27, 2011

Given the uprisings started seven months ago, what are the citizens of the MENA expecting as an outcome of the protests and where do the countries stand in achieving them?

Constitutional Law, Electoral Systems, Legal Framework