The question was posted on behalf of Ken Angwa, Programme Officer, Elections Observation Group, Kenya

Election observation/support networks consist of national civil society organizations, such as human rights organizations and other community-based organizations. They have emerged to provide coordination and support services to non-state actors working in the arena of supporting democracy and electoral processes. These domestic networks may act at the regional or national level. Their key electoral-related activities include election observation and monitoring, civic and voter education, and electoral reform. Very recently, a regional West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) was formed by eight civil society organizations. We are now interested in the rationale of having regional election observation networks and procedures in establishing them.

What is their relation to international election observation?

What kind of activities could help in establishing a regional election observation network?

What would be the best way to produce a concept paper for initiating such a network and how should the process be carried out?

Summary of responses

It is pointed out that there are already a number of regional election observation groups in Africa and that in the event of forming further regional networks, it would be highly desirable to have a “uniform set of criteria” for the recruitment and training of individual observers. An emphasis on training and capacity building is reiterated by another expert. Attention is also drawn to the issue of funding.

Another reply takes a different line and questions the rationale and relevance of establishing regional election observation networks in Africa, fearing that such bodies may merely duplicate the work of existing NGOs.

Regarding the relationship between international and regional election observation, there is no reason why there cannot be some crossover here. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) invites, for example, election commissioners from various countries to partake in its missions, even though the same people are, on other occasions, members of an international observation mission.

Examples of related ACE Articles and Resources

Election Observation Portal

Encyclopaedia:

• Organized National Election Observation
  

Elections Today:

• Election Observation in West Africa: The ECOWAS Experience
  

External Resources

•    Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

•    The African Union Democracy and Elections Assistance Unit

•    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

•    The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

•    Pan African Parliament

•    The African Union Commission

•    West Africa Election Observers Network

Names of contributors

1.    Carl Dundas

2.    Monte McMurchy

3.    Somsri Hananuntasuk

The concept of a network of regional election observers is not entirely non-existent in the African Union. There are multiple governmental election observation groups on the Continent, for example, the African Union Commission election observers (managed by the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU)); there is the ECOWAS election observers and in the NGO category, there is EISA (electoral Institute of Southern Africa-for sustainable democracy) which operates in the SADC Region and occassionally elsewhere on the Continent. Other entities like the Pan-African Parliament now teams up with the AU Commissioin in fielding a joint group of election observers to national elections throughout the AU Member States.

A common thread in organizing multinational civil society election observers would point to a uniform set of criteria for selecting individual observers, their training, based on the AU set of guidelines for election observers and monitors which dates back to 2002 but which is still in line with the International Guidelines for Election Observers endorsed by the UN in 2005 and subscribed to by the AU.

A formal network, like the ECOWAS network for EMBs, can be organized, but funding will become a factor to be taken into account.   

Regional Election Observation Network or the like will be one more NGO competing with many other NGO's for scarce resources [financial-human capital] in attempting to add further critical reductive relevance to the electoral process. The question or issue of most salience will that of prescriptive relevance in terms of adding or creating value as my significant civic electoral experience is now directing me to consider the essential reasoning in allowing so many added elements to the NGO electoral observation process.

Will this Regional Election Observation Network type body add further value?; or merely be competing with several other NGO's already established which by no means indicates whether these already existent NGO's are even worthy of future funding---perhaps 'the region' ought to consider taking responsibility with the advice/assistance of an international entity as to how best to ensure the least duplication of scarce resources which if properly managed could be perhaps deployed elsewhere.

The questions and issues raised are valid and worthy of consideration and reflection and I hope the issue tabled receives responses from national electoral groups in Africa.

The solution must be localized in that the local entities must address the problem and pose the questions lending to a local solution which I hope will be both ontological and prescriptive in form and content thereby capturing the confidence of these local entities as 'elections'/'electoral process' must be confirmed by implied local consent.

