If available, add an image or graphic from the quarter. CEPPS Program Summary Sierra Leone SIERRA LEONE ELECTIONS DIALOGUE SERIES (SLEDS)

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1 CEPPS ly Report: Sierra Leone USAID Associate Cooperative Agreement No LA00001 Leader Cooperative Agreement No. AID-OAA-L Reporting period: July 01 to September 31, 2018 If available, add an image or graphic from the quarter. This table should not exceed one page. Total report (excluding annexes) should not exceed 20 pages. Title Dates theory of change CEPPS Summary Sierra Leone SIERRA LEONE ELECTIONS DIALOGUE SERIES (SLEDS) September 30, September 30, 2018.(revised date is December 2017 to June 2019) Briefly describe the program theory of change. What will change look like, and which main actors will bring about this change? This section should generally not change from quarter to quarter. The exception is when there is a major scope of work change. SLEDS will address two major challenges of this elections cycle: 1) promoting an issue-based public discourse and issue-based campaigns while enhancing citizens participation in debates and dialogues during the said cycle, and 2) increase the professionalism of Sierra Leone s media and journalists. CEPPS theory of change is as follows: If citizens, including disadvantaged groups, have the opportunity to share their views, needs, and expectations through dialogues and debates in the lead-up to the elections If electoral stakeholders such as political parties and candidates are accurately informed of voter electoral concerns and priorities, If the NEC and the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) increase interaction with and dissemination of information to the public through media, If presidential candidates participate in well-organized debates with questions based on key issues identified by citizens, including marginalized groups, If voters choose candidates based on policy positions, as articulated in debates and through the media, and civil society tracks adherence to policy positions post-election, then candidates will be better informed about citizen priorities when setting their policy agendas. then electoral stakeholders will be able to develop political platforms that address them. then the public will be better informed about the elections, and the transparency of the process strengthened. then voters can choose candidates based on policy positions rather than on ethnic and/or regional affiliations. then elected candidates will be more likely to create policies that are in line with all citizens priorities, political agendas will be influenced by citizens real needs, the temptation for politician to popularity will decrease use divisive, ethnic- and identity-based discourses to gain

2 Additionally, if professional and citizen journalists are capable of conducting investigative research and producing and disseminating high quality, objective content reflecting citizens social and economic priorities; and if media professionals agree on a common strategy to analyze and broadcast important political, social, and economic issues that drive political party platforms,. then voters will be better positioned to influence policy agendas and make informed decisions during elections objectives Contributing to Global EPT Objectives 1 (Promoting meaningful participation of all citizens in their political systems, including women, youth and other traditionally marginalized groups) and 2 (Incorporating the comparative advantages of media and technology to promote citizen understanding, engagement, and transparent political competition). The goal of this action is to support free and fair elections and peaceful political transition in the March 2018 presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in Sierra Leone through enhancing the public s understanding of key national political, economic and social issues that are directly relevant to democratic governance and the electoral process. To achieve this goal, CEPPS will pursue the following two objectives: Objective 1: To increase the participation of women and disadvantaged groups in debates and dialogue sessions relating to the March 2018 general elections; Objective 2: To support increased professionalism of Sierra Leone's press and mass media coverage of March 2018 general elections. Activities this Results this Challenges and Constraints this CEPPS ly Snapshot Summarize key activities undertaken during the quarter, using brief, clear and targeted bullets (Max. 1-2 bullet points per Partner) Search did not implement any activity during the reporting quarter. This was all electionrelated activities had been completed, and CEEPS/Search has been waiting on receiving the formal approval for implementation of newly proposed post-elections activities. Summarize and highlight key results achieved during the quarter, using brief, clear and targeted bullets (Max. 1-2 bullet points per Partner). Remember to highlight inclusion and capacity building results. There is nothing to report in the period under review. Highlight key challenges faced in program implementation this quarter using brief, clear, and targeted bullets (1-2 bullets max per partner). Remember to focus on any inclusion and capacity building issues in particular. Delay in approving post-election activities obviously affected the implementation cycle and as well as the key results of the project. CEPPS/Search was looking forward to build on the pre-elections community-based platforms to strengthen social cohesion, improve accountability and service delivery. Post-elections violence was widespread especially in the districts of Kono, Kenema, Tonkolili, Kambia, Port Loko and Koinadugu. Mostly led by youth, and supported by politicians, there were clashes between supporters of the All Peoples Congress Party and the Sierra Leone Peoples Party. Communities were displaced in Kono, Kailahun and Kenema and it took significant efforts (including from the International Community/observers) to bring the situation under calm. Eventhough there were no project activities implemented

