International Foundation for Election Systems

The International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) was founded in 1987 as a not-for-profit NGOAbout IFES, IFES website, accessed 6 Apr 2010 and is based in Washington, DC. It fosters "democratic initiatives", extending loans and grants to various "developing" countries, and it provides "targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies".About IFES, Election Guide website, accessed 6 Apr 2010 IFES notes: "the end of the Cold War in 1989 created opportunities… to respond to an overwhelming demand for technical non-partisan expertise in democracy and governance."Europe & Eurasia, IFES website, accessed 6 Apr 2010
IFES describes its role as follows:
:As one of the world's premier democracy and governance assistance organizations, IFES provides targeted technical assistance to strengthen transitional democracies. Founded in 1987 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, IFES has developed and implemented comprehensive, collaborative democracy solutions in more than 100 countries.About IFES, Election Guide website, accessed 6 Apr 2010
==Summary of activities==
This is how IFES describes its activities:
:Emerging democracies often lack the institutional capacity and political will to manage elections or educate their citizens about democratic politics. To meet these needs, IFES provides comprehensive assistance to governments, political parties and civil society organizations in election planning and administration, electoral law development, and voter education. IFES seeks to bring transparency to elections by involving civil society in the process (in observer training, negotiations with national election commissions, etc.) and by incorporating anti-fraud mechanisms, such as political finance instruments, transparent ballot boxes, or inking voters’ fingers.
:Since 1987, IFES has accumulated abundant election-related experience by offering these services in scores of countries, including numerous pre-election technical assessments, onsite technical assistance programs, poll-worker training, equipment procurements, and voter registration and education programs. Over time, we have built a cadre of more than 1,500 democracy and governance experts capable of addressing almost any election situation.Elections services, IFES website, accessed 6 Apr 2010
The IFES also assists journalists in covering elections.Arab journalists can apply for workshop on elections, International Journalists' Network, 17 January 2008
==Actions around the world==
*IFES Africa Programs
*IFES Asia Programs
*IFES Eurasia Programs (former Soviet republics)
*IFES Latin America Programs
*IFES Middle East Programs
==Election Guide==
IFES has produced the Election Guide website, which enables the monitoring of elections, the election process, and information about parties. The website was paid for by "a generous grant" from USAID.About Us, Election Guide website, accessed 6 Apr 2010
===Contact and personnel===
*Dorin Tudoran -- Editor in Chief
*Karen Buerkle -- Data Editor 
*Oana Luca -- Research 
Website: www.electionguide.org
==Handing out prizes==
In October 2007, IFES awarded the "Charles T. Manatt Democracy Award" to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza.IFES Honors OAS Secretary General Insulza With Its Annual Democracy Award, Media Newswire, October 2007. (Accessed: 9 October 2007)
==Lecturing on how elections should be conducted==
Besides handing out prizes, many of IFES's operatives lecture on how elections should be conducted. The emphasis is on the process or mechanics of elections and not on the nature of the political system.Achara Ashayagachat, Close monitoring by public urged, Bangkok Post, 17 November 2007. IFES is suggesting that money-dominated elections yield corruption and vote rigging. However, the US has a money-intensive election system - raising questions of double standards.
== IFES Principals and Staff==
===Board Memebers===
*William J. Hybl, Chairman
*Jean-Pierre Kingsley – President and Chief Executive Officer
*Peter G. Kelly, Vice-Chairman
*Richard Soudriette, IFES President and member of the US State Dept. "advisory committee on democracy promotion"
*Leon J. Weil, Secretary
*Joseph Napolitan, Political consultant; president and CEO of Napolitan Associates; founder of the American Association of Political Consultants and co-founder of the International Association of Political Consultants; author of numerous articles and books on political campaigns; campaign advisor to various candidates both in the U.S. and abroad. 
*Judy Black
*Don V. Cogman
*Judy G. Fernald
*Tyrone Freeman 
*Frederick P. Furth
*Jeffrey Glassman
*Steny Hoyer -- (US Congress Rep. (MD))
*Patricia Hutar
*Lesley Israel
*Barbara Kennelly
*Maureen Kindel
*Jean-Pierre Kingsley
*Kathleen M. Linehan
*Robert L. Livingston
*Jane Bergman Norton
*Andres Pastrana — Former President of Colombia (1998-2002)
*R. Scott Pastrick
*Michael Pinto-Duschinsky
*T. Timothy Ryan, Jr.
*Robert H. Tuttle
===IFES Senior Field Staff===
IFES Field-Based Senior Staff
Bradley Austin – Senior Field Development Manager, East/South Africa
Dickson Bailey – Project Director, IFES Albania and Kosovo (Elections)
Dan Blessington – Chief of Party, Azerbaijan
Elizabeth Côté – Chief of Party, Guinea
Almami Cyllah – Chief of Party, Liberia
Peter Erben – Deputy Director and Senior Advisor, Center for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance
Ched Flego – Chief of Party, Armenia
Ben Goldsmith – Chief of Party, Egypt
Beverly Hagerdon Thakur – Chief of Party, Philippines
Paul Harris – Chief of Party, Yemen
Leone Hettenbergh – Chief of Party, Uganda
Richard John – Chief of Party, Iraq
Edward Kibirige – Chief of Party, Burundi
Charles Lasham – Chief of Party, Nigeria
Dr. Cecile Marotte – Chief of Party (Victims of Violence), Haiti
David Mikosz – Chief of Party, Kyrgyz Republic
Katherine Müller --Chief of Party, Tajikistan
Theo Noel – Chief of Party, Kenya
Mauricio Claudio López-Rivera – Chief of Party, Timor Leste
Carmina Sanchis-Ruescas – Chief of Party, DRC
Hermann Thiel – Chief of Party, Lebanon
Rodolfo Ticao – Senior Program Manager, Iraq
Marcin Walecki – Senior Political Finance Advisor, Center for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance
Peter Williams – Chief of Party, Afghanistan
Jennifer Wilson – Chief of Party, Kazakhstan
Source
===Other Consultants===
*Andrew Reynolds
*Anthony BowyerNavbahor Imamova, Uzbekistan to Hold Presidential Elections in December, VOA News, 7 November 2007
==Countries where IFES has been active==
IFES states that has assisted more than 100 countries around the world.FAQs, IFES website, accessed 6 Apr 2010
Major activity occurred here:
Countries where IFES has major operations
Alabania
Angola
Azerbaijan
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ethiopia
Georgia
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Indonesia
Iraq
Kazakhstan
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palestinian Territories
Paraguay
Philippines
Tajikistan
Yemen
 
==Affiliations==
*Center for Transitional and Post-Conflict Governance – Organization belonging to IFES
*Council for a Community of Democracies
*NED
*Eurasia Foundation
*Freedom House
*International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Canadian NGO)
*International IDEA
*International Republican Institute 
*National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI)
*Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
*Soros Foundation
* United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (main funding source).
*U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) funding 
Source
==Contact, References and Resources==
===Contact===
:IFES
:1101 15th Street, N.W., Third Floor
:Washington, D.C. 20005
:202.828.8507, Telephone
:202.452.0804, Fax
:Website: www.ifes.org 
===References===
Category:Democracy Promotion