Libya Elections and Legislative Strengthening Activity (LELSA)

LIBYA ELECTIONS AND LEGISLATIVE STRENGTHENING ACTIVITY

OVERVIEW

Decades of authoritarian rule, instability, and violence hindered Libya’s transition to a unified government that can maintain security and deliver essential services to its people. The U.S. government supports the aspirations of the Libyan people to vote for a national government that is transparent, accountable, and inclusive. USAID’s Libya Elections and Legislative Strengthening Activity (LELSA) supports Libyan-led initiatives that improve election administration, bolster civic and voter education, and encourage civic and political participation to support the country’s ongoing transition to a stable and democratic state that is free from malign foreign influence.

PRIORITIES

Long-term foundations for democratic transitions

USAID partners with the High National Election Commission (HNEC) and other Government of Libya stakeholders to build capacity to effectively manage and implement transparent and credible elections by providing technical support and advice on legal frameworks, strategic communications, electoral security and dispute resolution, voter registration, and information technology.  USAID works with government stakeholders and local civil society organizations (CSOs) to foster awareness of democratic practices among marginalized groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Inclusive civic processes

USAID partners with CSOs to build systems for observing political processes, provides opportunities for civic engagement, and fosters a participatory approach to governance in Libya. USAID supports CSOs advocating for the rights of underrepresented communities and contributes to broader dialogue around political transition and national reconciliation. USAID trains both newer and established political parties, fostering a cross-party network advocating for reforms to strengthen their role in Libyan political life. 

Combating hate speech and disinformation (HSD)

The proliferation of HSD in Libya’s information environment is undermining the development of democratic processes, perpetuating conflict, and chilling speech and civic participation. USAID combats HSD by providing information to promote inclusion and social cohesion, supporting civil society-led fact-checking and monitoring, building capacity for public institutions, and advocating for legal reform.

KEY RESULTS

• Partnered with the HNEC for more than 10 years to increase the capacity of Libya’s election bodies to manage electoral processes, improve election security, and design regulations to implement laws on judicial oversight and election dispute referendums on a permanent constitution.

• Supported HNEC to develop and manage the national voter registration system, contributing to the registration of over 2.8 million people - including 1.3 million women - 60 percent of all eligible voters. 

• Reached 1.1 million students with national civic education curriculum and 750,00 Libyans with voter education programs. Through the Libyan National Scouts, USAID educated 300,000 young people about the importance of democracy and the electoral process.

• Supported citizen journalism that combats HSD and promotes inclusion and participation through the El Kul, Tahra, and Bedaya platforms with a combined total of 1.4 million followers.

• Trained 406 political party members from 21 political parties throughout Libya on party leadership, provided technical assistance to increase capacity, and mentored party youth wings.

• Trained and supported CSOs to monitor 611 polling stations, deployed more than 2,000 domestic election observers, and conducted advocacy to increase the accessibility of polling stations to ensure persons with disabilities can participate in the political process.

• Trained Amazigh, Tuareg, and Tebu ethnic minority groups on “Get Out the Vote” methodologies, reaching nearly 14,000 people through phone banks, social media, radio, surveys, and focus groups. 

• Supported 89 CSOs to conduct advocacy campaigns about the dangers of underage marriage reaching 3,000 women and girls.

• Strengthened Libya’s next generation of leaders by teaching debate skills to 1,000 students, creating an online debate platform, and implementing forums for youth to meet with decision makers.