Limbe, 31 October 2016: The African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Political Affairs through its Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit has commenced a five-day Capacity Building Training program in French for Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) in Limbe, using the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections) curriculum.

The training forms part of the AUC’s program of follow-up on recommendations of the African Union election observation missions, and aims to help Member States implement recommendations through capacity building and electoral reforms. The objective of the training in Cameroon is to enhance the capacity of Election Cameroon’s members and staff. Some of the topics to be covered during the 5-day training are: Electoral Administration, Strategic and Financial Planning, Civic and Voter Education, among others. This is the second training that the AU is organizing in Cameroon in two years – the first in English took place in Kribi in November 2014 and targeted ELECAM members and senior-level staff.   

In his opening remarks, Mr Guy Cyrille Tapoko, Acting Head of Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU), expressed the AUC’s commitment to support Elections Cameroon to enhance their capacities in anticipation of the upcoming elections. Mr Tapoko reiterated the need for all election management bodies in Africa to build their capacities to effectively and professionally manage elections to further enhance democratic consolidation. He also emphasized the need for ELECAM to provide opportunity for trainees to use their skills in order to ensure that the training has far reaching impact and achieve its intended objectives

On his part, ELECAM President, Dr Samuel Fonkam Azu’u, expressed profound gratitude to the African Union for the continuous support to Elections Cameroon. He also commend the meaningful partnership between the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission, acting through its Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, for the assistance that has been unremittingly afforded to Elections Cameroon. Dr Fonkam further called on participants to show dedication and commitment during the course and used their skills to help entrench democracy in the Republic of Cameroon.

The training which begun today will end on Friday, 04 November 2016.

For more information, contact:
 

Guy Cyrille Tapoko: tapokog@africa-union.org

Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit
Department of Political Affairs
African Union Commission