In the context of elections, sustainability refers to electoral policies and practices which are cost effective, realistic, and meet the needs of all stakeholders in the electoral processes, both now and in the future. Sustainability aims to minimize reliance on external inputs and resources. EMB sustainability is not only defined in financial terms; it includes the value of the social and political returns on its activities. For example, a post-conflict poor country may use expensive voting systems and procedures which, in economic terms, may not be sustainable, but in political terms may be essential in the short term to build trust among stakeholders and lasting peace and stability in the country. There are several elements to EMB sustainability:
- An EMB has institutional sustainability if its structures and processes enable it to fulfil its mandate and responsibilities in the longer term – that is, over a series of elections. This type of sustainability refers to the adequacy of the electoral framework – the constitution, electoral law and regulations, and administrative and other policies – to enable the EMB to carry out its work in an effective and efficient manner.
- An EMB has financial and economic sustainability if the nature and level of its funding and expenditure is adequate to fulfil its institutional mandate and responsibility.
- An EMB has human resource sustainability if it is able to engage sufficient, appropriately skilled local staff to manage and implement its systems and procedures.
- Other forms of EMB sustainability include socio-political and environmental factors, for example, the extent to which EMB policies and practices promote social equality and political inclusion, minimise conflict, and promote environmental sustainability.
