The Pro-Electoral Integrity project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and implemented by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) in partnership with the African Union Commission. The project is part of Italy’s “Partnership with Africa” policy and reflects continued support to democratic governance, electoral processes, and institutional development across the continent.

A key milestone in this cooperation was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ECES and the African Union Commission’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AUC-PAPS) in May 2021. This agreement established the institutional framework for collaboration and laid the foundation for the development of the Pro-Electoral Integrity project.

The initiative is grounded in ECES’s approach to electoral assistance, which emphasises engagement across the full electoral cycle, combining technical support, capacity development, and conflict-sensitive methodologies. Drawing on extensive operational experience and established cooperation with continental and regional actors, the project seeks to accompany African institutions in addressing evolving electoral and governance-related challenges.

The conception of Pro-Electoral Integrity builds on previous cooperation frameworks, including the Innov-Elections project, and was designed to provide structured support to the African Union—particularly its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AUC-PAPS)—while reinforcing collaboration with Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), regional economic communities, and electoral networks. The project responds to the need for coordinated, multi-level engagement in support of electoral processes and related institutional frameworks.

Across its three phases, the project has progressively expanded in scope and adapted to emerging priorities:

Phase I focused on establishing the foundations of cooperation with the African Union, including support to the development and validation of normative and policy frameworks. Activities were centred on strengthening capacities in areas related to conflict prevention, constitutionalism, and democratic governance, while facilitating dialogue among continental and regional stakeholders.

Phase II consolidated and operationalised the project’s activities, aligning more closely with the African Union’s priorities in the context of a dense electoral calendar across the continent. This phase introduced more targeted support to selected countries and expanded activities related to peer exchange, technical assistance, and the development of educational and policy tools, including those linked to the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG). It also reinforced cooperation with regional and continental networks of EMBs.

Phase III represents a further expansion of the project’s operational dimension, with increased focus on accompanying electoral processes in diverse political contexts, including transitional and higher-risk environments. The phase prioritises peer-to-peer engagement, tailored technical assistance, and institutional resilience, alongside continued activities in conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding.

Throughout its implementation, the project maintains an overarching objective of contributing to credible, inclusive, and transparent electoral processes in African Union Member States. This is pursued through strengthening the capacities of EMBs and their networks, supporting cooperation between national, regional, and continental actors, and fostering approaches to electoral integrity aligned with relevant norms and standards.

In this context, the project also interfaces with broader governance dimensions, including rule of law frameworks, institutional approaches to unconstitutional changes of government, and mechanisms related to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. This reflects an understanding of electoral integrity as embedded within wider institutional and structural dynamics that may shape public confidence in electoral processes and democratic systems.

By combining institutional support, policy development, and operational engagement, Pro-Electoral Integrity contributes to strengthening electoral systems and processes, with a view to enhancing their capacity to manage challenges, mitigate risks, and support longer-term institutional development across the continent.