Africa
A continent with unique challenges and political contexts, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has worked in over 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa over the past three decades. From Nigeria to Kenya and Liberia to Guinea, IFES programming seeks to advance good governance and democratic rights by providing technical assistance to election officials; empower the underrepresented to participate in the political process; and apply field-based research to improve the electoral cycle.
Current Field Offices
Current Activities
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Acting Regional Director, Africa
Related Content
7 Sep 2017 | News and Updates
In July, IFES and the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) Gender Section produced a new guide to support the integration of women with disabilities at the NEC and in its programming. “How...
7 Sep 2017 | News and Updates
In July 2017, IFES, working closely with the National Elections Commission of Liberia Gender Section, developed new tools to enhance the engagement of persons with disabilities in political life....
7 Sep 2017 | News and Updates
On Wednesday, August 23, members of the IFES Africa team delivered books collected for its Mandela Day Book Drive to Turner Elementary School in neighboring Congress Heights. The book drive’s target...
24 Aug 2017 | News and Updates
In this video message, Dr. Thorpe explains how an IFES review of the NEC, documented in a report, became the blueprint for her tenure as head of the NEC. “Literally everything had to be dismantled...
11 Aug 2017 | News and Updates
The United Nation’s International Youth Day 2017 is dedicated to “Youth Building Peace.” As a global leader in democracy promotion, IFES recognizes the importance of cultivating the next generation...
8 Aug 2017 | News and Updates
IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney traveled to Kenya for the 2017 general elections. Through this feature, he shares his experiences from Kenya during this critical election.
8 Aug 2017 | News and Updates
On August 1, 2017, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) joined nearly 100 organizations and agencies who currently have programs in Africa at the Mandela-Washington Fellowship’s...
31 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
IFES invited Kodjo to Washington during the 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to take part in related events and had the opportunity to ask her about her work and the state of women’s rights in Côte d’...
24 Jul 2017 | Election FAQ
On July 30, Senegalese voters will elect the 150 members of the National Assembly. In total, 47 lists of parties and coalitions will present candidates for election. Elections in the National...
20 Jul 2017 | Election FAQ
On August 8, Kenyans will vote for president, county governors, members of the Senate, representatives to the National Assembly (including women county representatives to the National Assembly), and...
19 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
IFES is supporting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in deploying a dynamic youth outreach strategy as part of the “Kenya Electoral Assistance Program” (KEAP), targeting...
19 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
On July 5, 2017, the IFES KEAP project officially launched the #BetterThanThis campaign, which comes from the insistence that we can do better than the current state of Violence Against Women in...
18 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day, commemorating the lifetime of service anti-apartheid advocate and former President of South Africa Mandela gave to South Africa and the world. ...
14 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
Underrepresentation of women in Kenya does not only stem from the number of women that register to vote but also the lack of availability of targeted voter education. To this end, IFES is...
7 Jul 2017 | News and Updates
IFES awarded Professor Jega with its 2015 Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award to honor his unwavering commitment to protecting and promoting Nigerians’ right to have vote and a voice.
30 Jun 2017 | News and Updates
IFES supported Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to partner with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu to host a three-day National...
30 Jun 2017 | News and Updates
With funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) under its “Kenya Electoral Systems Support” program, IFES, in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund and the Kenya Primary School Head Teachers...
27 Jun 2017 | News and Updates
IFES Kenya is providing grants to youth-based organizations whose focus is encouraging greater and more meaningful youth participation in Kenya’s electoral process. The campus-based initiatives...
30 May 2017 | News and Updates
Learn how IFES is working with key electoral stakeholders in Kenya, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, election observers and disabled people’s organizations, to increase...
19 May 2017 | Election FAQ
On May 28, Burkinabé voters in 19 communes will elect municipal councilors, who will in turn elect their mayors and deputy mayors. To help you understand this important electoral process,...
5 May 2017 | News and Updates
The V-Engage challenge is a flagship activity to support the voter education efforts of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), encourage youth participation in the...
2 May 2017 | News and Updates
The International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former IFES Regional Director for Africa Almami Cyllah.
21 Apr 2017 | Multimedia
On April 6, 2017, the Gambia held its first democratic National Assembly legislative elections after the December 2016 presidential election ousted autocratic ruler Yahya Jammeh from office and...
21 Apr 2017 | News and Updates
On April 6, 2017, Gambians went to the polls to elect a new National Assembly. Expectations were high for the first legislative elections since the country ousted its long-term authoritarian...
4 Apr 2017 | Election FAQ
On April 6, Gambian voters will elect their members of the unicameral National Assembly. Marked by the country’s first-ever democratic transition of power and the end of former president Yahya...
4 Apr 2017 | News and Updates
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), organized two one-day workshops on February 16 and 17,...
8 Mar 2017 | News and Updates
This International Women’s Day, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) reaffirms its commitment to involving women in political and electoral processes as candidates and elected...
7 Mar 2017 | News and Updates
By modernizing civic and voter education methods in Liberia, IFES and the National Elections Commission are breaking historic barriers to voter participation – namely illiteracy and inadequate access...
8 Feb 2017 | News and Updates
From January 16-18, 2017, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) gathered over 100 representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) for a...
18 Jan 2017 | News and Updates
With the support of the United States Agency for International Development, IFES has worked closely with the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC) over the past several years to build its...
4 Jan 2017 | News and Updates
To recognize the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the...
20 Dec 2016 | News and Updates
IFES’ Kenya Electoral Assistance Program (KEAP) is funded by a US $18.7 million cooperative agreement from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support Kenyan efforts...
14 Dec 2016 | Election FAQ
On December 18, Ivoirian voters will elect 255 members of the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament. Following the approval of a new constitution via an October 2016 referendum, National...
12 Dec 2016 | News and Updates
The annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held on December 3, commemorates the human rights of persons with disabilities. This year we also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the...
5 Dec 2016 | Election FAQ
On December 7, Ghanaian voters will elect their new president, vice president, and members of Parliament for the 275 electoral constituencies in the country.
16 Aug 2016 | News and Updates
On August 2, 2016, IFES joined over 100 organizations who currently have programs in Africa at the Mandela-Washington Fellowship’s flagship Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
11 Aug 2016 | Multimedia
An image of a person with a disability in India on his way to vote with the assistance of his son was selected as the Grand Prize winner in the International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ (IFES)...
10 Aug 2016 | Election FAQ
On August 11, Zambians will go to the polls to elect a President, National Assembly, Mayors, Chairpersons, and Councillors, as well as vote on a referendum to make changes to the constitution.
1 Aug 2016 | Multimedia
Julie Hughes currently serves as the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Chief of Party for the U.S. Agency for International Development's Kenya Electoral Assistance Program.
7 Jul 2016 | News and Updates
Fatoumata Camara, a Guinean with a physical disability, is the Deputy Coordinator for the Association of Persons Living with a Disability of Mamou, Guinea. In this Q&A, Camara discusses barriers...
24 May 2016 | News and Updates
On May 18, 2016, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Africa Regional Director Rushdi Nackerdien testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Africa,...
20 May 2016 | Election FAQ
On May 22, Burkinabe voters will elect Municipal Councilors, who will in turn elect their Mayors and Deputy Mayors. In total, 19,624 seats will be contested in 9,299 electoral districts.
19 May 2016 | Multimedia
In this interview, IFES President and CEO Bill Sweeney, IRI President Ambassador Mark Green, and NDI President Kenneth Wollack discuss how CEPPS’ collaborated during recent milestone elections in...
17 May 2016 | News and Updates
The Global Disability RightsNow! consortium, which the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is a member, is launching a new resource website for disability rights advocates in...
17 May 2016 | News and Updates
On May 18, IFES Regional Director for Africa Rushdi Nackerdien testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International...
21 Mar 2016 | Multimedia
IFE is seeking to address how men and women can work together in leadership when a country is undergoing a political transition through the Global Women’s Leadership Program by developing a Male...
17 Mar 2016 | News and Updates
On March 17, 2016, the IFES hosted the Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to discuss potential support for the DRC's upcoming...
15 Mar 2016 | News and Updates
IFES seeks to address how men and women can work together in leadership, particularly when a country is in the midst of conflict or undergoing a political transition, by developing a Male Allies for...
3 Mar 2016 | News and Updates
On February 18, Uganda held general elections for President and Parliament. This post-election Q&A covers the importance of these elections, IFES’ role in supporting the electoral process,...
17 Feb 2016 | News and Updates
With the recent conclusion of 2015, it is meaningful to reflect on the successes and lessons from last year. In a U.S. Institute for Peace address in 2015 during his visit state visit to the U.S.,...
12 Feb 2016 | Election FAQ
On February 18, Ugandans will vote for President, 290 Members of Parliament who are directly elected to represent 290 constituencies, as well as 112 District Women Members of Parliament. A...