Media and Elections

6 December 2024

The Media Modular Workshop in Hargeisa Somaliland

As part of the preparations for the upcoming 2024 elections in Somaliland, the Netherlands Institute for Multi-party Democracy (NIMD) with funding support from the European Union (EU) organised one of the first BRIDGE module workshop on Media and Elections course from 19-23 October 2013 in Hargeisa, Somaliland. This Media and Elections BRIDGE Module workshop demonstrated the commitment of the NIMD to build the capacity of media in readiness for the upcoming elections.

A reputable organisation working on media in Somaliland, the Media Ink was co-hosting the event with NIMD. There was a total of nineteen participants drawn from the media fraternity. They were 7 females and 12 males. The workshop was facilitated by a mix of international, regional and local BRIDGE facilitators. They were; Rindai Chipfunde Vava, Kristina Miletic, Abdijalil Tahr Korshel and Dr Abdirahman Osman Gaas. Participants were taken through an intensive programme including; Introduction to the media and the electoral cycle, The role of Media in elections, The EMB-Media Relationship, Working with the Media, Media Monitoring, Media Liaison, Media Centres, Legal and Institutional Frameworks, Regulating Media during an election, Code of Conduct for the Media and Elections, Media Related Communication Tools and Techniques, Strategic Communications Planning and Public Outreach Campaigning.

Take-away’s of the course were listed as follows:

 Very good and interesting

 Rich experience from different media practitioners and other countries

 The need to build and maintain NEC and media relations.

 Top Priority to develop a media and communication strategy.

 The role of media in election and how to make good relationships.

Comments on course facilitation

 Very interactive

 Understood the subject matter

 Great Facilitation

 Able to simplify complex issues

 Well-organised and well-prepared.