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IFES - Djibouti

Djibouti

IFES began work in Djibouti in 2005, with a pre-election assessment prior to presidential elections that year. Since that time, IFES has worked in the areas of electoral reform and decentralization. IFES’ work in Djibouti is funded by USAID.

Past Projects

Increasing Participation of Civil Society

From 2007-2008, IFES implemented a program in Djibouti with the goal of building inclusive public dialogue on the electoral system and increasing civil society participation in the peace and governance processes.  A series of workshops were held at the end of 2007, aimed at increasing the participation of women and other members of civil society, in the political process in the country.  In early 2008, IFES re-focused its programming to support the February legislative elections in the form of training to poll workers and members of Djibouti's Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

Peaceful Political Competition and Consensus-Building in Djibouti

From 2007-2008, IFES implemented a program in Djibouti with the goal of building an inclusive public dialogue on the electoral system and increasing civil society participation in the peace and governance processes. A series of workshops were held at the end of 2007 aimed at increasing participation of women and other members of civil society in the political process. In early 2008, IFES re-focused its programming to support the February legislative elections in the form of training poll workers and members of Djibouti's Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

Promoting Political Dialogue About Reform

Supporting Djibouti’s Decentralization Process (2005-2006)

Since its independence in 1977, Djibouti has been gradually moving from centralized, one-party rule towards decentralization and democracy. 

In 2005, IFES staff engaged stakeholders in discussion about best practices in implementing decentralization, identifying the new capacities future local authorities will need to develop and long-term strategies to promote good governance at the local level. 

Following the March 2006 local elections, IFES conducted a training session about decentralization for newly elected local officials and representatives from the central government. The workshop exposed officials to key concepts of effective and participatory governance. It also gave participants an opportunity to talk with each other and with key stakeholders in the decentralization process in order to begin prioritizing local concerns and identifying possible solutions. 

The workshops received extensive positive media coverage on radio, on television and in print.

Assessing Djibouti’s Electoral Infrastructure (2005)

In 2005, IFES conducted a pre-election assessment (in partnership with IRI) in advance of the April presidential elections. Based on interviews with stakeholders, assessment team members examined voter registration and election administration, among other things.

One of the team’s recommendations was that Djibouti consider using proportional representation (PR) rather than its current majority system. The current system’s winner-take-all approach allows opposition parties fewer opportunities to develop governing experience and their party platforms. In addition, a PR system might help Djibouti’s minority ethnic groups gain representation in government that more closely matches their numbers. 

At the end of 2005, IFES engaged stakeholders in Djibouti in discussions about electoral reform, specifically about electoral commissions, voter registration, and modernization of election administration, among other things.