13 May 2008

Kathmandu, Nepal: The contributions of UNV volunteers to elections in Nepal were formally recognized this week in a ceremony held in Kathmandu.

Deputy Executive Coordinator Joyce Yu visited the country to meet the UNV volunteers involved, listen to their experiences and acknowledge their achievements.

Together with a team from UNV headquarters, Ms. Yu took part in a comprehensive debriefing exercise attended by around 140 UNV volunteers completing their electoral assignments. The recent electoral process was discussed together with electoral officials from Nepal and recommendations were made for future polling exercises.

It was noted that UNV volunteers were a central and critical element of support provided by the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) to the Nepal Electoral Commission. They had made substantive contributions to a successful and credible election, remarked UNV programme director at UNMIN, Stuart Moran.

UNV volunteers were present in all 75 districts of Nepal, many in remote and challenging duty stations, as they advised and supported local Nepali electoral officials. As the UNMIN personnel closest to the community level in a country where over 80 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, their role was crucial in bringing confidence to the electoral process.

Around 9,000 local voter education volunteers mobilized in villages, Development Committees and municipalities also played a part in ensuring the electorate was ready to vote on 10 April.

The debriefing included a UNV town hall meeting for electoral volunteers, facilitated by the visiting delegation of UNV headquarters staff. At the conclusion, Ms. Yu, along with the head of the UNMIN Electoral Assistance Office, Ms. Fida Nasrallah, presented UNV Certificates of Service to all UNMIN electoral UNV volunteers.

Nepal's decade-long internal war ended in April 2006 with an agreement to hold an election for the Constituent Assembly and prepare a new constitution. UNMIN was established in January 2007 to support the peace process in Nepal and help to create a conducive environment for the ballot.

The election was postponed twice prior to 10 April, but counting of votes was completed by 23 April. Voter turnout was over 60 per cent, and lists of winning candidates were submitted to the Electoral Commission on 2 May.