Peer-to-Peer Capacity Building

Question:

This question is posted by ACE on behalf of Erik Asplund.

Which EMBs provide prominent training programs to other EMBs on various aspects of electoral management, through newly established international training institutes or departments? Also, what specific training programmes do specific EMBs provide and what training methodologies are used? 

Three prominent examples of EMBs that I am aware of that provide peer-to-peer capacity building, typically based on institutional experiences and lesson learned include: the Election Commission of India through their training institute, the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIDEM); INE (Mexico) through their International Center for Electoral Training and Research (CICIE); and The Australian Election Commission (AEC) through their International Electoral Service. 

Others EMBs I can think of but can’t find much information on include Elections Canada and IEC (South Africa) as well as INEC (Nigeria) Electoral Institute. But I am certain that the list extends further than this.

Summary of Responses: 

Practitioners provided examples of electoral management bodies (EMBs) around the world providing peer-to-peer capacity development in several areas of the electoral processes through international training institutes or departments with specific training programs. Some examples from around the world are:

• Europe: The Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (CCET) under the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) of Moldova provides election-related training on a number of topics to election officials and other stakeholders. 
• Africa:
• South Africa’s Electoral Commission contributes to capacity development in partnership with other organizations/institutions. One example is the Management of Democratic Elections in Africa (MDEA), which has been running since 2011 and is implemented by the University of South Africa (UNISA). Since its inception, about 300 EMB staff/commissioners have completed the month-long residential course. The overall objective is: “to provide assistance to Election Management Bodies through courses on electoral management values, principles, regulatory regimes and implementation contexts which contribute to the enhancement and promotion of democratic elections in Africa.” International IDEA has also partnered with the Electoral Commission of South Africa to train EMB representatives. 
• The Electoral Institute (TEI) serves as an internal training and research unit for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria. Its organized training includes quarterly lectures, workshops, seminars, roundtable discussions and specialized courses for State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in Nigeria using the BRIDGE modular frameworks. TEI has also partnered with three Nigerian universities to run Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma programs in Election Administration. International organizations, including the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have partnered with TEI on a variety of capacity building projects. 
• The Americas:
• The Center for Electoral Promotion and Assistance (CAPEL) is a specialized program of the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights (IIHR). CAPEL's mandate is to provide technical electoral assistance and promote elections. The IIHR/CAPEL’s education and training activities address electoral topics from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on the expertise of leading Latin American specialists.
• Mexico’s EMB, the Instituto Nacional Electoral (INE), organizes workshops, specialization courses, and seminars through its International Center for Electoral Training and Research (CICIE). Programs are based on empirical and practical experience. Representatives from other EMBs or specialized international organizations collaborate and exchange information with the goal of sharing knowledge that will prove useful to approaching common challenges. 
• Asia: The Election Commission of India conducts training through their training institute, the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIDEM). IIDEM works to develop the capacity of electoral stakeholders in India, as well as build international partnerships and promote collaboration. Electoral officials from Kenya, Nigeria, Maldives, Afghanistan, and Nepal had participated in IIDEM programming as of late 2015. A presentation describing peer-to-peer capacity building can be found here.

• Oceania: In Australia, the Australian Election Commission (AEC) conducts electoral training through its International Electoral Service. According to one practitioner, the AEC “maintains cooperative working relationships with other electoral authorities in a range of countries and delivers electoral support through a range of programs and partnerships. These initiatives support democracy and electoral administration internationally.” The AEC works closely with international electoral assistance providers, is a BRIDGE partner, and engages with EMBs in the Asia-Pacific region through the Pacific Islands, Australia, and New Zealand Electoral Administrators network (PIANZEA). The AEC provided electoral support programs to Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Myanmar and several Pacific Island countries in 2014-2015.
   

In Moldova, the Center for Continuous Election Training (CCET) comes under the purview of the Central Election Commission and provides election related training of a number of topics to election officials and other stakeholders. More information can be found at:

http://cicde.md/index.php?l=en

Best,

Sam Jones (International IDEA)

The Electoral Commission in South Africa contributes to capacity development in partnership with other organisations/institutions. One example include the Management of Democratic Elections in Africa (MDEA) which is implemented by the University of South Africa (UNISA). The programme has been running since 2011. As per my past correspondance with UNISA, about 300 EMB staff/commissioners have gone through their one month residential course.  Read more at http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=28184.

