The world is anxiously watching to see how the October 11 presidential elections in post-conflict Liberia will proceed. The country has come far in its post-conflict recovery, but even with substantial international resources and development, the potential for violence remains a reality. Through the USAID-funded Civil Society & Media Leadership Program (CSML) [7], IREX works to sustain peace in Liberia by informing and engaging citizens. To support transparent, legitimate, and peaceful elections, IREX is engaging in a comprehensive effort with civil society and the media in Liberia.
“IREX and its civil society and media partners are striving to build elections awareness and provide all Liberians with accurate, unbiased and non-partisan facts so that they may make their informed choices in peace and be a part of the country’s move towards stability and ever increasing prosperity” notes Chief of Party Tilly Reed [8].
Work with CSOs/Encouraging Peaceful Civic Participation
Through its four resource partners, IREX is working with 22 civil society organizations in seven counties of Liberia on elections-related activities reaching thousands of Liberian citizens. These activities encourage voters to participate in the election, educate voters on the electoral process, encourage partisans to respect the right of rivals to campaign peacefully, and prevent violence. Activities include town halls, radio talk shows, sporting events, street theater, public service announcements, print materials, messaging via mobile public address systems and door-to-door outreach.
Work with Media/Promoting Responsible Election Coverage
The media can play a vital role in informing the electorate, promoting peaceful elections, and encouraging parties and politicians to act responsibly by engaging in professional reporting. This is extremely important given Liberia’s recent history and as it tries to build upon the peace that has prevailed for the last eight years.
It is with these high stakes in mind that IREX aims at preparing the media to effectively cover the elections by providing equipment and training to journalists and media outlets and supporting the establishment of the Elections Reporting Center.
In the lead up to the elections IREX and the CSML partners:
• Created the Elections Reporting Center (ERC), hosted by the Liberia Media Center. The high-tech Center with VSAT internet, call center and computers is a venue for day-to-day technical and professional support in the use of ICTs and social media for elections reporting. It is a hub to monitor and report on media coverage of the elections across newspaper, urban-based radio, television and community-based radio. The Center will host an Online Media Resources Clearinghouse, http://pulliberialr.org [9], for posting elections results via social media sites and other related elections websites.
• Established a mobile phone based platform to be used by the public and election monitors to report election related activities and issues. The system also texts civic education messages to people.
• Supplied equipment to journalists including smartphones, digital recorders, cameras, and laptop computers.
• Arranged mobile reporting through the purchase of an election reporting minivan and 60 motorcycles for journalists to maximize coverage reach.
• Trained and dispatched election monitors.
• Partnered with UNESCO through the International Center for Journalism to support the Press Union of Liberia’s two day conference on Media Ethics and Conflict Sensitive Elections Reporting.
• Trained 200 community peace actors to promote a peaceful campaign and elections season through civic education, community forums, community theater and other platforms through CSML’s implementing partner, the Liberia Women Media Action committee (LIWOMAC). The peace actors organized live broadcast public forums on the Liberia Women Democracy Radio.
• Provided an outside broadcast van for LIWOMAC to launch a mobile platform. A team of broadcasters has been traveling the country and broadcasting from remote areas, where people gather to express themselves and talk about issues that should be driving the elections.
• Trained debate moderators in the 15 counties who are now organizing debates for legislative candidates through the Press Union of Liberia. In the days leading up to and following the elections, 50 trained reporters equipped with laptop computers and smartphones will be deployed to polling centers around the country to convey election results and report instantaneously to the Elections Reporting Center.
The overall goal of CSML is to sustain peace in Liberia. The pre- and post-election activities are designed to ensure that the elections are free, fair, transparent and peaceful.
Links to recent coverage of IREX activities in Liberia:
LMC Releases Media Performance Report on 2011 Elections [10]
Refrain from Becoming "Cheering Squads" for Politicians Liberian Journalists Warned [11]
IREX and LMC Launch Communications Initiative [12]
In Preparation for Effective Election Reporting [13]
Press Union Plans Media Conference on Violence-Free Election Reporting [14]
For up to date information on the elections and CSML program, follow on Facebook: IREX Liberia [15]