The National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED) launched the findings of a perception survey on Youth Political Participation, at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex, Kingtom Freetown, on 16th May, 2023. The survey was commissioned to understand youth political context in the country from which, through inclusive collaborations among relevant stakeholders, steps can be taken to significantly improve their constructive contribution to political processes. The survey was done by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), under the Sierra Leone Democracy Strengthening Project, a European Union funded intervention which is administered by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA).
In his opening statement, Mr. Kalilu Totangi, NaCCED Chairman stated that, “If we have to make meaningful contribution (towards increasing youth political participation) it should be based on empirical data, that is why we contracted the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) to look into this for us to see what actually informs the youth perspective on elections in this country and what can help or hinder their participation. Today we are pleased that we are getting this needful data”. NaCCED is mandated to cater for the nation’s civic development needs. An important element of this deals with programmes and activities targeting educating and motivating youths on constructive and patriotic political participation. The institution is thus well placed to provide oversight and guidance to this exercise. According to Chairman Totangi, NaCCED had put together a number of activities that would help young people understand not only voting but the entire electoral process. He explained that “there was concern about young people’s knowledge and understanding of the Proportional Representation System. So we count on you our partners, the media, to help disseminate this information. This is important in an election year like this. They may be quick to say the election is not fair and by the time you know it there is violence. It is only in peaceful environment development can thrive.”
Mr. Andrew Lavali, the Executive Director of IGR led the presentation of the findings. In his opening statements, M r. Lavali explained why they named the survey “The Youth Pulse” – gauge youth political temperature and perspective, and that the exercise covered the entire country. “We found out that young people are ready to participate in governance. Whether informed or not, they believe deep in their bones that they are ready to participate in governance,” he explained. According to the findings, 96.1% of the youth confirmed they registered to vote. Although this number is impressive, only 65% know that June 24th is the election date. “We realized that more young men know about election date than young women. People that are 35 and above know more about elections than younger people” he said. The findings also reveals that only 41% of young people understand the Proportional Representation system of election. Additionally, 47% of young people believe that fake news is the cause of violence, and that the neighborhood is the main source of fake news. The survey also focused on young people’s involvement in community activities, resolving conflict, engaging political representatives, social media usage, among a host of others. Mr. Lavali advised the Council to focus on the most important areas in the message development seminar.
In his statement, Dr. Idrissa Tarawallie, the Country Director of International IDEAS thanked NaCCED (and IGR) for the wonderful job. “We are very pleased to be associated with NaCCED which we believe is a very important institution in not only strengthening democracy, but holding us together as a country”. He stated that when IDEAS started the thought process with the EU, one of the very first institutions approached was NaCCED. Dr. Tarawallie explained that IDEAS’ work in Sierra Leone is not just about the 2023 elections, but also governance which strengthens processes around Sierra Leone beyond the elections. The next step, he shared, would be a message development seminar based on the findings of the survey. Once that is done, he added, NaCCED would go around the country utilizing multimedia outlets and outreach strategies to engage young people across the country in their communities. “It’s a very unique program and we feel NaCCED will not only be contributing to ensuring we have an inclusive and peaceful election but they will be contributing to building the next cadre of young Sierra Leoneans who would take Sierra Leone to the next future”, he concluded.
“It is a great honour to be here today at this event for the dissemination of the findings of this survey,” said Mr. Enrico Sborgi, the focal person for elections at the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone. He continued: “Political participation is one of the two pillars of representative democracy along with political party pluralism. It is in these two dimensions that political scientists assess how healthy and real a democracy is in each country. Civic and voter education inform and stimulate political participation. The results of the survey which are disseminated today are therefore essential for effective voters’ education strategies and targeted content not only for NaCCED but for all actors involved in stimulating political participation for youth in Sierra Leone”. Mr. Sborgi disclosed that through the EU supported program with IDEAS, the survey findings would be used to support NaCCED, ECSL and other actors to develop voter education outreach initiatives targeting youths who form the vast majority of voters in Sierra Leone.
As disclosed by the NaCCED Chairman earlier, the next stage of engagement based on the survey findings would be a message development seminar where a wide range of relevant stakeholders (including representatives of the media, EMBs, ECSL, the entertainment sector etc.) would participate in developing custom tailored messages targeting young people.
Gracing the launching of the perception survey findings were also representatives from other relevant bodies including Mr. Ngolo Katter Commissioner of the National Youth Commission; Mr. Momoh Kanneh Director of Electoral Education, Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone; and Deputy Director Mrs. Josephine Panda of the Political Parties Regulation Commission,
By: Ibrahim Jabatti
