William Hogan

United Nations Logistics Adviser
National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone
Focus Area(s)
Elections
Critical Tasks
Training
Interviewers
Ashley McCants
Country of Reform
Sierra Leone
Town/City
Freetown
Country
Sierra Leone
Date of Interview
Friday, August 01, 2008
Abstract

William Hogan discusses his experiences as a United Nations logistics adviser for Sierra Leone's National Electoral Commission.  He talks about the potential for institutions like the commission to become dependent on aid organizations and donors, and the problems that this presents for creating sustainable and independent institutions, as well as for ensuring that the programs reflect the interests of the country and not the interests of donors.  Hogan emphasizes the importance of long-term capacity building and the need for self-criticism among civil servants within the commission, in order for them to grow in their capacity and in their functional independence.  He mentions the difficulties with working through linguistic barriers and with limited tools and infrastructure, and concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding each country’s unique characteristics and context in policy decisions.     

Full Interview

41 MB
William Hogan - Full Interview
Profile
At the time of this interview, William Hogan was a United Nations logistics adviser to the National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.  He joined the U.N. as a volunteer in 1993 and served in a number of countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia and Mozambique.   Subsequent to this interview, Hogan worked in Moldova, Kenya and Tanzania with the U.N., and in Uganda on the South Sudan referendum.  He then worked in the Solomon Islands with AusAID as the election operations adviser to the Electoral Commission.   In his native Australia, Hogan spent about 15 years at the Electoral Commission.

 

Keywords
Election Management Body
Donor Relations
polling supplies
training
UN Policies
Voter Registration
rural voter registration
Not specified