Effective Electoral Assistance Presentation by Commissioner Ms Thoko Mpumlwana, Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa at the GEO 2011 Conference, Gaborone International Convention Centre, 7-9 March 2011

2 Outline of Presentation 1.Context of Elections in a country 2.What do we mean by ‘Electoral Assistance’? 3.The Importance of Electoral Assistance 4.Challenges of Electoral Assistance 5.Possible Solutions to these Challenges 6.Concluding Observations

3 1. Context of Elections in a country Thanks to International IDEA and IEC Botswana for inviting us to this important conference. 1.Elections are generally held within a context. 2.In our region elections are characterised by great pressure to tackle poverty and high unemployment, violence and intimidation. 3.Lack of resources and technical skills to run elections also add to our challenges. 4.Huge social inequalities including inequitable distribution of resources, ethnic and cultural diversity. 5.In some countries, religious diversity also impacts on an election. 6.Generally, a context to be considered is also that of electoral system, legislation, norms & values as well as citizen participation in the affairs of their country.

4 2. What do we mean by ‘Electoral Assistance’? Financial AssistanceForeign Technical Assistance 1. From local sources/ donors (e.g. private companies) 1. Sending experts and skilled personnel to assist a country 2. From external sources: multilateral and other agencies 2. Training of locals in rare skills for elections management 3. Aimed at specific program/s of Election Management Body:EMB 3. Supply with relevant material 4. Targeted to many programs4. Sharing of information with technical experts/ observers 5. With/ with no ‘strings attached’5. Reciprocal technical visits 6. Role of country’s government in financing elections 6. Assistance with relevant content (e.g. for voter education)

5 3. The Importance of Electoral Assistance 1.Elections are increasingly becoming expensive to run: so financial & technical assistance is critical. 2.Helps support the EMB where help is critically needed; especially to build local capacity, impart vital skills and expertise to the local election officials. 3.If assistance is offered in agreement with the local country/EMB, it can ensure sustainability and gain the EMB much needed trust from the local population. 4.Mutual learning between receiving EMB & assisting institution. 5.Promotion of global, regional & country specific protocols. 6.Assistance helps in reaching specific targeted constituencies that would normally not be prioritised where financial resources are limited e.g. women, rural voters, disability sector.

6 4. Challenges of Electoral Assistance 1.Electoral assistance can be difficult to sustain once the experts and international support staff leave. 2.Technical assistance ‘with strings attached’ can generate resentment and mistrust within the local population including political parties and governments. 3.Cultural dynamics e.g. language of the receiving country; habits; climate etc. often pose challenges. 4.If imposed, such assistance can be resisted and subsequently rendered ineffective (e.g. in a country that does not propagate gender equality, assistance for such programmes would be resisted). 5.The control of funds earmarked for electoral assistance by a donor agency or foreign country often creates unnecessary constraints.

7 5. Possible Solutions to these Challenges 1.Technical & financial assistance should be based on mutual respect, understanding and should be guided by the receiving institution. 2.Consideration of a country’s dynamics and consultation with its EMB is vital. 3.The need to adhere to internationally accepted principles for assessing the ability of an EMB to deliver free and fair, credible elections is crucial. 4.Governments must commit to fund elections if they are serious about successful electoral events. 5.The local EMB’s core activities must be respected and there must be no interference in its running of elections from incumbent governments; especially donor governments. 6.EMBs must develop clear guidelines on free and fair elections, and enforce them.

8 5. Possible Solutions (Continued) 7.Such assistance must be sensitive to the local country’s context including accounting principles & standards of the receiving institution. 8.The general principles of international technical assistance must be shared regionally in SADC and across the continent. 9.Electoral assistance should not be aimed at single events but should be seen as part of a sustainable long- term process that begins long before Election Day and extends long after the results are declared and the winners appointed to public office. 10.A healthy relationship between the donor and benefactor should be based on trust. 11.Donor funding should never exceed local funding from government. It is unsustainable to run an election through foreign funding.

9 6. Concluding Observations 1.Generally, the application of the principle of a right to vote, to participate, freedom of access to information, ensure regular Free & Fair elections etc. is EXPENSIVE. 2.Electoral assistance is a form of global solidarity. 3.Many countries struggle with competing interests for the national fiscus. While, elections are critical in democratic states, contradictions remain between funding elections and spending money on socio-economic rights. 4.We are all learning a lot from international assistance and are hopeful that this conference will adopt proposals to improve such assistance. However, it must be acknowledged that the process of learning is (and must be) reciprocal ─ both experts and local EMBs learn.

10 Thank you Contact Details: Commissioner Thoko Mpumlwana Deputy Chairperson: Electoral Commission of South Africa Tel.: /6 Fax: