The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

NDI arrived in Afghanistan in early 2002 and has conducted programs to promote the participation of Afghan civic groups, political parties, women, and government bodies in the country’s political and electoral processes. Currently, NDI has a country office and seven provincial offices throughout Afghanistan and its operations are staffed by over 125 Afghan employees.

The Institute conducted programs to support the 2010 Wolesi Jirga (lower house of the National Assembly) elections, assisting candidates and their agents, political parties and domestic monitoring groups to participate effectively in the electoral process. In addition, NDI works in partnership Afghanistan's 34 provincial councils to enhance their ability to represent their constituents and support the local development planning process.

The Institute’s country office is in Kabul, with provincial based offices in Herat, Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar, Khost, Kunduz and Mazar-i-Sharif.

Elections

2010 Elections

Afghanistan held elections on September 18, 2010, to choose representatives to the Wolesi Jirga. NDI implemented programs to assist candidates, political parties, and election monitoring groups to participate effectively in the country’s electoral process.

Strengthening Political Party and Candidate Participation
NDI programs work to strengthen the capacity of Afghan political parties to develop campaigns that address voter concerns. The Institute provides training to political party representatives through its Political Training Program (PTP), an intensive six-week course in practical party-building and campaign management. In addition, in the lead up to the 2010 candidate registration period, NDI offered technical guidance to smaller political parties on approaches to strengthen their internal structures, build coalitions, and better position themselves to compete, particularly in light of the requirements under the 2009 Political Party Law.

In July 2010, NDI conducted orientation seminars across the country to inform registered candidates of the legal framework and regulations relevant to the elections. These sessions also covered the roles and responsibilities of candidates, with special emphasis on ways to identify and combat election fraud and misuse of state resources. These seminars were carried out in 30 of the country’s 34 provinces and reached 1,709 candidates (68 percent of all registered candidates).

• Kuchi candidates outline priorities at NDI roundtable»

Increasing Women’s Political Participation
As a record number of women were running as candidates for Wolesi Jirga seats, NDI designed and implemented a program to strengthen the capacity of these women to compete. The Institute organized campaign schools with a curriculum tailored to address the challenges particular to Afghan women, build key campaign skills, and broaden knowledge of the electoral framework. Approximately 246 (or 62 percent of all) women candidates participated in these schools. Following the elections, NDI orientation workshops for women elected to the Wolesi Jirga will help them build the skills necessary to fulfill their mandates and to overcome the unique challenges they face as women politicians in Afghanistan.

Supporting Candidate Polling Agents
The Institute implemented a program to strengthen the capacity of candidate agents to observe and report on election-day activities. Through a pool of 96 Afghan trainers, NDI supported workshops across Afghanistan to help approximately 35,000 candidate agents learn about election procedures, effective election administration, and the rights and obligations of polling agents. The Institute developed a candidate agent manual, in Dari and Pashtu, and collaborated with the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan (IEC) to distribute thousands of manuals throughout the country.

• Read the manual »(English|Dari|Pashto)

Election Observation
NDI is providing technical and financial support to the Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), the country’s principal domestic monitoring network. The Institute assisted the organization in its preparations for the September polls, including the training of district-level staff, the observation of the voter and candidate registration periods, and the mobilization of monitors on election day. For this year’s polls, FEFA deployed 7,000 monitors across the country.

NDI also conducted an observation mission to monitor the 2010 elections, mobilizing approximately 160 observers. This mission involved analysis of the electoral process before, during, and after election day as well as an independent assessment of the process based on Afghan conditions, Afghan law, and international principles. Issues examined included electoral administration, the electoral complaints process, security and the elections, and women’s political participation.

• Read the updates NDI published during the 2010 electoral process at www.ndi.org/afghanistan_elections_update

Election Data Mapping
Building on the website Afghanistanelectiondata.org, that NDI created in 2009, the Institute added data from the 2010 electoral process. The site includes an online mapping tool to facilitate analysis of election results data using demographic, ethnographic, topographic, and security information. By making this data widely accessible, those involved in the Afghan political process – including government officials, political parties and domestic monitoring groups, and members of the international community – can use the information to help improve future elections. The information can be found at www.afghanistanelectiondata.org

2009 Elections

NDI conducted a number of programs to support the 2009 presidential and provincial council elections. These efforts focused on long- and short-term election observation and assisting political parties, candidates and domestic election monitoring groups to participate effectively in the electoral process.