The reply was posted on behalf of Somsri Hananuntasuk, Executive Director, Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

Congratulation to West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) which was successfully established in the region now. I am Somsri Hananuntasuk, Executive Director for Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL). Our 22 member organizations have been working together for 13 years in 15 countries. It began the works in a form of networking since the end of 1997 and then registered as a foundation 4 years ago. The office is in Bangkok, Thailand. Let me try to respond to following questions:

1. What is their relation to international election observation?

Most international observers came from local monitoring bodies or NGOs or civil society that work on democracy, human rights and elections.  Some regional organization like EISA will invite representatives from Election Commissions and politicians to join the mission while ANFREL has done in different way most of the time by taking observers from their member organizations to join the missions.   Some lecturers, media persons and experts from other organizations could be invited to work and experienced the election observation. Even though the Election Commissioners in Asian countries have their own missions but ANFREL some time invited them for the missions and participated in some related workshops.

2. What kind of activities could help in establishing a regional election observation network?

Organize a team of international observers to observe election in any member countries to support and encourage the free, fair and credible elections.   The team could study all similarity and difference of each electoral system and process, sharing experiences to promote the democratic elections and electoral reform.  Constitutions and electoral laws/regulations were views for comparative studies and for proper use in the countries.

However, the elections alone may not guarantee the success of democracy.  There should have other activities to be conducted in between the cycle of election.  

This is to promote citizen participation in good governance. These activities include advocacy of issues that cry for attention in the region such as women’s political rights; participation of internally displaced persons in the electoral process; oversight initiatives that aim to hold elected officials accountable to their campaign promises as well as monitoring government projects to promote transparency and honesty in governance.

Let me quote examples from the 2010 report writing by ANFREL’s Chairman here for more understanding.

"To achieve these goals, we had to embark on a capacity building program to assist its membership ranks at the grassroots level to better prepare them to meet the daunting challenges of promoting democratic processes and strengthening democratic institutions. Trainings were conducted to equip the members with the necessary tools, skills and motivations to pursue the programs and activities planned for the year among which are, to mention a few:

1.    Parliamentary Watch

This program increases the voters’ awareness regarding developments in parliament/congress. It promotes public accountability before, during and after elections. Data are gathered on the individual performance of each of the members of parliament/congress (attendance, travels, expenses, bills/resolutions filed, voting record, etc). The data gathered provide the EMOs, voters and interested parties talking points with their legislators in a forum wherein they can hold them accountable for their campaign promises. Here, Parliament/Congress Watch has a Promises vs. Performance Card for each member of parliament/congress. Needless to say, the data gathered will be a useful guide to the voters come the next election.

2.    Study Tours

The Asian countries are best described by their diversity – cultures, religions, political experiences and traditions as well as economic wealth and development. This diversity is likewise manifested in the region’s electoral experience which offers a variety of best practices from which member organizations can learn from. The study tours offer hands-on learning experience for the participants which are the region’s EMOs, civil society organizations, electoral bodies and other election stakeholders. One specific area of concern in this program is the relationship of the EMOs with their Election Management Bodies. In some countries, the relationship is cordial while in some it is adversarial if not hostile. The tour is an eye-opener to all that indeed, success of an election is made possible only with the collaborative efforts of all the election stakeholders.

3.    Monitoring of Selected Government Projects

Good government requires that government officials and institutions be held accountable and transparent in all their actions. One way to hold them accountable and to make them more transparent is to monitor their performance in the implementation of government projects such as infrastructure projects. That these projects are pursued in accordance with proper procedures and practices such as those required by the procurement law of a given country; the project specifications are complied with; delivery or completion dates are observed; etc. It has been proven that when EMOs follow through the various stages of a government project, the government agency responsible tends to be more transparent and honest.

ANFREL through the years has endeavored to do its share to make a difference. The challenges that remain to be hurdled are enormous when one takes a look at the degree of democratization obtaining in the region. We still have the persistence of authoritarian rule in many Asian countries while others tend to backslide from earlier gains. But the proverbial first step has been taken and we are determined to run the course."

3. What would be the best way to produce a concept paper for initiating such a network and how should the process be carried out?

 Please visit ANFREL website for further study at www.anfrel.org

- Somsri Hananuntasuk