Sierra Leone

Elections Support

Project Background

Despite the successes conduct of elections in 2007 and local elections in 2008, a number of challenges were identified during the electoral processes that call for immediate attention. Central to these challenges is the in adequate capacity of NEC to run National Elections on its own. The Commission has been operating without its home grown competencies. This has created dependency syndrome on hired professional at costs that the commission can not afford when donor funds stop flowing.

Project Objectives

To develop a professional and sustainable capacity of the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission to enable it to carry out its mandate to conduct all public elections and referenda, provide training opportunities for all stakeholders in the electoral process, and develop a national democratic culture.
 

Project Outcomes

1. Development of Sustainable Staff

2. Training of Trainers Programme in Civic Education

3. Development of Effective Management Information System (MIS)

4. Promote Public Sensitisation and Civic and Voter Education

5. Support greater engagement to Civil Society Groups

6. Promote Sustainable Democracy through the Conduct of Bye Elections

7. Develop NEC’s Infrastructural Capacity

8. Electoral Law Reform

9. Electoral Training Initiative

Link with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

UNDP support to Electoral Systems and Processes are linked to MDGs in the following ways: 1. Civic education expands democratic participation, particularly for women and other under-represented segment of society; 2. Establishment of Basket funding mechanism helped reduced cost of electoral processes on national budget, hence more government resources freed up for direct poverty reduction programmes; 3. Strengthened capacity of Electoral Management Bodies for effective and transparent conduct of elections, hence less rejection of the elections outcomes and peaceful transition of power was experienced.

Related Documents

Electoral Support Project Wave3 concept note

NEC Action Plan 2009