Over the past few months, the network of 34 regional offices of the State Election Commission have received a new look. Previously challenging and restrictive, the working conditions of these offices have been substantially improved with the refurbishment of the working spaces, installation of new inverter-type air conditioning units and addition of higher-performance IT equipment. for the staff, this change has been a resounding success. “The improvement has been staggering”, says RO Tetovo staff Arben Fejzuli, “it will enhance our responsiveness and enable us to perform much more effectively in the future”.
This infrastructural overhaul was the result of an initiative aimed at supporting the SEC in its ongoing efforts to strengthen the technical and human capacities of its regional offices and branches. The initiative was part of the Support to Electoral Reforms project of the Swiss Embassy/Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and NYCM.
Mobility ramps installed to improve access to ROs for persons with disabilities
Based on detailed assessments of the specific needs of each regional office, IFES arranged for the provision of a support package envisaged to upgrade and modernize the working environments, improve their accessibility, increase the timeliness and accuracy of work and improve overall staff efficiency. The support package consisted of inverter-type air conditioning units, multifunctional printers, desktop computers, laptop computers, office chairs, desks, laminate flooring, filing cabinets, and access ramps for persons with disabilities. The initiative was implemented in the period from July to November of 2021.
New office furniture and equipment already put to use in RO Karposh
“The donation was indeed sorely needed”, says Snezana Kicevska, elections clerk at RO Karposh. “Now the walls have been repainted and the new windows finally make it possible to air out the offices, especially during election periods when we might have as many as 1200 visitors circulating per day; we also have new office furniture and equipment. As a result, the work flow is already notably faster, smoother and the quality of the results has improved”.
Higher-performance IT equipment installed across 34 ROs
Modern computer equipment and air conditioning units were also introduced in RO Kochani. The office is located in an old building without suitable insulation, making working in summertime virtually impossible. We were overjoyed to receive this assistance, as it not only created proper working conditions but also improved the quality of our work. In the future, our work will be more effective, more motivated and more successful during election processes” says Snezana Hadzi Paunova, Head of the RO in Kochani.
In the upcoming months, IFES will also organize education workshops for employees of the SEC and its regional offices focusing on strengthening the capacities of the administrative staff. The topics will include elections management, international and national experiences, trends and changes, effective organization and communication, Voters List management, data confidentiality, cyber hygiene and election security, and human resource management.