Pro-Electoral Integrity is anchored in the institutional mandate of AUC-PAPS to promote democratic elections, good governance, and the rule of law across the continent. The project does not create that mandate — it supports the African Union in carrying it out.

This mandate is grounded in the African Union's own legal and policy instruments: the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, and Agenda 2063, whose Aspirations 3 and 4 envision "an Africa of good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law" and "a peaceful and secure Africa". Article 18 of the ACDEG specifically provides that AU Member States may request the Commission's support to strengthen their electoral institutions and processes.

Within AUC-PAPS, the project works with three units that carry this mandate forward:

• The Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU), established in 2006, coordinates the African Union's participation in election observation and implements its programme for the promotion of democracy and democratic elections, including electoral assistance to the EMBs of Member States.
• The Constitutionalism and Rule of Law Unit, launched in 2015, promotes constitutionalism and respect for the rule of law, including support to countries undergoing constitutional amendments or political transition and the mainstreaming of African Union shared values.
• The Transitional Justice Unit supports the implementation of the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, adopted in 2019. It accompanies Member States emerging from conflict in their reconciliation, accountability, and peacebuilding processes, and promotes inclusive dialogue on transitional justice across the continent — including through dedicated continental forums for women and youth.

The cooperation is governed by the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between ECES and AUC-PAPS, which translates this mandate into three concrete areas of joint work:

• Promotion of electoral integrity — voter education, media monitoring, support to political parties and parliaments, institutional communication, and the resolution of electoral disputes.
• Prevention and mitigation of electoral violence — early-warning mechanisms, conflict analysis, and ECES's Leadership and Conflict Management (LEAD) methodology.
• Human rights and inclusive participation — strengthening the participation of women, youth, and disadvantaged groups in electoral processes.

Together, these areas define what Pro-Electoral Integrity is mandated to do: to strengthen African institutions' capacity to deliver credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections.