II ~I ~ ~II~ ~~ ~II ~ ~II - IFES

IFES Pre-electionAssessment: BurundiCivic Education ProgramThe IFES team views assistance to a civic education program as the highest priority. Afterhaving been subjected to a single-party system, Burundians now face a dramatic change, notonly in attitude but also in process. This is demonstrated by the fact that a mUlti-party systemrequires that the people of Burundi make a choice in their leadership. The IFES team feels thatin order to bring a better understanding of the political realities in Burundi, the population mustknow what democracy is all about. Burundians must also understand the electoral system,specifically the registration and ballot systems, and understand their role and the role and dutiesof the officials who are administering the Electoral Code. It is important that this imformationbe disseminated in Kirundi as well as French.Training of Election OfficialsThe number two priority for assistance would be to establish a system where the internationalcommunity could actively participate in the training of all election officials. This programcould also include training for the candidates and their parties and education on democracy.The team found that the government officials put much stress on "election supervision" at alllevels. This is a demanding and costly operation, and the ,team feels that it is burdensome andperhaps not necessary. Proper training of election officials, political parties, and observers,coupled with an effective civic education campaign, will diminish the need for such closescrutiny. The system becomes auto-supervised as everyone knows the responsibility of theother. The team feels that funds would be better spent in creating an adequate trainingprogram and stressing responsibility of each person involved in the electoral process.Detailed Guide on Election ProceduresA third priority is to create a Guide for each function of the technical election process. TheGuide would describe the responsibilities of each election official. The Guide should also•contain an aide-memoire for the president of the polling station. The Guide must be39