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Working with Stakeholders . Vania Anguelova , Independent Electoral Consultant London, November 2 8 th 2011. Who are the Stakeholders?. Individuals or groups and organizations that have an interest or “stake” in the EMB operations. Primary Stakeholders.
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Working with Stakeholders Vania Anguelova, Independent Electoral Consultant London,November 28th2011
Who are the Stakeholders? • Individuals or groups and organizations that have an interest or “stake” in the EMB operations.
Primary Stakeholders • Primary stakeholders are those who directly affect or are affected by the EMB activities, policies and practices: • Political parties and candidates; • EMB staff; • The executive branch of government; • Legislatures; • Electoral dispute resolution bodies; • The judicial system;
Primary Stakeholders • The media; • The electorate – voters and prospective voters; • Civil society organizations; • Election monitors and observers; • The donor community and electoral assistance agencies.
Secondary Stakeholders • Secondary stakeholders are those more loosely affiliated to the EMBs and they can differ from case to case: • EMB suppliers; • The public at large; • Regional and international network.
Primary Stakeholders Political Parties and Candidates • Regular communication essential to build a confidence and relationships • Treat them all with respect, impartiality and fairness • Establish regular meetings especially during the elections • Promotes good relationships and acceptance of the EMB’s timetables, processes and outputs (Examples: Ghana, Lesotho, South Africa and DRC).
Primary Stakeholders EMB Staff • Determined effort to support its staff, to generate loyalty and professionalism; • Staff that are not loyal to EMB and its principles may frustrate the EMB’sprogrammes and easily compromise the EMB reputation.
Primary stakeholders Government • In many cases EMBs relies on government ministries for different essential financial and organizational needs; • Cooperation and coordination through establishment of permanent working groups or liaison committees involving EMBs and government agencies.
Primary stakeholders Legislature • Good communication facilitates, the development of electoral legal frameworks and electoral resource allocations. • EMBs may play an important role in developing of electoral legal framework in emerging democracies. • Amendments to the electoral laws are being passed long enough before the electoral event to allow EMBs to make appropriate preparations.
Primary Stakeholders Electoral Dispute Resolution Body They can have power to deal with: • challenges to EMB decisions; • dispute between EMBs and other stakeholders; • EMB regulations legality or election results challenges.
Primary Stakeholders Monitors, International and Domestic Observers
Primary Stakeholders Media Can be a key ally of the EMB in disseminating information about its mandate and operations as well as participate in voter education and information activities.
Primary Stakeholders The Electorate EMB should make sure the electorate is well informed about its activities and programmes
Primary Stakeholders Civil Society Organizations Possible partners to implement electoral activities, for example, in training temporary electoral staff or Voter and Civic Education activities.
Primary stakeholders Donor Community and Electoral Assistance Agencies • Establish donors meetings and roundtables to report on its progress on electoral administration and use of donor findings; • Acknowledging donors assistance in its public relations events, publications and media productions.
Secondary stakeholders • EMB suppliers • The regional and international networks
Maintain Relationships with Stakeholders An EMB needs to treat all stakeholders fairy and maintain two-way communication and consultation with them.
Working with Stakeholders • Maintain two-way communication with stakeholders; • Taking into consideration stakeholders view when making decisions; • Acting transparently with meetings open for follow-up;
Maintain Relationships with Stakeholders • Equitably resolving any conflicts between the needs of EMB members and staff, and those of other stakeholders; • Regularly organizing information meetings for stakeholders.
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal with them??? • Depending on the circumstances the EMB may: • Try a constructive dialogue with Stakeholder; • Look for a mediation of a third part; • When is a difference related to the interpretation of the law, the EMB may approach the courts for a binding determination.
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal with them??? • EMB can decide to adopt a strategy to defend itself when the differences between EMB and a stakeholder are irreconcilable!
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal with them??? • Media release and EMB spokesperson may appear in the news and other programmes; • Clarification of the EMB position on the EMB website.