Burundi: EISA Programme Activities 2005

EISA programme activities in 2005 supported the electoral process in Burundi.

Objectives

The overall objective of the programme was to enhance the capacity of key stakeholders to participate effectively and meaningfully in the electoral process with a view to ensuring that the outcome of the election contributed to the establishment of democratic values, the consolidation of peace and the prevention of election-related conflicts.

Specifically, the programme aimed to enhance the capacity of political parties and CSOs, including women's groups, youth associations and faith-based organisations, so that they could participate effectively and meaningfully in the ongoing electoral process in Burundi through civic education and election observation.

EISA workshop 2005

Core activities were related to the immediate aim of conducting successful elections in Burundi, namely

  • conducting civic and voter education
  • supporting CSOs in observing the electoral process
  • supporting political parties in monitoring the electoral process

Activities

Training workshop on Civic Education with Burundi CSOs

Approximately 50 people were trained by EISA in a bid to strengthen Burundian CSOs in the context of the electoral process. Those who attended the training session in Bujumbura trained others in the provinces, communes and zones. The ultimate goal of this training was to enable Burundians to participate efficiently in the electoral process when they choose leaders and political parties.

EISA Burundi workshop 2005

Training workshop on electoral campaigning, May 16-17

EISA was approached by the ONUB (Operation des Nations Unies pour le Burundi) Civil Affairs Department from the southern provinces of Bururi, Makamba and Rutana regarding incidents around political gatherings in these areas. The gatherings were convened by party leaders who were observed to be sensitising voters in preparation for the upcoming elections, well before official electoral campaigns began. Discussions took place around reducing the potential for disputes or confrontation between political parties.

These discussions led to the designing of training material to be used for provincial party leaders. EISA contributed modules and advised on the situation in Makamba, Bururi and Rutana.