8th Annual Continental Forum of Electoral Management bodies
The Pro-Electoral Integrity Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reiterated its commitment to supporting stakeholders in the organisation of elections in EMBs, affirmed Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of ECES, in his opening speech at the 8th annual continental forum of Electoral Management Bodies, held on 1 and 2 November in Cotonou.
This annual continental forum of EMBs is one of the flagship policy platforms aimed at promoting good governance and participatory democracy through fostering peer learning and harnessing lesson-learning in election management on the continent of Africa.
This year’s forum, which followed a participatory approach, had 8 sessions with moderated panel presentations followed by plenary discussions. Participants shared continental, regional and national comparative case studies and experiences that were focused on 4 thematic areas: Experiences and challenges of EMBs in relation to communication with electoral stakeholders and citizens; Developing Strategic Communication: EMB Perspectives, lessons learned and best practices; Avoiding pitfalls in communicating with stakeholders: the dos and the don’ts; and Counting the cost: Exploring opportunities for cost-effect EMBs communication strategies.
The participants to the 8th Annual EMBs Forum were drawn from the African Union Commission Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, EMBs of the African Union Member States and members of the Association of African Electoral Authorities, Regional Economic Communities networks of EMBs, International Organizations involved in electoral assistance, Civil Society Organizations and academia working in the elections field and other key democratic governance actors. This Forum saw the representation of 35 countries, namely Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo Brazzaville, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zanzibar.
AAEA General Assembly - Benin, 2023
The General Assembly of the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA) was held on 3 November 2023 in Cotonou, Benin, and hosted by the National Independent Electoral Commission (Commission Électorale Nationale Autonome - CENA) of Benin. The event brought together representatives of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) from across the African continent to discuss key priorities related to electoral governance and integrity.
The AAEA General Assembly received support from the Pro-Electoral Integrity Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
During the General Assembly, participants approved and signed the “Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa.” The document was adopted as an important reference framework aimed at guiding EMBs in the management and use of digital and social media during electoral periods. The principles were designed to support electoral institutions in addressing the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing influence of digital communication in electoral processes.
The General Assembly also provided an opportunity for EMB representatives to exchange experiences and reinforce cooperation among African electoral authorities in promoting credible, transparent, and peaceful elections across the continent.