Implemented by:

ABSTRACT

iVoting is a transformative leap from traditional to modern election practices, championing democratic values and empowering youth as key advocates for democracy, inclusion, and the fight against fraud and corruption.

In Kenyan learning institutions, conventional election methods often face instability, hindering the democratic process. This challenge extends beyond education to government bodies, public entities, and private organisations. 

The dearth of motivated youth participation stems from both inconvenience and a lack of confidence in election outcomes. For the past decade, the absence of essential platforms for youth engagement in leadership and civic education has significantly contributed to the erosion of democratic values within the nation.

In the light of this situation, iVoting   has been conceived by Kelvin Njoroge as a valuable solution to address these challenges by providing a secure and convenient platform, fostering increased youth engagement and enriching democratic practices within educational institutions. In the spirit of inclusion, the platform aims at creating  forums for youth to collaborate, brainstorm, and discuss effective leadership, democracy, and civic participation with partners like Tuboreshe Pamoja.

Brief Description

iVoting is an innovative voting solution utilizing technology to redefine youth and democratic participation in elections. Established in 2019 by two young doctorates passionate about the use of technology and its role in the future of democratic participation, it prioritizes accessibility, security, efficiency, democratic justice, electoral inclusion, and civic participation. iVoting emerged from a youthful cohort’s aspiration for a seamless leadership transition, aiming to resolve unrest and instill confidence in the voting process. Actively engaging with students, especially the 80% youth demographic, iVoting has successfully curtailed election-related disruptions at Machakos University since 2019, setting a positive precedent for five consecutive years.

Objective

To facilitate a seamless transition towards enhanced democratic practices, youth engagement, and inclusive electoral processes through the implementation of iVoting. A sustained method of inclusivity will be created to engage other people living with disabilities, this with proper guidance from youth democratic cohorts’ guidelines.

Roadmaps:

1.Youth Cohort Engagement: Actively involve diverse youth groups across various universities, fostering a collaborative space for them to understand, adopt, and advocate for democracy, civic participation, good governance, and inclusion. Encourage open dialogues, workshops, and interactive sessions to promote a sense of shared responsibility in shaping democratic values.

2. Community Empowerment via Civic Organizations: Establish partnerships with civic organizations to extend the impact of iVoting beyond educational institutions. Collaborate on awareness campaigns, workshops, and outreach programs that empower local communities to embrace iVoting as a tool for active democratic participation.

3. Regional Collaborations for Democratic Advocacy: Initiate collaborations with institutions and organizations at regional levels, fostering a cross-institutional exchange of ideas and practices. By sharing success stories and challenges, create a network that supports the broader adoption of iVoting across Kenya and eventually throughout Africa.

4. Capacity Building and Training Programs: Develop comprehensive training programs for students, administrators, and civic leaders on the efficient utilization of iVoting. Ensure that individuals understand the system’s benefits, security measures, and democratic implications, fostering a knowledgeable and empowered electorate.

5. Continuous Feedback Loop: Establish a dynamic feedback mechanism involving joint youth groups, civic organizations, and other stakeholders. Regularly gather insights on system performance, user experiences, and suggestions for improvement. This iterative process ensures that iVoting evolves in tandem with the changing needs and expectations of its users, promoting a democratic tool that truly serves the people.

KEY OUTCOMES

The university has achieved the most peaceful leadership transition over 5 years.

12,000 students have thus far utilized the iVoting system, with their feedback indicating successful democratic inclusivity and civic participation among them.

The university has recorded the highest student election participation, with over 87.85% involvement, a significant increase from earlier rates of less than 50%, showcasing enhanced inclusion within the student voters.

Over 1,500 have participated in our educational forums on civic participation, inclusion, advocacy campaigns, leadership, and governance.

