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The Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) organized The 5th Election Management Capacity Building Program (CBP) from September 5th to September 14th in Songdo, Incheon with 22 participants coming from Thailand, Benin, Malawi, Mauritius, Kiribati, Paraguay, Argentina, and Russia. The CBP of September focused on the Political Finance: Funding, Spending, and Reporting. The participants shared the status of the political funding system in each country and established a strategy for resolving political fund problems in each country during the lectures and action plan activities.
(Mr. Alexander Bedritskiy from Russia is presenting Russia’s electoral and political funding system.)
(Professor Kyung-bae Park from Central officials Training Institute of Korea is explaining to participants the action plan.)
On the first day, participants had time to discuss how to share the political funding system of each country and the problems raised in relation to it and establish an action plan to improve those problems.
(Mr. Hanbeom You, a secretary-general from Transparency International Korea, delivering the lecture to the participants.)
In the afternoon session on the second day of the program, Mr. Hanbeom You, Secretary-General of the Transparency International Korea, gave a lecture on "Role of Civil Society on Improving Transparency of Political Finance." He introduced what activities civil society in Korea has done to enhance the transparency of political funds in Korea and discussed how to promote awareness among citizens.
(Dr. Magnus Ohman, a Senior Political Finance Advisor at IFES, is giving a lecture to participants.)
In the morning and afternoon sessions on the third day of the program, Dr. Magnus Ohman, Senior Political Fund Advisor of IFES, gave lectures on “Problems in Political Finance” and "Implementation of Political Finance Regulations by EMBs and Other Public Institutions." His lecture could be widely understood about political funds by sharing statistics and research cases around the world. In addition, in-depth discussions were made on what the election management committee could do for “transparent and regulated political funds.”
(Group Photo of participants at Gyeongbokgung palace.)
On the day of culture tour, participants visited the Lotte World Tower Observatory, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namdaemun Market, and Insadong to learn about Korean traditional culture.
(Participants are sightseeing Seoul from Lotte World Tower Observatory)
(Participants are posing on a Gangnam style statue near COEX in Samseong-dong)
(Dr. Gabrielle Bardall, a Senior Gender equality advisor in IFES is giving a lecture to participants.)
On the morning session of September 10th, Dr. Gabrielle Bardall, Senior Gender Equality Advisor of IFES, gave a lecture on “Political Finance and Gender Equality.” Participants shared the discrimination and difficulties that female politicians and candidates from various countries around the world face in raising political funds and discussed ways to improve the situation.
(Mr. Hee-il Kwon from National Election Commission of Korea is giving a lecture.)
In the afternoon session, Mr. Hee-il Kwon from the National Election Commission (NEC) of Korea gave a lecture on “Political Finance System in Korea.” He introduced the political fund system in Korea and shared its continuous efforts to ensure the transparency in raising, spending political funds and reporting expenditures.
(Mr. Gwang-il Park from National Election Commission of Korea is giving a lecture.) On the morning session of September 11th, Mr. Gwang-il Park from the National Election Commission of Korea gave a lecture on “NEC of Korea’s International Electoral Support: Upgrade of IT Infrastructure through ODA Projects.” He introduced the NEC of Korea’s ODA Project and explained ICT technology instituted in Korean electoral system, such as pre-election voting, online voting. Also, participants had time to discuss how ICT technology can be used to improve election management in their countries. 
(Group photo of participants at National Assembly of Korea)
On September 12th, participants visited the National Assembly to learn about the history, legislative procedures, the role, and functions of the National Assembly as well as the facilities of the main chamber. 
(Participant feeding Seagulls and enjoying a different experience on the Han river cruise ship.)
(Ms. Barbara Betsabe Schreiber from Argentina is presenting an action plan to solve Argentina’s political fund problems.)
On the last day, participants presented an action plan based on lectures and discussions during the program. Through this activity, participants set specific and feasible goals to solve the political fund problem and share specific measures to achieve it.
(Group Photo of participants and A-WEB staff at the closing ceremony)
The 5th Election Management Capacity Building Program was concluded on 14th with closing ceremony. Despite the sensitive subject of political funds, the participants successfully established an action plan to help to solve the political fund problem in their own country by actively sharing their opinions and sharing experiences and knowledge. In the future, the A-WEB will continue to lead the experience and expertise of election management institutions to enhance transparency and democracy in political funds around the world.
(* Click the link below for more program pictures.)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thisisaweb/albums/72157695610561990
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