BRIDGE TRAINING COURSE

BRIDGE(or the Building Resources in Democracy,Governance and Elections) is the most comprehensive professional development course available in election administration. It has been developed by electoral administrators with wide experience of elections in many different countries and contexts. It improves the skills, knowledge, and confidence both of election professionals and key stakeholders in the electoral process including members of the media, political parties, and electoral observers.

The main objective of BRIDGE is “to give insights into the principles, skills and challenges involved on the conduct of properly run elections.”

BRIDGE is a unique, innovative and flexible course on electoral administration designed to give people new to the field a comprehensive introduction to their work, to offer experience officials new insights into the principles underlying their tasks, and to inform those outside the filed about the key challenges that arise in conducting elections. It aims to accelerate the learning of skills and knowledge of all participants, as well as to instill a commitment to ethical behavior and professionalism.

Moreover, BRIDGE concentrates on the principles underlying all properly run elections, while drawing examples of different practical approaches from many different countries. It does not seek to prescribe any one model for implementing these principles, but rather encourages participants to learn from the diverse examples presented. It has been developed by electoral administrators with wide experience of elections in many different countries and contexts, working in cooperation with electoral trainers with extensive expertise in the application of adult learning principles.

BRIDGE also draws on international standards and principles, a vast compendium of best practice produced by experts in ACE: Electoral Knowledge Network, publications from International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), academic articles, election reports, sample electoral legislation, case studies and activities developed by a range of practitioners from all regions based on experience.

There are two main components to most BRIDGE courses: the Modules and the Train the Facilitator (TtF) Program. To date, BRIDGE Version 2 comprises 23 modules. These include two Foundation modules and an introduction to the standards and principles that underpin and the skills needed for effective electoral administration. Version 2 also contains three thematic groups: Electoral Architecture (five modules), Working with Stakeholders (nine modules) and Electoral Operations (seven modules). On the other hand, the BRIDGE TtF program aims at accrediting a core group of local trainers as BRIDGE facilitators, for in-country courses. Only trained and accredited facilitators are authorized to offer courses making use of BRIDGE materials.

BRIDGE has been developed through the collaborative efforts of IDEA, the Australian Electoral Commission, the United Nations Election Assistance Division, UNDP, and IFES.

To date, BRIDGE has been conducted in more than 30 countries—including, more recently, the Philippines. The first BRIDGE training in the country was successfully implemented in March 2009.  Four modules were selected for the pioneering BRIDGE course (Introduction to Electoral Administration; Voter Information, Voter registration and Access to Electoral Processes). It was participated in by COMELEC commissioners, COMELEC senior staff, and representatives of selected local civil society organizations advocating for electoral reforms. The BRIDGE course was facilitated in tandem by accredited BRIDGE trainers, Alistair Legge and Fernanda Lopes.

For more information on BRIDGE, please visit: http://www.bridge-project.org.