International Election Observation
For the August 20 polls, NDI conducted an international election observation mission that mobilized more than 100 international and Afghan observers, covering all of the country's regions and the capital, to observe every aspect of the election process, including the campaign, balloting on election day and the post-election period. The group came from 11 countries on six continents and included current and former government officials, political party and election officials, legislative staff, representatives of democracy and human rights organizations, and academics. The delegation issued a preliminary statement on August 22 that included 17 recommendations for improving the election process in future years.

• Read the full preliminary statement of the Institute’s election observation mission to Afghanistan for the Aug. 20, 2009, vote (English | Dari | Pashto)»
• Read about NDI's observation mission to Afghanistan for the Aug. 20, 2009, vote»

In the days following the election, NDI continued to monitor the process, including an investigation by the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) into allegations of fraud. In a September 9 statement, the Institute expressed deep concern over the high levels of fraud complaints and said the credibility of the elections depended on a thorough investigation.

• NDI expresses concern about Aug. 20, 2009, election fraud complaints (English | Dari | Pashto)»

The Institute also commented on the unfolding events in congressional testimony and policy forums.

• In congressional testimony, NDI stresses election process in Afghanistan (Oct. 1, 2009)»
• Read director of Asia programs Peter Manikas' testimony to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs(Oct. 1, 2009)»
• Watch a CSIS-sponsored panel of NDI mission observers as they recount their impressions of the Aug. 20, 2009, Afghan election»

In late October, the work of the ECC revealed that no candidate had achieved 50 percent of the presidential vote, which was a requirement for victory, leading the Independent Election Commission (IEC) to schedule a runoff poll for November 7. NDI noted there was little time to make improvements in the electoral process before the vote, but it offered a number of recommendations on steps that could be taken quickly to avoid the problems of the August 20 balloting.

• NDI recommends improved security, other measures, to avoid problems in Afghanistan runoff election»

In anticipation of the November 7 vote, the Institute fielded a team of analysts in Kabul to follow developments in the runoff and provide an independent assessment of the process. The analytical mission looked into such key issues as electoral administration, security of the elections and women's participation as well as regional developments. The runoff was cancelled when one of the two candidates, Abdullah Abdullah, declined to participate, but NDI's team issued several reports based on its analysis of election data.

• Read NDI's Afghanistan Elections Updates for information and analysis on the presidential runoff election (Issue 1 | Issue 2 | Issue 3)»

In cancelling the runoff, the IEC declared the remaining candidate, Hamid Karzai, the winner. NDI noted, however, that the decision left unaddressed the problems of fraud surrounding the August 20 balloting. In a November 3 statement, NDI called for a rigorous and impartial inquiry into the failures of the election process to be conducted by high-level international and Afghan experts.

• High level review is needed for electoral reform»
• Read the full statement»

In December, NDI launched an innovative online mapping tool for analyzing election results data from Afghanistan's Aug. 20 presidential election using demographic, ethnographic, topographic and security information. The tool also identifies areas that had significant electoral irregularities. The information can be found at www.afghanistanelectiondata.org.

Tim Berners-Lee, the British engineer, computer scientist and MIT professor who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web, singled out for praise the Afghanistan Elections Data site in a talk at the Technology Education Design (TED) conference in Long Beach, Calif. Read more»

In June 2010, the Institute published its final report on the 2009 election, analyzing the election data and making recommendations for future elections.

• Read the final report on Afghanistan's 2009 presidential and provincial council elections»

Strengthening Political Party and Candidate Participation
NDI carried out programs to strengthen the capacity of Afghan political parties and candidates to develop campaigns that addressed voters' concerns. Building on NDI's relationships with Afghanistan's political parties established since 2002, the Institute supported training to address organizational capacity, strategic planning and outreach to constituents. The Institute worked with trainers of political parties in the development of key skills, including political campaign management and direct voter contact. In addition, NDI offered technical guidance to smaller political parties on approaches to strengthen their internal structures, help them build coalitions and better position themselves to compete.

Increasing Women's Political Participation
NDI also conducted a program to promote the political participation of Afghan women by enhancing the capacity of female candidates to compete in the 2009 provincial council elections and serve their constituents once elected. The Institute organized Women in Politics Campaign Schools for women PC candidates, with a one-week curriculum specifically adapted to the needs of women in all regions of Afghanistan. More than 70 percent of women candidates across the country participated in these activities.

NDI also plans to hold orientation workshops for all women elected to the provincial councils. The workshops would be designed to help women councilors overcome the unique challenges they face, such as engaging effectively with male-dominated civic and government entities, and identifying issues of interest to vulnerable constituencies, including women.

