The Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) of the African Union Commission (AUC) has organised a technical review and validation workshop of the draft African Union (AU) Guide on Electoral Assistance to the Member States from 29-31 March 2022 in Dakar, Senegal. The workshop was preceded by a technical planning meeting on the methodology of the workshop on 28 March 2022. The validation workshop gathered electoral and governance experts drawn from the Department of PAPS, representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) networks of Election Management Bodies (EMBs), key partners in electoral assistance such as the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD), Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES), International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), among others. 

The technical review and validation process of the AU Guide on Electoral Assistance is a culmination of a year-long initiative between the Department of PAPS of the AUC and UNEAD which began in January 2021. The development of the Guide involved a consultative process of various actors involved in the AU electoral support to the Member States. Therefore, the expert group meeting aims at appraising the draft Guide by providing critical review and refinement of Guide before subsequent adoption at institutional level within the AUC. 

It should be recalled that, in pursuant to Article 18 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the AUC has a mandate for providing electoral assistance to the Member States, beside deployment of election observation missions. The development of the Guide on electoral assistance will enable the Department of PAPS to offer more predictable, coherent and effective electoral support in its bid to promote peaceful, democratic and credible elections in Africa. 

For further information, contact:  

Mr Robert Gerenge, Principal Advisor to EMBs| Email: gerenger@africa-union.org| Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security 

For media inquiries information, please contact:  

Mr Paschal Chem-Langhee, Communication Officer | Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 929 48 7749 | E-mail: Chem-LangheeP@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org  

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