Promoting Elections, Accountability and Civic Engagement in Chad

Conflict Resolution, Media Development, Africa

The Promoting Elections, Accountability and Civic Engagement in Chad (PEACE) program is designed to enable broader citizen participation in democratic processes through peaceful and increasingly credible, free and fair legislative and presidential elections in Chad. The program offers assistance to Chad’s government electoral institutions, civil society and media to increase transparency, accountability and outreach to citizens throughout the election process. Improving the credibility of the electoral process and avoiding election-related conflict are key objectives. Funded by the US Agency for International Development, PEACE is implemented through the Global Civil Society Strengthening Leader with Associates. The program is managed by Counterpart International, with IREX providing technical expertise for the media component.

Goals

• Strengthen the capacity of electoral institutions
• Build media’s ability to report on elections
• Advance radio outlets’ capacity to produce elections programming
• Develop the skills of radio journalists to cover elections-related conflict professionally

Background

One of the poorest nations in Africa, Chad is also one of the least democratic countries in the world. Chad consistently ranks at the bottom of major indices including the Human Development Index (UNDP), Corruption Perceptions (Transparency International), and the Media Sustainability Index (IREX). Political instability and chronic conflict have resulted in 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line, an adult illiteracy rate of 70 percent, and average life expectancy of a meager 48.7 years. However, potential for improvement exists due to critical elections scheduled for the next two years and a conflict mitigation framework signed in 2007 by the government and the opposition to promote dialogue over the use of force.

Project Activities

• Strengthening of the electoral institutions, including through consulting on media outreach policies and practices
• Building the capacity of the media to develop elections-related programming, including coverage of preparations for the balloting, the vote, and the release of results
• Developing the skills of journalists to report on elections-related conflict without heightening tensions