Voter Registration, Bagamoyo – Tanzania, 23 -27 June 2014

The twenty participants (twelve women and eight men) were pulled from different departments (IT, Legal, Internal Audit, Supply, Library and Elections Management Section). The facilitation team composed of Emmanuel Kawishe (Lead Facilitator), Esther Kazenga, Kabyemela Lushagara, Livin Avith and Zefanias Matsimbe. The workshop was funded by UNDP through Democratic Empowerment Project (DEP).

The workshop introduced the participants to the BRIDGE learning methodology, which has a strong emphasis on adult learning techniques by capitalizing on individual experience, knowledge sharing and peer learning. Despite the fact that most participants were coming from more technical departments they quickly familiarized themselves with the BRIDGE methodology and excelled in participation.

The course was intended to serve a dual purpose: expose NEC staff to the voter registration process, particularly to the use of technology in voter registration and to accredit three facilitators.

All twenty participants departed with a well-deserved certification of completion. Participants said they enjoyed each and every moment of the training and look forward to using BRIDGE methodology and training techniques in their training programmes, particularly for the coming biometric voter registration and referendum.

The objectives of the course were achieved as participants acquired knowledge about voter registration and the three semi-accredited facilitators successfully completed their fieldwork and they were awarded with their full accreditation certificates. The number of workshop facilitators in the country adds to four, all of them NEC staff, thanks to the valuable support provided by UNDP Tanzania.