The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq funded two BRIDGE workshops

The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) of Iraq funded two BRIDGE workshops in introduction and electoral system for EMB Body and VRC staff. The workshops were conducted in Baghdad from February 19-23, 2017 and from 26 Feb – 2 march, 2017.

The facilitators met before 7 days to design the agenda and prepare the material for participant and all equipment to execute the two workshops

These workshops aimed to: 

• Strengthen the capacity of EMB Body and VRC staff to implement successfully electoral process during an upcoming election.

• Understanding sanders and principles for election through electoral process, Electoral system and type of EMB.

The independent high electoral commission (IHEC) of Iraq delivered the BRIDGE workshop for twenty participants (14 male, 6 female) attended the workshop in Baghdad.

Workshop #1

Five days’ workshop that was facilitated by IHEC facilitator:

• Mazin Swadi                             Accrediting bridge facilitator (Lead facilitator).

• Ahmed noori                            Workshop facilitator.

• Dawood khudhair                     Semi accrediting Facilitator.

• Muhammad sabbar ghwauly   Semi accrediting Facilitator.

• Imad mohsin                             Semi accrediting Facilitator.

In the end of the workshop two facilitator from IHEC (Muhammad Sabaar Ghwauly and Dawood khudhair)   complete the requirement of the BRIDGE facilitator and become a fully accredited BRIDGE facilitator.

Workshop #2

Thirty two participants (16 male, 7 female) attended the second workshop in Baghdad.

Five days’ workshop that was facilitated by:

• Mazin Swadi                             Accrediting bridge facilitator (Lead facilitator).  

• Ahmed noori                             Workshop facilitator.

• Dawood khudhair                     Workshop facilitator.

• Muhammad sabbar ghwauly   Workshop facilitator.

• Imad mohsin                             Semi accrediting Facilitator.

In the end of the workshop one facilitator from IHEC (Imad mohsin) complete the requirement of the BRIDGE facilitator and become a fully accredited BRIDGE facilitator

The two workshops agenda focused on:

• Bridge presentation.

• Sources & international standards for free and fair elections.

• Electoral Systems Standards.

• Justice& Fairness of the electoral system.

• Definition of Electoral Systems, Electoral Systems families.

• The main variables for Electoral Systems.

• Majority systems.

• Proportional representation systems.

• Electoral formulas.

• Demarcation of electoral constituencies.

• Mixed systems, parallel systems.

• Electoral reform.

• Type of electoral administration.

• Challenges of the electoral administration

• Design of the electoral administration.

• Electoral cycle.

Participants praised the methodology used at the BRIDGE workshops and impact of learning while having group discussions. All the topics presented were of major interest and importance for both target groups.

In recognition of completion of the five-days training course for each workshop, participants received a BRIDGE certificate.

The VRC staffs was very supportive of using BRIDGE as they view it as being one of the best tools for training and capacity building.