Speaker program on proportional representation reaches diverse audiences (September 26-October 3, 2009)

Arun Kapil discussing electoral systems with majority and opposition parties.

Political scientist Arun Kapil, from Africa Regional Services in Paris, spent September 27th to October 3rd in Djibouti for a series of seminars on electoral systems with locally elected leaders, parliamentarians, magistrates, university professors, researchers and leaders of political parties.

The seminars gave audiences an in-depth understanding of how different systems based on either proportional or majoritarian representation operate.  Djiboutian parliamentarians in particular were very interested in the topic, as the Government of Djibouti is planning to introduce a proportional representation system in the National Assembly for the legislative elections of 2013.  The exact method of apportionment has not yet been decided.  During the seminar, Kapil organized mock elections for the parliamentarians to show how different electoral systems could produce dramatically different results. 

The end of the seminar brought parties from the ruling majority coalition and opposition political parties together for a lively debate about proportional representation.  Proportional representation is one of nine outstanding demands the opposition made of the majority coalition party since the 2003 legislative elections.  Since 2003, the opposition coalition has boycotted several elections, and this is the first time the two sides have sat down to discuss proportional representation.  Both sides agreed to further dialogue and welcomed the opportunity to discuss proportional representation with an expert who could explain the advantages and disadvantages of each system. 

USAID signs accord with Government of Djibouti for $3.8 million (09/26/09)

(From left: USAID/Djibouti Representative Stephanie Funk; Delegate Minister in Charge of International Cooperation, H.E. M. Ahmed Ali Silay; U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti James Swan;  USAID/East Africa Regional Director, Larry Meserve, posing after the signing ceremony).

Ambassador James Swan and the USAID/East Africa Regional Director, Larry Meserve, signed three bilateral agreements on September 26, 2009 with the Republic of Djibouti’s Delegate Minister, H.E. M. Ahmed Ali Silay.  The accord provides for  approximately $3.8 million in development assistance for Djibouti, to focus on health, education, and democracy and good governance programs. 
In the health sector, resources will support the Ministry of Health to mitigate tuberculosis and ensure that Djibouti remains polio-free.  Additional resources from the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) will assist Djibouti in its fight against malnutrition. 

In the education sector, programs will promote quality education, strengthen teacher training and strategic planning, develop sound management information system, assist parent teacher associations, provide training for out-of-school youth and support girls’ education. 

In the democracy and good dovernance sector, the current agreement will help Djibouti lay the groundwork for free, fair and inclusive presidential and regional elections in 2011. 

The Republic of Djibouti also receives support from USAID/Washington--for malnutrition, girls’ education, food aid and food secuirty monitoring.  Total USAID assistance to Djibouti in 2009 is more than $7 million, an increase over 2008 funding levels.  Other U.S. assistance that complements these resources includes support from the U.S. Africa Command’s Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Civil Affairs programs (AFRICOM CJTF-HOA), the U.S. Department of Energy’s Megaports program and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Skies for Africa Program.  

Ambassador Swan noted that these agreements are a sign of the U. S. Government’s commitment to advance a successful development agenda and that both countries look forward to continued cooperation.  Mr. Meserve commented, “USAID is very pleased to have been working in Djibouti now for nearly seven years, working closely with the Government and people of Djibouti to achieve the desired results.  Today, more Djiboutian boys and girls are attending school, and more women and children are receiving health care, because of this partnership.”

USAID and the Inpector General tackle audit best practices (September 26 –October 1)

(Seated at the head table from left to right: USAID/Djibouti Representative Stephanie Funk; U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti James Swan;  Djibouti’s Inspector General, Mr. Hassan Issa; USAID/East Africa Regional Director, Larry Meserve.)

The Inspector General, Mr. Hassan Issa, and Mrs. Stephanie Funk, Representative of USAID, closed a week-long seminar on standards and best practices for audit and control by presenting certificates of completion to the Inspectors.

This seminar provided inspectors the opportunity to practice audit and control standards learned over the course of the training. The trainer, Mr. Thomas O'Connor, is an expert in auditing  federal regulatory agencies. He has extensive experience in designing courses in public accounting, financial reporting, and auditing standards and has worked for the American Government Accountability Office, as well as for USAID.

Ms Anne-Marie Auger, an expert in organizational audit and strategic planning who previously collaborated  with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, assisted in the presentation of the code of ethics and standards of conduct for auditors. Both were recruited by Management Systems International, the implementing partner for USAID’s anti-corruption program in Djibouti.

During this training, the inspectors learned best practices for transmitting audit reports, monitoring and evaluating recommendations, and detecting abnormalities.

Ambassador's Democracy and Human Rights Fund (09/24/09)

(From left to right: Ali Abdou Mohamed, President of the National Commission of Human Rights, M. Amina Ahmed Yonis, Director for the Training Center for Women and Girls in Balbala, U.S. Ambassador James Swan, Dr. Nabil Mohamed, President of Bender Djedid, and Salah Sadek Ali, Secretary General of Bender Djedid)

Ambassador James Swan signed agreements with two Djiboutian civil society associations—Bender Djedid Organization, and the Woman and Girls’ Training Center of Balbala—worth nearly US $30,000 (5,000,000 FDJ).  The agreements were signed as part of the Ambassador’s Democracy and Human Rights Fund, which develops and strengthens the democracy and human rights capacity of civil society to effect positive change.    The two associations received nearly US $15,000 each to pursue projects that will strengthen democratic practices and respect for human rights. 
Bender Djedid’s initiative will explore how to involve civil society in the work of the Human Rights Commission and will educate civil society on issues related to human rights. 
The Women and Girls Training Center of Balbala is an umbrella organization representing several nongovernmental organizations in the community.  The Training Center will run a series of workshops and seminars in the run up to national elections scheduled for 2011.  They will focus on women’s rights, human rights, and electoral responsibilities and opportunities.

PAO interviewed by Radio Television Djibouti (09/23/09)