Voter and Civic Education

The United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) in South Sudan implemented a four-day BRIDGE modular workshop, Voter and Civic Education, for State High Election Committee (SHEC) members.

The workshop, conducted in Juba, South Sudan from November 12-15, was led by BRIDGE facilitators Natia Kashakashvili and Shalva Tskhakaya and co-facilitated by national TtF-complete facilitators: John Kuot Kuany Diing, Barnaba Mayor Deng, Bior John Bullen Alier. Twenty-nine participants (8 female and 21 male) attended the workshop.

The workshop aimed to provide participants with a foundational understanding of Civic and Voter Education, based on the eight step approach, while emphasizing widely accepted principles of voter and civic education, various tools and techniques necessary for effective planning and implementation of the VCE process. It focused on building knowledge on NEC CVE strategy and international best practices in developing massages, cooperating with stakeholders, monitoring the CVE process, assessing its success while ensuring clarity, impartiality and universality. Additionally, participants were introduced to the key target groups, traditional and modern tools of communication and monitoring and evaluation plan from the NEC CVE strategy.

Below is the outline of the workshop structure:

1. Foundation of Civic and Electoral Education

·      Defining Civic Education, Electoral Education, and Voter Information Programs

• Clarify the distinctions and interconnections between these concepts.

·      Rationale and Mandate of Voter and Civic Education Programs

• Explore the legal, ethical, and social reasons for such programs.

·      Principles/Standards of Voter and Civic Education Programs

• Discuss best practices and ethical considerations.

2. Planning and Development

·      Eight Steps in VCE Program Development and Implementation

• Focus on “Establishing Focus” as a starting point.

·      Understanding Learners: Target Groups and Their Needs

• Analyze different demographic groups and their informational needs.

·      Why People Vote and Youth Participation

• Explore psychological and motivational factors behind voting.
• Discuss strategies for engaging young voters.

·      Understanding the Voter Mood and Designing Surveys

• Techniques for gauging public sentiment and conducting research.

·      Selecting VCE Objectives

• Define clear, measurable goals based on research findings.

·      Assessing Available Resources for VCE Programs

• Inventory existing resources (human, financial, and material).

3. Strategy Design

·      Designing Voter and Civic Education Programs: Key Considerations

• Address cultural sensitivity, accessibility, and inclusivity.

·      Voter Information Methods

• Compare traditional and modern approaches (e.g., social media, workshops).

·      NEC CVE Strategy Presentation

• Case study from the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
• Designing SHEC implementation plan based on the NEC CVE strategy

4. Design of CVE program

·      Design Elements: Determining Key Messages

• Develop focused, impactful messages tailored to target audiences.

·      CVE Products: Face-to-Face Activities, Youth Involvement, Voter Guides, Fact Sheets, FAQs

• Brainstorm and create prototypes for these products.

5. Implementation and Evaluation

·      Designing CVE Activities

• Plan engaging, actionable activities for community outreach.

·      Monitoring and Evaluation

• Establish frameworks for measuring program effectiveness.

The workshop was opened by the representatives of UN IEAT and the National Elections Commission of the Republic of South Sudan. Participants enjoyed the workshop, BRIDGE learning methodology and training techniques. They provided feedback at the end of each day on the content as well as the conduct of the workshop through verbal and written evaluations. Key points of the written evaluation forms are outlined below (see Annex 3 for the statistical analysis of the evaluation forms):

1. Aspects of the Sessions That Were Most Useful or Valuable

• Core Content:
• Rationale and principles of Civic and Voter Education (CVE), including examples from UN conventions.
• Definitions and foundational concepts were highly appreciated, particularly at the start of the session.
• The “8 Steps for Program Development” and needs assessment as foundational tools were well-received.
• Interactive Methods:
• Group discussions fostered participation, diverse perspectives, and deeper understanding.
• Videos and examples from other countries made complex topics relatable and broadened participants’ perspectives.
• Practical examples and role-playing encouraged creativity and real-world application.
• Overall Design and Delivery:
• The sessions complemented each other and were clear, engaging, and participatory.
• Content sequencing and learning methodologies (e.g., interactive activities) were highlighted as effective.
• Specific focus areas like designing key messages and monitoring and evaluation stood out.

2. Comments and Recommendations Regarding the Course Content and Conduct

• Positive Feedback:
• The content was clear, relevant, and well-presented, with many participants praising its applicability and richness.
• The course allowed for active participation and practical learning through case studies and problem-solving exercises.
• Suggestions for Improvement:
• Add more context-specific illustrations, particularly examples from South Sudan.
• Extend the duration of the training to allow for deeper exploration of concepts and strategy development.
• Incorporate additional sessions on election-related topics, such as results management and operations planning.
• Limit the number of trainers during sessions to improve focus and consistency.
• Future Training Needs:
• Regular follow-up workshops, especially as elections approach.
• Focus on completing remaining BRIDGE modules and integrating SHEC-specific strategies.
• Include members of the executive and legislature in future trainings to enhance collaboration.

3. Other Feedback

• Logistics and Timing:
• Adjust the schedule to end earlier for participants not accommodated on-site.
• Reduce prolonged sitting by balancing lectures with more interactive exercises.
• Future Opportunities:
• Extend training to other stakeholders across the states.
• Provide additional capacity-building programs for election administrators.
• Facilitate practical applications of learning in participants’ respective states.
• Appreciation:
• Participants expressed gratitude for the facilitators’ professionalism and the opportunity to engage in a meaningful and impactful workshop.

This feedback underscores the effectiveness of the training while highlighting areas for improvement, particularly in terms of contextualization, practical application, and training duration.

The workshops were closed by the representatives of UN IEAT and the NEC. All the participants were awarded certificates of completion.