3 during this period, yet it could have been quite impossible to mobilize communities to participate in project activities. These youth-dominated gangs still hold out in communities and continue to create havoc in by-elections and other community events

4 I. POLITICAL UPDATE RELEVANT TO PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Although Sierra Leone is relatively peaceful, post-elections violence risked undermining the credibility of the elections results, revive tensions and cause unrest. The widespread electoral violence in the Northern and Eastern districts destabilized communities and affected day-to-day operations. Six months into the tenure of the new SLPP administration, electoral violence and isolated incidents of communal violence is still experienced in the country. For example, Local Council Bye-election in Ward 196, Kambia district turned bloody and resulted in the death of a young boy. The SLPP and APC parties accuse each other for the violence and this situation resulted in the cancellation of the polls by the electoral body, NEC. It is not clear who killed the young man in Kambia but what is certain is that, Sierra Leone s political landscape is as tribalistically polarized today, as it was before the general and presidential elections which were held last March. Police brutality and apparent lack of professionalism is also deeply dividing opinion in communities. In Mile 91, Northern Sierra Leone, following a tip-off, police raided a community to crack down on the traffic of marijuana. This operation ended in the death of a boy whom many consider had nothing to do with the narcotic. There are many other similar incidents of police brutality across the country thus putting the institution under public scrutiny. II. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE Following the elections and the complete implementation of CEPPS/Search election-related activities, there were recommendation from CSOs, stakeholder and project internal review to leverage of the success of the policy dialogue both at the district and chiefdom levels, and to contribute to building peace and social cohesion following a divisive election campaign. To take these recommendations on board, CEPPS/Search rethought the design of the post-elections project, in consultation with local CSOs and partners. As a result of this reflection process, they proposed the following activities to be implemented as post-election programme activities: 1. District Level Public Policy Dialogue: designed to building accountability o elected representative, local councils and citizens through sustained policy dialogue 2. Chiefdom level engagement: a lower level public policy dialogue and service delivery meetings at the chiefdom level 3. Post-election violence mitigation: designed to respond to post-election violence following the ethno-regional division of the election among people During the reporting period, CEPPS/Search has been on the stand-by, waiting for the realigned workplan and budget to be validated by USAID. III. RESULTS ACHIEVED FROM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF PROGRESS TOWARD ACHIEVING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES (BY OBJECTIVE & INTERMEDIATE RESULT) SLEDS Objective 1.1: To increase the participation of women and disadvantaged groups in debates and dialogue sessions related to the Sierra Leone March 2018 general elections Intermediate Result 1.1.1: Women, youth party members and activists actively engaged in the political process to address citizen priorities. Citizens priorities, particularly those of women, youth and persons with disabilities have been identified and listed for implementation by elected officials. These will form critical components in the recently approved post-elections activities to be implemented

5 Intermediate Result 1.1.3: Debates and dialogue sessions at the national and chiefdom level provide information to citizens on the policy stances and manifestos of political parties and their candidates to inform voters choices on election day. Candidate policy stances have been identified in pre-elections debates and dialogue sessions but postelections District and chiefdom-level dialogue sessions will be organized to develop action plans for implementation by elected officials IV. ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS The long delay in approving post-election activities caused considerable unexpressed discomfort in communities. The pre-elections platforms laid the foundation to allow for more engagement with elected officials to implement citizens priorities that were identified and listed during the debates and public issues engagements. Search s community mobilizers mobilized communities in anticipation of timely feedback to engage elected officials on their campaign promises. The delay in approval of the post-elections activities was very unsettling for Search which risked its community reverence and reputation. A timely approval of the activities could have allowed proper coordination and planning for successful of postelections engagements The Community-led promise tracker and accountability committees set up in the pre-election phase are limited in capacity and skills to follow up on agreed actions. The skills gap would have been taken advantage of for lower-level engagements. Considering their local presence, they could have chipped in very nicely to promote accountability and service delivery at the lower level V. SUCCESS STORIES VI. ANNEXES ANNEX 1: ANNEX 2: ANNEX 3: Performance Management Plan Update Workplan Update Other