Supporting Candidate Polling Agents
For the 2009 elections, the Institute also carried out a program to strengthen the capacity of candidate polling agents to observe and report on election day activities. Through a pool of 80 Afghan master trainers, NDI supported workshops across Afghanistan to help candidates and agents learn about election processes and procedures, effective election administration, and the rights and obligations of polling agents. More than 31,000 candidate agents were trained and 150,000 polling agent manuals, in Dari and Pashto, were printed and distributed to IEC provincial offices.

Support for Domestic Election Monitoring
In coordination with the UNDP, NDI provided technical support to the Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), a civil society group the Institute has assisted since its inception in 2002. FEFA deployed 7,000 monitors for the August 2009 polls and reported on the conduct of election day activities.

2004 and 2005 Elections

In advance of Afghanistan's first-ever direct president elections in October 2004, the Institute provided political parties the infrastructure, services, and information necessary to participate effectively in Afghanistan's political and electoral process. Through NDI's regional offices, the Institute conducted training seminars and workshops on a national scale for political parties on electoral processes, campaigning, and party development.

On September 18, 2005, Afghanistan held elections for the lower house of the National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga) and provincial council, following an energetic campaign period with nearly 6,000 candidate participants, over 550 of whom were women. Given the enormous complexity of the balloting, voting, and vote-counting processes, the generally smooth administration and conclusion of these elections were considerable achievements.

In advance of the 2005 parliamentary elections, NDI trained over 13,000 campaign participants, including over 2,000 women, and provided training workshops to approximately 44,000 candidate agents. NDI also assisted in the establishment of an Afghan election monitoring organization known as the Free and Fair Elections Foundation of Afghanistan (FEFA), which conducted the most extensive domestic monitoring effort for the 2005 elections.

• NDI Final Report on the September 2005 parliamentary and provincial council elections (April 10, 2006)»

Provincial Councils

Since their establishment in 2004, Afghanistan’s provincial councils have faced great challenges in fulfilling their mandates to represent their constituencies in the provincial development process. . Since 2006, NDI has responded to these challenges by implementing programs to strengthen the capacity of provincial councils, by assisting councilors in efforts to engage in citizen outreach, plan provincial development and conducting oversight, and promote government accountability.

NDI is currently implementing a national program in all 34 provinces to guide newly elected councilors through the process of development planning and oversight, which are key components of their legal mandate. Through targeted training and technical assistance, the Institute aims to help councilors acquire skills to assess provincial development initiatives and to enhance the long-term institutional capacity of councils. With assistance from NDI, provincial councils have held consultations with local leaders and civil society organizations to gain input from the community, conducted open public hearings, and developed oversight reports on local development projects. Provincial councils serve to aggregate the public’s needs and make recommendations, in the form of a formal proposal to the provincial governor, that are responsive to those needs.

• Interview: Devin O'Shaughnessy on the Growing Role of Provincial Councilors, December 2009
• Interview: NDI-Afghanistan Implements Successful Provincial Councils Program, December 2007

National Assembly

Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections in September 2005 produced a National Assembly composed largely of independent members with little or no experience operating in a democratically-elected legislature. NDI provided assistance to the parliament’s leadership, its commissions, and the professional staff to help them effectively manage legislative affairs. The Institute worked with five parliamentary commissions in adopting strategic work plans, developing legislation, and coordinating oversight hearings.

NDI also provided professional development training to the assistants of members of parliament and to parliamentary staff, including those supporting the commissions and the research department. The Institute coordinated a parliamentary internship program, providing additional skilled resources to the legislature.

• Success Story: Parliamentary Intern Drafts Government Code of Conduct, December 2007 (PDF)

The Institute has supported the development of a women's legislative network that includes women members of parliament and civil society leaders to advocate on issues of concern to women.

To strengthen political processes in the National Assembly, NDI has provided technical guidance to parliamentary leaders on legislative rules of procedure and comparative examples of electoral systems to the Electoral Law Commission.

Funding

NDI’s current programming in Afghanistan funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Past Publications

• Statement from NDI local partner, Free and Fair Election Foundation of Afghanistan, September 2005 (PDF)

• Statement of the NDI Pre-Election Delegation to Afghanistan, Kabul, July 8, 2005

• Statement of the NDI Pre-Election Delegation to Afghanistan, Kabul, August 18, 2004

• 'A Society in Transition,' NDI Focus Group Report, December 2003

• 'Afghan Perspectives on Democracy,' NDI Focus Group Report, May 2002

Contact Information

For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:

Washington, D.C.
Raissa Tatad-Hazell, Senior Program Manager
(202) 728-5653

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