Search for Common Ground (SFCG): Elections in Sierra Leone

The main strategy in SFCG's elections work was to monitor the election process and provide constant, up-to-date coverage of what was happening - from political intimidation of candidates during campaigning, through to real-time initial results from various polling stations on Election Day, and consistent follow-up coverage of vote counts and official tallies. Through the IRN and NEW, civil society groups were engaged at every polling station across the country, and radio stations provided local and national broadcasts around election issues that aired daily throughout the period. In addition, SFCG made use of their existing radio timeslots to air programmes around voter education, elections discussions, debates with candidates, and election-themed dramas. They also held public debates where candidates and constituents could discuss issues of concern.

For the 2008 elections, their work also focused on supporting women candidates, and the inclusion of more women and their voices. In order to achieve this, SFCG used a wide variety of tools, including:

• the creation of a coalition of women's organisations and a Women's Solidarity Fund to support women candidates across the country;
• driving public fundraising efforts to support female candidates' campaigns;
• support for a national workplan designed to ensure women are included in governance frameworks;
• provision of strategic and timely information - for example, gender mapping of initiatives to support female candidates and case studies of female candidates in the nomination process;
• giving voice to women and people with disabilities to participate, including space on SFCG's Talking Drum Studio national radio programmes, air time on IRN member stations, articles in newspapers, and video and TV coverage for female candidates; and
• training women candidates in public speaking and campaigning skills.

Democracy and Governance, Women.

According to the organisers, a post-election survey of 876 respondents revealed that SFCG's support for women candidates had a beneficial effect. The evidence showed that the messages were clearly heard and that attitudes have shifted to favour women's involvement in politics. The survey also revealed that nearly 80% agreed or strongly agreed that IRN was a credible news source, and 75% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that IRN had helped reduce violence during the elections.