The post Revolutionising Democracy through iVoting first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

Nepal

ABSTRACT

Nepal has experimented with a range of government systems, from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy to multi-party democracy. These shifts, however, have brought little in the way of change in the lives of ordinary citizens resulting in polarisation, civic disengagement and political apathy. Corruption and the misappropriation of public resources continue to weaken citizen trust in government.

Pratik Kunwar, the Founder of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), was motivated to initiate Shaasan in an effort to bridge the trust gap between citizens and government and to improve the effectiveness of public services and systems. Their flagship project, the ‘Shaasan App’ aims to engage citizens to promote transparency and accountability through a digital platform. The mobile app is free in order to enhance accessibility. Using the app, citizens can crowdsource and geotag civic concerns and problems via images/videos, send them to relevant public authorities, and eventually provide a score based on the effectiveness of the government response.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

Shaasan was designed to transform Nepal from a procedural to a participatory democracy, enabling citizen-centered civic engagement through leveraging technology. The project integrates three significant components, specifically civic learning, civic engagement, and civic technology. It will promote active citizenry and capable political leadership, tackle political apathy and encourage effective policy and decision-making. Shaasan focuses on four thematic areas for effective and impactful outcomes; access to technology; election education and equity, social justice and advocacy, and effective delivery of public services.

In 2021-2022, Shaasan trained 800 young people in civic and leadership development, reaching 67 out of 77 districts. It has engaged more than 2,400 participants through panel discussions, community events, roundtables, and forums. Its digital and social media campaigns and outreach initiatives have reached over 200,000 Nepali citizens. Shaasan’s civic engagement app is an accessible and inclusive digital platform, which allows citizens to inform and report public service and infrastructure problems to relevant authorities. The free-of-charge application allows citizens to file complaints directly about their community’s crucial public service issues (such as unmanaged waste, flooding, and open drainage) to their local elected officials and government bodies. The application has launched in Kathmandu Valley, and the team is now partnering with over a dozen local units and municipalities.

ANALYSES

Shaasan’s initial idea was shaped by the joint efforts of various stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. As an organization led by youth leaders, economists, designers, development workers, and community activists, it has worked closely with several government stakeholders. Shaasan drafted a plan to engage citizens through the Citizens Engagement Programme and elected representatives at both the through the Representatives Enhancement Programme (REP). They also received capacity building and mentorship through the Accountability Lab’s incubator programme to develop the idea around the Shaasan App.

The support from the government varies. Some local government bodies have engaged positively; for example, the Panauti Municipality Office launched the Shaasan App in their local communities and received support for entrepreneurship-related capacity-building interventions in municipalities through CEI. However, some local bodies could have been more approachable and supportive. Despite the challenges, the team continues to leverage its networks to drive its mission of participatory democracy.

Their approach prioritizes processes, technology, and systems, which differentiates them from others. First, the process they follow is one of inclusion. All of their programs are designed both for and with the communities they serve. They are co-designed with diverse citizens, field experts, and educators – completing feedback loops with each stakeholder after every reiteration. Second, they focus on civic technology and on building initiatives that induce transformational, rather than gradual, change. The App eliminates the cost of civic engagement and opens avenues of participation that are usually closed to marginalized citizens, including Dalits, Madhesis, migrants, undocumented residents, civil war victims, sex/gender minorities, and persons with disabilities. Third, the App publicizes each issue and connects with the local elected leader and a governmental body. This creates transparency and helps change existing inefficient systems.

Shaasan uses its social media presence to address the lack of information and disinformation, spread awareness, and engage the public on political and social problems in Nepal. Through its active Instagram campaign, Shaasan reaches over 12,000 followers by sharing relevant content, videos, and reels. The organisation’s representatives have had the opportunity to share their work at international forums and events, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Council of Europe for the 10th World Forum for Democracy, and the One Young World Summit in Manchester.

