ACE

Administration and Cost of Elections [Project], formerly the ACE Project, now known as the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network (www.aceproject.org).

AEC

Australian Electoral Commission (www.aec.gov.au).

Accreditation

The process of becoming an accredited BRIDGE facilitator.  There are two steps – 1) becoming semi-accredited by attending a BRIDGE module workshop as a participant and successfully completing a TtF workshop and 2) becoming fully accredited by completing supervised module workshop facilitation in the field.

Assessment

The process of estimating the value/quality of something before or during a process/event.

BRIDGE

Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections.  Refers to the curriculum (both Versions 1 and 2), the BRIDGE partnership and the BRIDGE network, BRIDGE programs and BRIDGE workshops (www.bridge-project.org)

BRIDGE Office

Based in Melbourne, Australia at the Australian Electoral Commission, the BRIDGE Office is the central point of information for BRIDGE.  The office holds and updates the curriculum, and administers the database of BRIDGE facilitators.

BRIDGE Network

Individuals and organisations. Past and present BRIDGE partner organisations, BRIDGE office staff, project managers, program developers, facilitators, and workshop participants. There are many email groups keeping former workshop participants in touch with each other.

BRIDGE partner committee

Representatives from the five BRIDGE partners.  They meet annually at a Partner Committee Meeting (formerly the Expert Advisory Group – EAG).

BRIDGE partners

The five BRIDGE partners – the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), International IDEA, International Foundation of Electoral Systems (IFES), UNDP and the UN Electoral Assistance Division.

BRIDGE program

A customised series of activities (e.g. module workshops, capacity development, skills transfer) to achieve set program objectives.

BRIDGE website

www.bridge-project.org – the central repository for BRIDGE resources, information and networking.

Capacity development

A process through which individuals, groups, institutions, organisations and societies enhance their abilities to identify and meet development challenges in a sustainable manner.

Client organisation

The organisation for which a BRIDGE program is to be conducted. This can include election management bodies (EMBs), civil society groups, political parties, the media, etc. Can also be referred to as a hosting organisation.

Customisation

The process of adapting the BRIDGE materials to suit the specific needs and objectives of the project, program or workshop, targeting different audiences.

DG BRIDGE

Democracy and Governance BRIDGE – a separate initiative to BRIDGE as it currently stands, which is more elections-focused, but both under the BRIDGE umbrella.  This document only relates to elections (or E) BRIDGE.

EC

European Commission.

EMB 

The generic term for an election management body.

Evaluation

Evaluation – the process of measuring the amount of something during and/or after a process/event.

Facilitation Manual

The reference manual for BRIDGE facilitators, outlining facilitation techniques and workshop delivery guidelines.

Facilitator

Someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve them without taking a particular position in the discussion. The preferred terminology in BRIDGE (as opposed to ‘trainer’).

Facilitators Handbook

The folder/handbook containing all relevant workshop resources for a BRIDGE facilitator to deliver a specific workshop.

Foundation modules

The two introductory modules for the BRIDGE curriculum – Introduction to Electoral Systems, and Strategic and Financial Planning.

International IDEA

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (www.idea.int).

IFES

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (www.ifes.org).

Implementation Manual

This manual. It provides guidance to individuals and organisations responsible for designing, implementing, delivering and evaluating training workshops that use material taken from the BRIDGE curriculum.

Implementation Workshop

A short workshop designed to support individuals and organisations responsible for designing and setting up BRIDGE programs and workshops. It aims to familiarise participants with what BRIDGE is (its scope and flexibility), and how to best implement it.

Implementing organisation

A non-BRIDGE partner organisation that runs a BRIDGE Program. Also referred to as ‘implementing partner’.

Modules

The 23 topics within the curriculum.  Workshops can be designed from one, or a combination of several, of the modules.

Monitoring

The maintenance of regular surveillance of a process/event.

Needs Assessment

The research and consultation process that precedes a) the decision to run a BRIDGE program, b) the design of the program. Can include a scoping mission.

Participants

The individuals who participate in BRIDGE workshops as part of their professional development.

Participants Handbook

The folder/handbook containing all relevant ‘Participants Notes’ documents for a specific workshop, provided to each workshop participant.

Regionalisation

Strategy to promote and assist the use of BRIDGE in a region, including translation and additional content.

Scoping Mission

A feasibility study.

Showcase

A customised workshop that exemplifies BRIDGE content, materials and methodology and which exposes key players and decision makers to relevant aspects of BRIDGE so that they can make an informed choice on its applicability.

Thematic group

The three themes of the BRIDGE curriculum that each module falls under – Electoral Architecture (structures and design for elections); Working with Electoral Stakeholders (the various interested parties for elections) and Electoral Operations (the ‘how to’ for elections).

TtF workshop

BRIDGE Train the Facilitator workshop, which aims to accredit a high-quality group of facilitators for BRIDGE.

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme (www.undp.org).

UNEAD

United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (www.un.org/Depts/dpa/ead/).

Version 1

The first BRIDGE curriculum, published in 2002, containing 10 modules.

Version 2

The updated BRIDGE curriculum, launched in 2008, containing 24 modules categorised into three thematic groups.

Workshop

A discrete BRIDGE training event.  For example, a module workshop, a TtF workshop, an Implementation or Customisation workshop.