The Southern African Development Community’s Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) has observed elections in SADC countries since 1999.
In all 25 elections observed to date, reports outlining key observations and challenges in those elections have been published, as well as presented to various election stakeholders after the election.
The SADC PF also organises regional training workshops, on elections and democracy, with a view to deepening parliamentarians’ knowledge of the electoral cycle and its link to democracy.
Although the SADC PF has observed elections and developed at least half a dozen election instruments, a range of election-related problems still persist. There is need to assess the extent of the impact of the SADC PF’s election observation programme, and the recommendations they offer, in strengthening electoral institutions; reforming electoral legal frameworks, systems and processes; and entrenching democratic practices in the election process.
This project aims to conduct this evaluation and use the findings to inform the next strategic focus of SADC PF’s election observation programme.This goal will be achieved through the following objectives.
First, this project aims to learn from, and exchange views with, electoral stakeholders on constitutional and electoral reforms; secondly, it will seek to identify, and develop, intervention programmes in areas where the SADC PF is able to assist; thirdly, the findings of this project will be used to identify opportunities for lobbying for the use of guidelines that aid in overcoming any challenges acknowledged; and finally, this project will facilitate information sharing between various stakeholders that will assist with the development of electoral standards.
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