Pro-Electoral Integrity: A Strategic Partnership for Electoral and Democratic Governance in Africa

The “Pro-Electoral Integrity” project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is implemented by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) in strategic partnership with the African Union Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AUC-PAPS). The initiative aims to strengthen electoral integrity as a pillar of democratic governance, conflict prevention, and political stability across Africa.

The project supports African Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) and their regional networks by strengthening their institutional and operational capacities to deliver credible and inclusive elections. Building on the achievements of the Innov-Elections programme, the initiative promotes peer exchange, continental ownership, and the sharing of comparative experiences in line with international electoral standards. Through technical assistance, peer learning, and operational cooperation, the project adopts a comprehensive approach to electoral integrity across the entire electoral cycle, including activities related to civic and voter education, transitional justice, and democratic governance.

14 - 17 November 2023, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) participated in and co-organised the 2023 Implementation and Convening Committee Meetings for endorsers of the Declaration of Principles (DoP), hosted for the first time by the African Union

A component of the initiative is the organisation of Peer Learning Missions across Africa and Europe in collaboration with the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA), bringing together senior electoral officials to exchange experiences and address shared challenges such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, disinformation, deepfakes, media monitoring, and electoral conflict prevention. The latest high-level mission in Rome gathered representatives of EMBs from Italy’s priority countries within the framework of the Piano Mattei, alongside continental and regional EMB networks. Twelve peer learning mission have taken place since 2022 in the following countries: Kenya, Liberia, Union of the Comoros, Namibia, Ghana, Gabon, Burundi, Malawi Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Benin and Italy.  Additionally, 50 of the 55 African Union Member States have participated to them areflecting thier broad continental reach and contribution to strengthening resilient, African-led electoral governance frameworks, democratic legitimacy, and long-term stability across the continent.

04 – 08 May 2026, Executive Peer Learning Mission on Electoral Leadership, AI Governance & Cyber Resilience in Rome, Italy

The project also supports the Continental Forums of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), which have become important platforms for strategic dialogue, policy reflection, and peer learning among African electoral stakeholders. Through the Pro-Electoral Integrity project, ECES has supported the organisation of the seventh, eighth, and ninth Continental Forums of EMBs, held respectively in 2022, 2023, and 2025, as well as the General Assemblies of the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA), which contribute to strengthening coordination, institutional cooperation, and peer exchange among African EMBs.

In parallel, the initiative supports activities linked to the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), including workshops, technical meetings, and pilot initiatives aimed at promoting democratic values, civic education, constitutionalism, and good governance through the integration of ACDEG principles into school curricula across Africa.

The project also contributes to international dialogue on election observation and electoral integrity through cooperation with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP), addressing emerging challenges such as political polarisation, electoral security, artificial intelligence, disinformation, and the evolving impact of digital technologies on electoral processes.

At the regional level, the initiative reinforces cooperation among networks of EMBs across Africa, including the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC), the Réseau des compétences électorales francophones (RECEF), and the Réseau des Organes de Gestion des Élections en Afrique Centrale (ROGEAC), through conferences, workshops, seminars, and peer exchanges focused on innovation, digitalisation, youth participation, institutional professionalisation, and the strengthening of electoral integrity.

The project further supports the organisation of and provision of technical expertise to activities related to Transitional Justice Forums, post-conflict peacebuilding, constitutionalism, and democratic governance, including continental forums, high-level dialogues, and multi-stakeholder exchanges aimed at promoting reconciliation, inclusive governance, conflict prevention, and institutional resilience across the continent.

In addition, the project supports the deployment of technical assistance and advisory missions to Electoral Management Bodies and democratic governance institutions across the continent. These missions provide tailored operational and institutional support during pre-electoral, electoral, and post-electoral periods, including expertise on electoral administration, conflict prevention, media monitoring, electoral dispute resolution, strategic planning, and the management of emerging technological challenges affecting electoral processes.

14 - 17 November 2023, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) participated in and co-organised the 2023 Implementation and Convening Committee Meetings for endorsers of the Declaration of Principles (DoP), hosted for the first time by the African Union