Sudan political parties workshop - 2008

EISA conducted a workshop for political parties in Khartoum, Sudan in April 2008. This workshop was one of a series conducted as part of the project Strengthening Political Parties in the Sudan. The project is implemented by a consortium of four organisations: EISA, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), The Parliamentary Centre (PC), a Canadian-based NGO and Partners in Development Services (DPS), based in Sudan and aims to build capacity for the six major political parties in Sudan. These parties are:

• The Umma Party (UP)
• Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
• National Congress Party (NCP)
• Communist Party (CP)
• Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM)
• People's Congress Party (PCP)

This workshop was the first of two under the Election Campaigns thematic area of the project. Its purpose was to enhance the capacity of political parties to participate positively in the electoral process by providing appropriate skills and knowledge through theoretical information, debate, interactive practical sessions using case studies, scenarios and discussion. As with the previous workshops under this project, the parties were represented by both male and female participants. The workshop was also attended by members of the media and a representative of the British Embassy in Khartoum.

The workshop covered the following topics:

• Democratic transitions
• Elections and democracy
• Electoral systems and representation
• The electoral cycle
• Post election politics and reconciliation