Peers Learning Mission to Benin 2026

The AAEA peer support and learning mission to Benin, conducted from 8 to 15 April 2026 in the context of the presidential elections, brought together representatives of African Election Management Bodies (EMBs), in collaboration with the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), the African Union, and other electoral stakeholders. The mission included EMB commissioners, senior electoral officials, and experts from a diverse group of African countries, such as Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Senegal, Angola, Somalia, and Lesotho, as well as members of the AAEA Secretariat and ECES experts.

The mission is designed as a non-partisan, peer-to-peer initiative aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices in election management. It strengthened cooperation among EMBs and provided a platform for technical dialogue, mutual learning, and institutional support across different electoral contexts.

Its main objective is to enhance electoral integrity, institutional capacity, and professionalism across participating EMBs by fostering collaboration, peer learning, and capacity building. Participants engaged in meetings with the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), electoral stakeholders, civil society organisations, and media representatives, as well as field visits, document exchanges, and peer review activities, contributing to a shared understanding of electoral challenges and solutions while supporting Benin’s electoral process.

The mission is part of the broader “Pro-Electoral Integrity” project, which aims to strengthen the resilience of electoral institutions in Africa, support credible and inclusive elections, and promote democratic governance, transparency, and conflict prevention across the continent.