This is the first paper in the Operational Paper Series published by the Joint EC-UNDP Task Force on Electoral Assistance, prepared in collaboration with the International IDEA and the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network.

This paper would have not been possible without the key contributions of a number of individuals who provided and shared their expertise, insights, comments and thoughts for the original concept and various draft versions that brought to the final product.

Those individuals, include, in alphabetical order: Anne-Sofie Holm Gerhard, Chris Kyriakides, Domenico Tuccinardi, Dunia Ramazani, Fabio Bargiacchi, Francesco Torcoli, Frick Olivier, Linda Maguire, Mette Bakken, Niall McCann, Richard Atwood and Victor Margall von Hegyeshalmy.

Useful insights and additional contributions have also been provided by Angela Bargellini, Benjamin Clarholm-Anton, Lee Kironget, Ola Petterson, Peter Wolf, Ricardo Godinho Gomez, Sara Staino, Teresa Polara and Tomas Matraia.

The graphic concept and design of this paper was created by Adelaida Contreras and Tomas Matraia.