This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SANAA 000331
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/PPD:DMACINNES AND JDAVIES, NEA/RA:BKEARY, NEA/ARP:
MMILLER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO AFIN KWMN PHUM YM DEMOCRATIC REFORM
SUBJECT: FINAL REPORT: DEMOCRACY SMALL GRANT FOR THE CIVIC
DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVES SUPPORT FOUNDATION (CDF)
REFS: A) STATE 187026 B) SANAA5295
1. (U) Summary : The Civic Democratic Initiatives Foundation
(CDF) conducted the "Democratic Initiatives Enhancement
Program: Voter Registration Education Project". It was a
media project campaign aimed to inform the people that their
old voter registration cards were no longer valid and
encouraged them to participate in the new registration. The
project has also raised awareness of targeted groups about
the importance of their registration in the coming
parliament election and to encourage male support for
women's registration. The campaign used radio, newspapers
and pamphlets, which were distributed to community local
leaders. This media project was based on three studies
conducted in preparation for a voter registration education
program. CDF conducted fourteen-week voter registration
education media campaign and a series of voter education
workshops from August to October 2002.
2. (U) Media Campaign: CDF designed the program for
awareness-raising to have multiple strategies. For example
this program used national and local radio, newspapers and,
in the second component, direct contact with local council,
tribal, and religious leaders.
Each of the two activities targeted a particular audience.
The radio drama and comedy episodes' main audiences were
rural women. For maximum outreach, each episode was
broadcast three times during the weekend twice each day.
Newspaper advertisements targeted the educated population of
major and secondary cities, thereby reinforcing at the
governorate levels the radio programs. The ads advised
readers that their old cards are invalid and urge support
for full family registration.
3. (U) Radio Drama and Comedy Series Broadcasting: CDF
assisted six radio stations to produce a series of four
episodes. Each episode broadcast twice a day, three times a
week which made it clear that the old registration cards
were no longer valid and it stressed the importance of all
sectors of the community registering for the coming election
(targeting all Yemenis 18 and older with particular
attention to rural Yemeni and women). CDF used the most
popular radio program such as Kalam Fi al-Samim in
Hadramout, Ma Yesah Ela Asahieh in Aden, kalam Mozon in
Hodeidah, etc. Each station provided CDF with an evaluation
and impact assessment at the end of the project. These
indicated that the message of the project reached audiences.
All programs were broadcast in local dialects within the
context of drama or comedy, therefore reaching the target
audience, particularly the illiterate ones.
4. (U) Newspaper Announcements and Articles: Twelve weekly
newspapers carried three-inch two-line announcements during
August. Some ads were accompanied by articles. The total
newspaper run was 114 weekly and 70 daily announcements and
more than 18 articles. The ads had slightly different
messages each week in order to attract more attention. The
articles carried the message that the old registration is no
longer valid, and motivated readers to encourage all family
members, in the rural or urban areas, to register.
5. (U) Community Leaders Pamphlet: 50,000 copies of the
pamphlet were printed and distributed all over the country
through local councils and CDF volunteer network for
official and traditional community leaders including 6,664
district level local council members and tribal and
religious leaders. The pamphlets covered areas where no
radio or TV transmissions are available. The pamphlet
conveyed the message that the old cards are no longer valid
and provides information on the election terminology for the
new registration with reference to the election law.
6. (U) Outcome: Project's positive impact was more than
expected probably because it was one of only two projects
addressing the voter registration issue early on. CDF was
aware that registration is not enough; therefore, this
project worked on voter education to encourage Yemeni
voters, especially females, to vote in the 27 April 2003
elections. The project used voters' education in the general
context of comedy, drama and explanatory newspaper articles
instead of plain direct educational statements. The main
target audience for the project were villagers and women,
groups which historically receive the least attention from
media and public awareness programs.
HULL