International IDEA has also implemented trainings targeting representatives from EMBs in partnership with the Electoral Commsission of South Africa.

Best,

Mette (International IDEA)

As you have mentioned, INE of Mexico through its International Center for Electoral Training and Research (CICIE, by its acronym in Spanish), we promote the capacity building by organizing workshops, specialization courses and Seminars. The methodology will be depending in the modality of the training program but the main characteristics from each of the modalities are: the programs are based from empirical and practical experience; the programs contain international experiences or compared studies and the interaction with international experiences: from other EMBs or from specialized international organizations; the main purpose is to Exchange information on procedures and main challenges in order to know the different approaches to solve common issues, adopting what might be helpful and adapting solutions to their own reality. It is important to mention that INE has its own profesional civil service and there is an specific unit in charge to provide training to this personnel. You may find CICIE's information in the following link: http://www.ine.mx/archivos3/portal/historico/contenido/
Centro_internacional_capacitacion_investigacion_electoral/idiomas/ESP.html

Best,

Deyanira Galindo

International Center for Electoral Training and Research (CICIE, INE Mexico)

Hay dos instituciones en Latinoamérica que ayudan a estos intercambios. Uno es el Instituto Nacionall Electoral de México (www.ine.mx) y CAPEL (https://www.iidh.ed.cr/capel/)

En general los intercambios son muy fluidos entre organismos electorales en América Latina.

Attached presentation on  how ECI / IIDEM works with peer-to-peer capacity building courtesy of Dr Quraishi (former chief election commissioner of ECI). The presentation was first shared during a International IDEA workshop entitled, EMB Dialogue in Addis Ababa in Novemeber 2015.  

The Electoral Institute, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Nigeria, is established to conduct electoral training, research and documentation. In the area of capacity building, it has engaged the Commission Staff and other stakeholders through organising training, Quarterly Lectures Series, Workshops, Seminars, Roundtable discussions and specialised courses for State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) in Nigeria using the BRIDGE modular frameworks. TEI International conferences have helped to internalise most of the topical issues in the region. The International conference on Electoral Jurisprudence in Africa with emphasis on its effects on democratisation and elections as well as a comparative analysis using peer review mechanism.

TEI has also partnered with three Nigerian premier universities: University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and University of Ibadan, to run a programme on Diploma and Post Graduate Diploma in Election Administration. Currently, TEI has about 540 INEC staff that have benefitted from the eighteen month programme for Diploma and nine months for Post Graduate Diploma.

IFES has also partnered with TEI in implementing training of SIEC members. The IRI partnership was in the area of training of representatives of Political Parties and their Agents. Also, UNDP has partnered with TEI in election security training targeted at representatives of Security agencies sector. The intent is to strengthen the capacity of these stakeholders, professionalise their conduct and performance on election -related activities.

Best.

Ifeanyi Agoha, (TEI, INEC)

Mr. Agoha, the training of elections employees and other partners, helps to broadening  the minds of EMB employees and partners  in the area of elections management. This initiative also assist in reducing elections related problems that continues to engulf elections results.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) maintains cooperative working relationships with other electoral authorities in a range of countries and delivers electoral support through a range of programs and partnerships. These initiatives support democracy and electoral administration internationally.

The AEC undertakes international electoral work in accordance with section 7(1)(fa) of the Electoral Act, in close cooperation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

While the majority of funding for the AEC’s international work is provided by DFAT, the AEC also works closely with counterparts in the Asian, Pacific and Southern African regions, and with other providers of international electoral assistance, including:

         International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)

         United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD)

         United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

         International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)

         Commonwealth Secretariat (an intergovernmental organisation of which Australia is a member).

Australia is also a partner of the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) program, along with International IDEA, IFES, UNDP and UNEAD. BRIDGE first met in December 1999 and focuses on the professional development of those involved in electoral processes and administration.

The AEC engages with electoral management bodies in the Asia-Pacific region through the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators network (PIANZEA).

In 2014–15, the AEC provided secretariat services to PIANZEA and provided DFAT-funded electoral support programs in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Nepal, Myanmar and a number of Pacific Island countries.

AEC Annual Report 2014-15

http://annualreport.aec.gov.au/2015/performance/election-support.html