SID-Washington's Africa Workgroup, in cooperation with the Governance, Corruption, Rule of Law Workgroup, invites you to a discussion on the impact of the media in mitigating or contributing to election violence in Africa. 

For decades the media has had a powerful influence on the outcome of elections in Africa.  This power has been used for good by increasing transparency and accountability of political candidates and elections and has been used for evil by manipulating election results and exploiting existing tensions resulting in post-election violence and strife.  This can most recently be seen in the post-election results of Kenya and Zimbabwe. 

Join SID-Washington for a discussion on this timely and important topic.  Ambrose James, Search for Common Ground's Sierra Leone Country Director will share his experience in organizing a grassroots media and civil society campaign to monitor and mitigate election violence during Sierra Leone's 2007 elections.  Christian Hennemeyer, International Foundations for Electoral Systems' (IFES) Regional Director of Programs for Africa will discuss the election work that IFES is doing in Africa. Pat Merloe, Senior Associate and Director, Program for Election Processes, National Democratic Institute (NDI), will speak on the specific guidelines that NDI has developed in this field. 

This event will be moderated by Leon Morse, Manager of the Media Sustainability Index for Africa, IREX.