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Foundation for Democratic Advancement |
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The Foundation for Democratic Advancement is a non-partisan, non-proft advocate for the public on issues of democracy and elections, based on informing voters and the public, and holding political representatives and their parties more accountable.
The FDA was founded in 2006 in order to encourage the advancement/improvement of western democracy. The objectives of the FDA are to advance the education of western (and non-western) people about democracy, and encourage democratic advancement in western and non-western countries. (For a more in-depth explanation of the FDA's objectives please see the FDA's cause.) The FDA is a Canadian national non-partisan, non-profit public company. The FDA's registration number is: 5114821217. The FDA has no affiliation with any political party or organization, or corporate/private interests. The Foundation relies on donations from the public. If you believe in the cause of advancing western democracy through informing voters objectively, holding political representatives and their parties accountable, and informing the public on important social issues, please donate. Moreover, donations can be directed to promote democratic advancement in a particular country. And if you are interested in getting involved directly in this cause, please consider becoming a member of the FDA.
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Afghanistan
The inappropriate imposition of western democracy on Afghanistan demonstrates clearly to the FDA that democracy is viewed by some western governments as a means for control, rather than an end-in-itself. This disregard for democracy needs to be overcome for democracy to advance in the West, and in countries like Afghanistan where western governments are nation-building. Moreover, Mr. Obama's expansion of the
US war in Afghanistan, premised on making the corrupt, illegimate Afhganistan government self-sustainable, is consistent with the US's democracy promotion in Afghanistan. (Afghanistan Report)
* Note, the imposition of western democracy on Afghanistan began with the 2001 Bonn Agreement, which set out a western democratic structure by western elites for Islamic Afghanistan. Moreover, the Northern Alliance, the current source of the Afghanistan government, a fractured group of mujahideem fighters is well-known for its repression and corruption, as illustrated by the recent Afghanistan electoral fraud. Also, the Afghanistan government represents less than 10% of the Afghanistan people. (Only 20% of the Afghan electorate turned out in the 2009 Afghanistan election, with Karzia receiving less than 50% of the total vote.)
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Jumbo Glacier Resort Project Quality of Life Assessment Jumbo Report 2009 Afghanistan Presidential Evaluation Afghanistan Report
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"Pakistan Public Empowerment" project
Project Information:
Project Title: Pakistan Public Empowerment
Project Location: Local: Pakistan: whole country (28 panels in 4 provinces and Islamabad)
Project Summary: The FDA is the main grantee for the grant management purpose, and The Researchers (TR) is the (local) implementing partner. (The original idea and methodologies for the project stems from the FDA.) The FDA will not act as an Executing Agency. Summary of Pakistan Public Empowerment Project: Project to act as a bridge between the people of Pakistan and political representatives. Determine the basic overall priorities of Pakistanis (in terms of gov't policies and expenditure), and use those priorities as a basis to evaluate the expenditures and policies of the current Pakistan gov't. (Report) (28 citizen panels, reflecting a cross-section of society, will be formed to cover four Provinces and Islamabad. Other means will be utilized such as door to door survey to reach the people and provide better inclusion and access.) *An intent of the project is to use its results in a subsequent project on the next parliamentary and presidential elections. (2013)
Main feature of the project: Democratic Dialogue and Constitutional Processes
Gender considerations: Gender considerations are taken into account in the project design
A main purpose of the project is to give greater voice to the Pakistan public about the actions and direction of government. The voice of Pakistan women is integral to this purpose. TR and the FDA will do everything in their power to ensure that women's voices are heard. Due to Pakistan's culture and social norms, TR and the FDA will seek a variety of ways to encourage women to participate in the project--such as private and even anonymous and/or confidential forums.
Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: Addressing the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups is a key objective of the project.
The needs of marginalized groups are critical to the project, because those needs will help form the basic, overall priorities of Pakistanis. To not include a segment of the Pakistan public in the project would weaken the credibility of the results. The more, diverse participation in the project, the more credible the project will be, and consequently the more impact the project will have. Hence, we have a significant interest in including all segments of the Pakistan public in the project.
Project Description:
Problem being addressed: Pakistan civil society has suffered from a disconnection between the Pakistan people and the government. The purpose of the project is to bridge that disconnection between the Pakistan people and the government. The connection of the people and government is a fundamental tenet of democracy, through the principle of government of, by and for the people. Without that connection, democracy is undermined.
Objectives/Purpose: Promote greater inclusion of the Pakistan public in the political process. Encourage increased political empowerment of the Pakistan public. Help inform the Pakistan public about democracy and their political representatives. Create greater public accountability of political representatives
Key Activities:
Outputs/Deliverable Products:
Results/Outcomes:
Monitoring and Evaluation: Measurement will be by comparative analysis techniques and survey/interview. The project will measure public participation in the political process and changes in government policies and expenditures. TR and the FDA will be responsible for measuring.
Innovation: The project is innovative, because it is using evaluation as a means to improve and strengthen democracy. Also, the project utilizes innovative democratic mechanisms to empower and include the people, and hold political representatives accountable.
Sustainability: The achievements will be maintained by performing subsequent evaluation reports on the next parliamentary and presidential elections, reassessment of the Pakistan public's basic priorities, and pushing for legislation to make the reports and mechanisms a permanent feature of Pakistan democracy.
Project Information:
Project Title: 2012 Venezuela Presidential Evaluation
Project Location: Local: Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of): whole country
Project Summary: 2. The established priorities will be used as a basis to evaluate the Presidential candidates in the 2012 Venezuela Presidential election. The 3 citizen panels (again independent of each other) will do detailed evaluations of each candidate in terms of their background, incumbency record, vision, and policies/promises, in order to produce a rank/grade of the candidates. The evaluation results would then be shared with the Venezuelan public, media, and political representative.
To implemement the project, the FDA will partner with local (Venezuelan) ngos, which are non-partisan and objective.
Main feature of the project: Democratic Dialogue and Constitutional Processes
Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: Addressing the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups is a key objective of the project.
The needs of marginalized groups are critical to the project, because those needs will help form the basic, overall priorities of Venezuelans. To not include a segment of the Venezuelan public in the project would weaken the credibility of the results. Hence, the FDA has a significant interest in including all segments of the Venezuelan public in the project.
Project Description:
Problem being addressed: Venezuela is a divided society. The polarization has produced both political and social instability. Moreover, Venezuela's internal affairs are complicated by foreign intervention. To improve Venezuelan democracy, the division needs to be lessened. The FDA addresses this division by focusing on the collective-interest of Venezuelans. To not address this issue, Venezuelans will likely face further division, and resulting internal conflict. Also, Venezuelan democracy will likely continue to erode.
Objectives/Purpose:
Key Activities:
Outputs/Deliverable Products:
Results/Outcomes:
Monitoring and Evaluation: Measurement will be by comparative analysis techniques and survey/interview. The project will measure public participation in the political process, voter turnout, voter reasons, and changes in gov't policies and expenditures. The FDA and its local partners will be responsible for measuring.
Innovation: The project is innovative, because it is using evaluation as a means to improve and strengthen democracy. Also, the project utilizes innovative democratic mechanisms to empower and include the people, and hold political representatives accountable.
Sustainability: The achievements will be maintained by performing subsequent evaluation reports on the next parliamentary and presidential elections, reassessment of the Venezuelan public's priorities, and pushing for legislation to make the reports and mechanisms a permanent feature of Venezuelan democracy.
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