Organization of American States Department of<br />Human Development
Second Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Second Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar

                             OAS/DHD-CIR.078/2009

 

1. Offered by:  OAS Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation.    Study venue:  Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico.  Address;  Viaducto Tlalpan No. 100 Col. Arenal Tepepán, Delegación Tlalpán, México, DF.  Tel:  (52-555) 449-0450. 

 

2.         Coordinator:  

Charlotte McDowell, Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation Tel: (202) 458-3814.  E-Mail: [email protected]

 

3.           Modality:                                           Blended on-site and virtual

 

4.           Start and end dates:                         On-site from September 28 to October 2, 2009, with virtual preparation and follow-up phases beginning August 10, 2009 and ending December 15, 2009,

 

5.            Course duration:                              1 week on-site, 16 weeks for preparation and follow-up

 

6.            Languages:                                        English and Spanish with simultaneous interpretation

 

7.         Objectives:

  • To strengthen Latin American and Caribbean electoral systems and processes by improving the institutional capacity of electoral authorities.
  • To improve the professionalism of the electoral authorities, thereby improving the overall credibility of these organisms, and through them the electoral and democratic process.
  • To promote horizontal cooperation between electoral authorities in the region.

8.     Course Content:  -

The Annual Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar will focus on certain specific issues determined by the electoral authorities themselves, so that each year there will be slightly different emphases to meet the needs of the respective electoral authorities. In addition to the basic curriculum on the role of the electoral management body as an institution of governance, there will also be specializations that vary each year according to the interests of the electoral authorities. The course content will situate these topics within both an academic and theoretical framework, drawing questions regarding the political realities and contexts according to a diversity of national experiences, and concluding with an application of the content through a simulated role-play exercise.

 

In 2009, the Second Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar will provide technical and academic training regarding electoral authorities’ role in electoral processes on the following topics:

  • The relationship between electoral authorities and political parties, and
  • The role of the media in electoral processes. 

9.   Methodology:  The course content will be presented through a variety of methodological formats, including plenary sessions, panel discussions, case studies, group work, and a simulation role-play. In this manner, the course will move from the macro, theoretical framework for each major topic, to an analysis of specific tools that examine the impact of the theme from a regional, comparative perspective and the existing support networks in that area, to group work sessions on the development of a project to apply the course material to their particular national context and institution. To cover this range of diverse sessions, the course will be presented and facilitated by a combination of academic professors, expert practitioners, and international cooperation representatives. 

An essential component of the course is participant identification of and application of new methods and tools to the specific problems faced by their institution. Thus a key component of the course methodology will be the development of individual projects prior to, during, and after the course. Participants will receive basic instruction in the methodology for project design and monitoring prior to and during the face-to-face portion of the course. The course will then follow the development of these projects through an online format. In addition, the material presented during the face-to-face component will be uploaded to the internet in order to provide further tools and reference material necessary for participants to share with their colleagues and others involved in the project’s implementation.

 

10.       Requirements:

a.      Citizenship or permanent residence of an OAS Member State, with the exception of Mexico since it is the host country.

b.      Senior technical staff in the national electoral authority, experience in electoral administration.

c.      Participants must be nominated by their Electoral Authority the electoral authority

d.      Proficiency in English or Spanish.

e.      Submission of completed application form by the deadline set by the National Liaison Organization (ONE) in the participant’s country.  

 

11.    OAS Scholarship Selection Criteria: 

A)  In accordance with article 4.2 of the Manual of Procedures of the Scholarship and Training Programs of the   OAS, OAS scholarships shall be granted based on the following criteria:

f.        the objectives and priorities established in the Strategic Plan for Partnership for Development;

  1. the training priorities of the member states;
  2. the merits and overall credentials of the candidate, including his/her academic and professional background;
  3. the financial need of the candidate; and
  4. An extensive and equitable geographic distribution for the benefit of all member states and that takes into account the greater needs of the smaller and relatively less developed economies.

B)  The following competency model criteria adapted by the Department for Electoral Cooperation and Observation:

a.      Experience in the specific areas of course emphasis

b.      Education level and relevance for the training topics

c.      Level of responsibility within their area of expertise

d.      Language ability

e.      Computer skills

f.        Capacity to apply lessons learned in the course to their institution

g.      Motivation to participate in the course and apply its lessons

 

12.     Benefits: 

·         For successful candidates, OAS will cover round trip economy class air tickets from country of origin or residence to place of study. Funds for terminal and in-transit expenses are NOT provided.

·         The OAS Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation, with in-kind support from the Federal Electoral Institute of Mexico, FLACSO, and International IDEA, will cover:

1)      Meals and accommodations

2)      Local travel in Mexico both to and from the airport and between the hotel and training site

3)      Medical Insurance from the time participants leave their country until their return.  It will cover expenses related to illness or injury during the policy period.

4)      Other expenses concerning training registration and tuition.


 
13.  Responsibilities of selected candidates:

·        The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance to the OAS General Secretariat Office in their respective countries and through the National Liaison Office (ONE) in order for the OAS to proceed with making the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between their country of origin or residence and the study location or, if the scholarship is refused, to appoint another candidate.

·      The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship by signing and returning to DHD their completed “form of acceptance of the scholarship award” along with other forms required by DECO for course participation, including the participant questionnaire and preliminary project proposal; only after this has been done will the OAS proceed with the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between the scholarship recipient’s country of origin and the study location.

·         Upon selection, candidates must accept the scholarship by confirming their availability to follow the course during the period indicated and their acceptance of the duly provided conditions of study. 

·         Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of study. The OAS will not be responsible for any costs related to obtaining visas.

·         Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established by the institution offering the course or program.  

·         If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or change routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the course site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development Course will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the scholarship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development.

·         The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.

·         If the scholarship recipient declines, cancels or terminates the Scholarship after the course or program has started without giving enough proof to the OAS/GS, he or she must reimburse OAS/GS the total amount of incurred costs/expenses.

 

14.     Certification: The participants will receive a certificate of course completion from the Course Organizers: DECO, IFE, FLACSO, and IDEA International.

 

15.     Presentation of candidacies: 

Please Note:  If you were awarded an OAS Professional Development Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months or if you currently hold an OAS Scholarship for Academic Studies, you are not eligible to apply for another Professional Development Scholarship.

 

1. Applicants must be nominated by their electoral authority to be considered as a candidate. Nomination forms will be sent directly to the electoral authorities and to Melissa Sanchez at [email protected], or via fax at: (202) 458 6250. 

 

2. The online application form must be completed on-line and can be accessed at:     https://www.oas.org/fms/Announcement.aspx?id=160&Type=2&Lang=Eng scroll to the end of the page, and click the Continue button to access the online application form.

3. Once the applicant has completed the online application form and submitted it, a copy will be sent automatically to his/her e-mail account. This completed form must be printed, signed and submitted to the National Liaison Office (ONE) with all other forms in the following link:

(http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/formspd.aspx?culture=en&navid=282)  

 

All additional forms must be completed electronically or in typewritten format.

 

The following is the list of National Liaison Organizations (ONEs) in the OAS Member states:  http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

 

4. Candidates must also fill out and submit a supplemental application form via the online system and upload a copy of their CV or résumé. The supplemental application form can be accessed at:
http://www.educoas.org/portal/es/oasbecas/Supplemental_Application_Form_Second_Electoral_Training_Eng.doc

 

Please note that the official announcement is available in the Educational Portal of the Americas Web page at: http://www.educoea.org

 

Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected], and copied to [email protected]

 

  

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2009 REGULAR BUDGET

 

LZea-Yonker/Second Inter-American Electoral Training Seminar/México/2009


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