Page 12 - voice-international-oct2022

Features

custom flags were conducted for ten consecutive
days in major cities. The face-to-face teaching and
brochures distribution mostly targeted market
areas, public transport hubs, recreational centers,
and residential condominiums.
To conclude, experiences gained by NEBE
concerning VE during the 6 National Election of
th
Ethiopia can be characterized as very good, given
the fact that the NEBE was undergoing reform,
its Board members were all recently appointed
Election Messages on Vans and operating under a constantly changing and
campaigns at the regional offices aimed to probe challenging environment, including COVI-19.
and be responsive to region-specific alternatives From the high turnout of voters on E-Days,
and opportunities to reach out to, hard to reach, the largely peaceful manner in which the elections
and special-needs sections of society including were conducted is indicative that the VE provided
women, Persons to the citizens made
with Disabilities an impact on their
(PwDs), and Internally Women election literacy training was conducted in decisions to go out
Displaced People six regions by engaging 448 female participants and and exercise their
(IDPs). The regional PWD Associations; and gender-sensitive VE messages democratic rights.
CVE campaigns were were crafted in different languages. Of course, there
also designed to meet were challenges: of
the language diversity institutional nature,
and social contexts. human resource capacity limitations, the capacity
Different programs on inclusive democratic of political parties and civil society, media, the
participation and election information were operating environment and past legacies. NEBE is,
produced and broadcasted in local
languages via local FM radio stations,
community radios, and regional TVs.
District-level PSA for peaceful and
inclusive democratic participation was
conducted in different regional states
and city administrations. Women
election literacy training was conducted
in six regions by engaging 448 female
participants and PWD Associations;
and gender-sensitive VE messages were
crafted in different languages, produced Voter Education at doorstep
and distributed through banners, stickers,
and brochures by the regional offices. at the moment, embarking on a Lesson Learning
exercise by assessing the last concluded elections
Roadshow Campaigns on June 21 and September 30, 2021, following which
Roadshows consisting of face-to-face teaching, a Strategic Plan is expected to be developed.
posters, brochures, promotional materials, including
t-shirts, hats, paper bags, and hand bands, and Bizuwork Ketete
Board Member, NEBE

12 | VoICE International | October 2022