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The post Shaasan: Transforming Nepal’s Democracy Through Civic Engagement and Technology first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

A Vision for Community Development

Founded in 2014 in Kindia, Ouvrir Les Horizons is a youth-led NGO dedicated to enhancing living conditions for communities in Guinea, with a particular focus on children, youth, and women. Through innovative initiatives in health, education, environmental preservation, and human rights, the organisation fosters empowerment and engagement across societal sectors.

Highlights of Impact: Lessons from the Field

This video showcases how funding has allowed Ouvrir Les Horizons to bridge the gap between young people and decision-makers in Guinea. From capacity-building to fostering democratic culture, the team shares their journey, the impact of their efforts, and key lessons learned:

Objectives: Building a Youth-Driven Future

• Provide young people with access to information, tools, and collaborative spaces to encourage active participation in civic and political life.
• Strengthen trust and cooperation between youth and local decision-makers to foster inclusive governance.

Key Activities & Initiatives

• Training for Active Youth Participation: Training 120 young leaders on Civic Tech, human rights, and participatory governance.
• MOOC on Civic Tech and Exchange Forums: Online resources and forums on Civic Tech and youth engagement.
• Created the Centre for the Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights for young people in Kindia.
• Menu of Commitments Awareness: Campaigns targeting 5,000 students in universities and high schools.
• Media Outreach: TV and radio programs promoting youth political participation in French and local languages.
• Community Consultations: Identifying youth needs through 10 interactive consultations.
• Dialogues with Leaders: Workshops to engage decision-makers and youth on adopting commitments for change.
• Civic Tech Competition: Supporting five innovative youth-led projects with funding.
• Lessons-Learned Workshop: Sharing insights, results, and best practices from the project.

• Link
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

Supported by the Youth Democracy Cohort
Powered by the European Union

The post Ouvrir Les Horizons first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

Strengthening Youth Engagement in Governance

Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) is a youth-led organization dedicated to fostering civic freedoms, youth entrepreneurship, and good governance in Nigeria. Their flagship projects – YouthGovTracka and the Office of the Citizen toolkit – empower young Nigerians with the tools and knowledge to hold their elected officials accountable, bridging the gap between citizens and governance, and promoting youth participation in the political process.

Watch the video to discover how BBYDI’s innovative platforms and tools, funded through this initiative, are transforming political engagement in Nigeria.  

Objectives

1. Enhancing Accountability: Track the campaign promises and performance of Nigeria’s 36 governors-elect, particularly focusing on youth-inclusive policies.
2. Empowering Citizens: Equip young Nigerians with the necessary tools to engage with elected officials and demand better youth governance.
3. Promoting Youth Political Participation: Support the localization of the Youth Democracy Cohort’s Menu of Commitments and encourage broader youth participation in governance.

Key Deliverables & Highlights

• YouthGovTracka Platform: Developed to track the performance of governors based on their youth-inclusive policies and campaign promises.
• Youth Focal Points: 36 youth leaders across Nigeria recruited and trained to lead advocacy and track government performance.
• Office of the Citizen Toolkit: A comprehensive guide, including advocacy tools and resources for effective citizen engagement with elected officials, now available in three local languages.
• Social Media Campaign: A collaborative campaign, including jingles and live radio shows, to engage young Nigerians and promote the Youth Democracy Cohort’s Menu of Commitments. (see in X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram). Menu of Possible Commitments Jingles produced and shared through various radio stations, accompanied by live radio shows that facilitate discussions and interactions among young Nigerians: English, Yoruba, Hausa
• Regional Trainings and Activities: Step-down trainings and regional town hall meetings in six geopolitical zones, fostering dialogue between youth, government officials, and civil society organisations like the Tertiary Debate Competition in Nigeria’s North-east, Youth Summit in the South-South, Oratory competitions in the South-east, Northwest Debate Competition, and the South East Oratory Competition

• Link
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook

Supported by the Youth Democracy Cohort
Powered by the European Union

The post Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.

The post Africtivistes CitizenLab first appeared on Youth Democracy Cohort.