GEO Conference (15-17 October) Identifying and retaining talent: The key to recruiting and motivating staff Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan

9 member Commission – sworn in 31 July Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary + 6 other Commissioners -Term: 3 year (maximum of 2 terms) IEC Chairman - Yusuf Nuristani - Appointed by President Karzai on 27 July IEC Chief Electoral Officer -Ziaulhaq Amarkhil -Unanimously nominated by the new Commission -Appointed by President Karzai on 5 August IEC Structure

‘Afghanisation’ of elections IEC and UNDP- ELECT share electoral management responsibilities IEC leads with hands-on support of UNDP- ELECT 2004/5 Joint Election Management Body with major UN input 500+ international staff 155 International staff 85 International Staff 2014 IEC leads reduced International support 55 International Staff

Capacity Building between elections (inter-election approach) rather than focus on election day (single event). Capacity building of the Afghan electoral bodies started very slowly after the 2004 and 2005 elections. Lesson learnt after 2004/05 when international community disengaged and IEC had to be jump-started for 2009/10. ELECT II designed to offer capacity development support (2012/13) plus operation support for 2014/15 elections. Sustained International Support: Electoral Cycle Approach (ELECT II)

International support to IEC Capacity Institutional Level -Financial support -Assistance to strategic, organizational and electoral planning -Gender focus Departmental Level -Assistance in development Departmental Plans / SOPs -Embedded International support / counterpart structure -Internal communication and coordination Individual level -Capacity Development Plan ( ) + capacity assessment -Trainings: 7,000 trainees trained at HQ and provincial Elections trainings (BRIDGE, etc.) management / admin / technical / language trainings -Higher education support (approximately 40 IEC staff)

Challenges 1.Financial sustainability (Currently, IEC relying on international financial support) -IEC must offer competitive to retain competent staff Super scale government salary + “professional allowance” from international support -Continued international support for professional development and educational opportunities -Good working environment: office facilities, transport (shuttle buses), kindergarten, communications, religious facilities

Challenges 2. Civil Service Commission (CSC) reform -Streamlining qualifications and corresponding salary scale of IEC staff on line with all governmental institutions -Not all current staff (especially in provinces) meet requirements Civil Service reform -Risk of losing experienced staff + depletion of electoral knowledge = compromising capacity to deliver 2014 elections -Solution: Gradual implementation of CSC reform – preferably after 2015 elections ?

Challenges 3. Security conditions -Security of IEC staff is high priority -Taliban informed to disturb electoral process -Targeted murder of PEO in Kunduz – abduction of IEC district VR staff in Faryab (Sept 2013) -Some provincial level staff may leave

Challenges 4. Lack of well-developed Civil Service Structures -Thus reliance on temporary staff: -Pre-election (2013): 7,000 – VR, voter educators, -Election day (2014): 100,000 Ongoing need for recruitment, training, monitoring and black-listing of those who did not perform -From 2009/10 approximately 11,000 polling station staff not to be recruited (black-listed for previous performance) -IEC developed and implemented a ethical code of conduct for electoral staff

Ethical Code of Conduct for electoral staff IEC developed in 2013 ethical Code of Conduct for electoral staff. Significant elements include: -Impartiality -Respect for Legal Rights of Persons -Transparency Principle in all Electoral Exercises -Avoidance of Functional Authority Misuse -Secrecy of Ballot -Avoidance of Discrimination -Provision of Equal Electoral Services for all People -Thorough Knowledge of Texts and Contents of Electoral Documents -Avoidance of Unnecessary Contacts

Co-ordination with Governmental Agencies Even with identifying and retaining talent, IEC still needs support and coordination to deliver credible elections from other governmental agencies: -Ministry of Finance: budgetary support -Ministry of Interior: security and planning support -Afghan National Security Forces (+ISAF): field security / logistics Without this cooperation and support, even the most motivated IEC staff cannot deliver credible elections in Afghanistan.