Advantages

• May be necessary to ensure an electoral event is held.
• Donor funded technical assistance can raise electoral administration standards.
• Assistance with implementing international standards can enhance the freedom and fairness of electoral processes.
• Skills transfer from technical assistance can create sustainable improvements in electoral processes.
• Coordinated donor assistance can plug critical gaps in the EMB’s budget.
• Funding may assist the EMB to improve its service and credibility by acquiring appropriate technology.
• May encourage EMBs to improve their budgeting and accounting processes.

Disadvantages

• May create dependence on foreign funding of electoral processes.
• May lead to introduction of costly and unsustainable electoral practices.
• Unless carefully coordinated, can lead to duplication of funding.
• May concentrate on high profile activities to the detriment of essential ones.
• May not ensure sufficient funding is received in time.
• Ineffective or inappropriate externally driven technical solutions may be imposed on the EMB.
• May be difficult to implement different accounting mechanisms from multiple donors.