CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF EMBs AFRICAN UNION (AU) EXPERIENCE

Objectives of the AU To promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;  To promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance;  amongst others. To achieve the objective of promotion of democracy and democratic elections in the continent as enshrined in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the AU created in 2006 the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU).

Mandate of the AU/DEAU Coordinating and organizing the participation of the African Union in the observation of elections on the continent; Enhancement of national electoral processes of Member States of the AU through the provision of technical and electoral assistance to Election Management Bodies of Member States of the African Union; Improvement of methodologies and practices in elections in Africa. The DEAU carries out the above mandates through a variety of programmes conceived, designed and implemented by a team of experts and professionals in the Unit backed by a host of international partners.

DEAU activities in support of capacity enhancement of EMBs Conduct of National BRIDGE Capacity Building Trainings – To improve the skills and knowledge base of national EMBs; ensure increased efficiency and professionalism in the management of elections by national EMBs. Conduct of Regional BRIDGE Capacity Building Trainings – To ensure transfer of BRIDGE facilitation skills and knowledge to staff of EMBs who subsequently become accredited BRIDGE facilitators who can deliver BRIDGE trainings locally in their own countries; To enhance the professional capacity of EMBs to deliver credible elections.

DEAU activities in support of capacity enhancement of EMBs Provision of Short Term Consultants to EMBs – To fill existing human capacity gaps within EMBs at no cost to the EMBs concerned; increased professionalism in the conduct and management of national electoral processes in member states. Support to Regional EMB Forums & Networks – To tap into the local knowledge of these forums/networks; to ensure pee-to-peer exchange between EMBs; benefit from logistic assistance through leasing of electoral equipment. Support for whole Electoral Process using the Electoral Cycle Approach – Efforts here focused on providing total electoral assistance and support to the national electoral processes, including logistic support, procurement and provision of electoral material and provision of resources needed to implement the entire phase of the electoral process.

DEAU activities in support of capacity enhancement of EMBs Sub regional post-election audit workshops – To gain first-hand knowledge on the challenges and best practices recorded in the conduct of national elections; to measure level of compliance to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; as basis for more systematic and thorough follow-up on the recommendations for reform. Implementation of recommendations of AU Observation Mission reports – to ensure that recommendations and findings are implemented and linked to broader efforts of democracy promotion; improve the quality of elections on the continent. Implementation of the Electoral Risk Management Tool – To enhance capacity of EMBs to prevent and mitigate election-related conflict and violence.

Do they work? YES!! The conduct of National BRIDGE Trainings has improved the skills and knowledge base of national EMBs where such trainings have been organized; have improved efficiency and professionalism in the management of elections by national EMBs; Regional BRIDGE Trainings have contributed to the development of the capacity of staff of EMBs who have become accredited BRIDGE facilitators and deliver local BRIDGE trainings; Provision of short term consultants have helped to fill gaps in management of electoral processes as a result of inadequate human capacity arising from inadequate funding of national EMBs; Support to Regional EMB forums/networks has encouraged sharing of experience and lessons learned between EMBs on the continent, leasing of electoral materials between EMBs; Support for whole electoral systems in the form of electoral assistance has contributed to efficient management of the national electoral process;

Do they work? Sub-regional post-election audit workshops has enabled EMBs to do stock taking exercise of how they performed in the management of the electoral process, revealing their strengths and weaknesses, specific challenges faced, areas of shared values and best practices; Follow-up on implementation of recommendations contained in AU observer reports will help ensure EMBs compliance with AU principles governing democratic elections as well as improving the integrity and effectiveness of elections and related processes; Implementation of the Electoral Risk Management Tool will help EMBs to understand, analyze, prevent and mitigate election-related violence. Thus, in a nutshell, the AU/DEAU capacity development programmes for EMBs has ensured the infusion of democratic and governance principles into national electoral process, and greatly improved conduct of elections on the continent between 2008 to present.

End Thank You!!