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IFES - Guinea

Guinea

Located in West Africa, Guinea has a population of approximately 8 million people, 51% of whom are women and 45% under the age of 30. Once a French colony, it was the first African country to gain independence in 1958. The country is rich in natural resources, most of which have yet to be exploited. Following a one-party, authoritarian First Republic, the current president, Lansana Conté, came to power through a coup in 1984. Even though Guinea opted for multiparty system in 1991, the president recently began his third term following controversial 2003 elections and changes to the national constitution that made it possible for him to run indefinitely. Despite its severe economic problems, Guinea has maintained political stability in an unstable region. However, in January 2005, Conté survived an assassination attempt, and some are worried that Guinea could be headed towards state failure.

Limited democratic gains have been achieved in Guinea over the past decade, and the democratic process there still faces transitional hurdles of a cultural and institutional nature. However, in early 2005 the government has shown some improvement as it tries to reestablish partnerships with the international community and financial institutions. The president recently signed off on legislation permitting the liberalization of the airwaves and, additionally, opposition parties have been allowed to circulate freely and hold meetings. Most political parties are organized primarily along ethnic lines and rely more on their leaders’ notoriety than on well-defined policies. Also, power is not shared equally among the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government, hindering the establishment of the rule of law.

Current Projects

Supporting the Development of Civil Society

IFES' activities in Guinea have sought to strengthen civil society as a critical actor in public life through a series of civic and voter education initiatives. In addition, IFES has worked to build the institutional capacity of select civil society organizations (CSOs). Over the past four years, IFES has successfully organized the first comprehensive dialogue on the role of civil society in Guinea, thus helping to strengthen civil society's role in building democracy in Guinea. During that time, IFES also brought CSOs together to design and implement civic and voter education campaigns, thereby mobilizing citizens and fostering respect for citizens' rights. IFES has also been supporting the development of the National Council of Guinean Civil Society Organizations (CNOSCG), Guinea's largest coalition of CSOs. Through its continuous collaboration with partner organizations, IFES' program has resulted in a stronger civil society that is better able to promote citizens' interests and to participate actively in Guinea's decision-making process. IFES' project in Guinea is funded by USAID.

Technical Assistance to the Electoral Process

In Guinea, IFES provided technical assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to fulfill its mandate during the elections initially scheduled for the end of 2008. This assistance focused on strengthening commissioners' operational capacity and commitment to electoral integrity on the national and local level. To accomplish this goal, IFES established a working partnership with the CENI, which led to a strategic planning seminar, subsequent trainings, and five one-week study tours in other West African countries for the commissioners. In addition, IFES assists the CENI in its efforts to keep the population informed about the electoral process with a national public awareness campaign, mainly targeting women, as well as a series of electoral stakeholders' roundtables.

Past Projects in Guinea »