Elections 2002: Mobilization of the Independent Radio Network and Youth Network

On May 14, Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone concluded a peace process that took over six years to solidify. Election day was peaceful and SFCG-SL, in collaboration with the Independent Radio Network and a network of youth monitors, was there to document and report on the elections process as it happened.

Independent Radio Network
The May 2002 Elections were the first since the end of the brutal civil war that ended earlier this year. The Sierra Leonean people were able to choose someone to lead them for the next few years as they work to consolidate peace and move forward together.

Before the elections, SFCG-SL began asking questions about how polling day results would be shared with the public. Broadcasting of voting results is difficult in a country lacking communications infrastructure; where roads are decrepit and large areas of the country are out of touch with Freetown and the National Election Commission (NEC). To address this issue, SFCG-SL convened a meeting with various players also in the sector of information sharing (Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, UNAMSIL Public Information Unit, Ministry of Information, FM radio station managers) to discuss plans and strategies for polling day.

It was apparent that no cohesive coordination was underway among government and UNAMSIL bodies so the independent FM radio stations met afterwards to explore possibilities for action with their limited personnel and resources. Thus the Independent Radio Network (IRN) was born. The IRN linked four FM stations, two in Freetown, one in Mile 91 and one in Bo, to provide independent broadcast coverage of voting day. The coordination of these four stations meant the network was able to reach most of Sierra Leone, bringing them updates throughout the day. SFCG-SL held two workshops to prepare the reporters for the election day work. The participants finalized objectives and methods during the workshops and created a checklist and guidelines for reporting and proper behavior.

A news desk was established at Talking Drum Studio (TDS-SL) for the election day work. TDS-SL prepared, from the actualities recorded by the partner stations around the country, summaries to be played on the four stations at noon - the opening of the polls and what was currently happening - and another at the closing of the polls, allowing for breaking news. The Independent Radio Network reported on individual polling station vote counts, aggregated some results and analyzed regional trends as the results came in all at once.

SFCG-SL and its partner FM radio stations were praised by civil society, other media houses, and the NEC for the coalition-building used to create the IRN and its important work. People giving feedback commented that the IRN represented a quantam leap in media work and collaboration in Sierra Leone, and that a general acceptance of voting results existed when finally announced by the NEC due to the clarity of the process. The IRN added confidence and transparency to the electoral process, reducing tensions across the country.

The IRN will continue to work together post-elections. It is developing a Parliamentary Radio Program that will work to strengthen the link between Members of Parliament and their constituencies and educate people on the purpose of Parliement in Sierra Leone.

Youth Network
A main objective of SFCG-SL's work surrounding the elections was to be involved in the electoral process and help open it up to the part of the electorate that had been brutalized by war and violence for the past ten years. In addition to the IRN, SFCG-SL was also involved in voter education of the electoral process and in a mobilization of a youth network, which obtained accreditation to be part of a coalition for domestic elections monitoring.

SFCG-SL brought together youth ages 16-35 from groups in various locales to form the youth network. They were very influential during voter registration, insuring that some of the most marginalized people in Sierra Leone were able to register and be a part of the electoral process. The Youth Network monitored the entire electoral process, from voter registration to exhibition to polling day. They also reported on the level of violence throughout the process and helped with voter education.

This recently established youth network will continue to work on advocacy and sensitization for various issues in Sierra Leone. At this point, SFCG-SL is looking at the poverty reduction strategy that the government of Sierra Leone wants to put in place (as part of a framework for development aid through the World Bank). The poverty reduction strategy will be a consultative process around the country so SFCG-SL would like to mobilize the youth network in that process.

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