INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
International Republican Institute (IRI): Long-term Observer Coordinator, Islamabad, Pakistan (December 2007-January 2008)
Managed the arrival, training, deployment, and work of 22 long-term observers (LTOs) in seven cities and three provinces during the run-up to parliamentary elections in Pakistan.
Responsibilities: Assembled briefing materials, prepared training presentations, and counseled group on the theory and practice of election observation. Designed LTO reporting, critical incident, complaint tracking, and campaign rally observation forms. Reviewed and edited 20+ field reports and consolidated and prepared the same into mission reports for DC/Islamabad offices. Conducted meetings with national and international stakeholders. Acted as liaison between mission leadership and field observers. Addressed all LTO issues regarding security, resources, expenses, deployment, and personnel. Reported findings to country director and coordinated efforts with program officer, security consultant, and local staff. Initiated management of short-term observer (STO) mission in Islamabad, Karachi, Faisalabad, and Multan. Coordinated return of LTOs to safe havens, their departure from country, and suspension of mission after the death of Benazir Bhutto.
National Democratic Institute (NDI): Election Observer, Team Leader (LTO), Freetown and Bo, Sierra Leone (April-August 2007)
Long-term observation of processes leading to presidential and parliamentary elections. Team leader in Bo City, covering four districts in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone.
Responsibilities: Conducted scores of meetings and built relationships with national, regional, district, and local stakeholders. Presented numerous briefings to team leadership, US embassy officers, DFID officials, USAID representatives, and NDI pre-election delegates. Consulted local NGO on drafting constitution, by-laws, and articles of incorporation. Prepared and edited 14 weekly reports and several issue memoranda. Contributed to four editions of the mission newsletter: Election Watch: Sierra Leone. Provided photographs to core team. Arranged logistics and prepared briefing books for deployment of four STO teams. Briefed STO delegates on regional political and social conditions. Managed and reconciled team finances, arranged vehicle and generator repairs, and coordinated local personnel.
International Republican Institute (IRI): Election Observer (LTO), Dhaka, Bangladesh (December-January 2007)
Long-term observation of parliamentary elections. Conducted NGO interviews in Sylhet division. Prepared report assessing the impact of political climate on electoral processes, level of administrative preparedness for elections, nature and severity of technical deficiencies, and role of international community in promoting transparent elections. Participated in pre-deployment briefings; met with national stakeholders. Attended 3-day EU-sponsored conference: Transparency in the Election Process. Mission suspended after election postponed following political unrest, a “Declaration of Emergency”, and dissolution of the caretaker government.
IFES: Election Observer (STO), Port-au-Prince, Haiti (February 2006)
Short-term observation of presidential and regional elections. Participated in briefing sessions. Discussed political setting with national stakeholders and international organizations. Assessed seven polling centers in the Gros Morne region of Artibonite state: met with polling supervisors, observed ballot counting procedures, and reported findings to regional LTOs. Investigated incident regarding UN peacekeepers using tear gas at polling center: interviewed Haitian witnesses and Argentinean soldiers. Prepared Election Day observer forms; presented team observations.
The Carter Center: International Observer (LTO), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (June-July 2005)
Observed and assessed post-election Complaint Investigation Panels (CIPs) conducted by electoral commission in rural communities regarding charges of irregularities during parliamentary elections in Amhara region.
Responsibilities: Prior to the CIPs, conducted dozens of interviews with regional and national stakeholders—election officials, political parties, police, and NGOs—during missions to 15 provincial towns and villages. Discussed post-election violence, conduct of government officials, and nature of opposition protest efforts. Visited two prison facilities, interviewed political prisoners and police officers. In preparation for CIPs, supervised and organized document review/issue coding of electoral complaints. Coordinated teams of Ethiopian translators and office assistants. Prepared briefing books for ten Carter Center and ten African Union observer teams. During the CIPs, observed proceedings, documented findings, and formulated field updates. Prepared after-action reports for Atlanta.