The Secretariat of the Electoral Commissions Forum of the Southern African Development Community (ECF-SADC) represented by the Executive Secretary participated at the Expert Validation Meeting on Methodologies for Electoral Management Body (EMB) Peer-to-Peer Learning and Data-Driven Approaches for Electoral Integrity in Africa, held from 3-4 July 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia organised by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
The two-day meeting brought together leading experts, representatives of EMBs, civil society organizations (CSOs), regional organizations, and independent facilitators to review and strengthen two key documents: the Methodological Guidelines on EMB Peer-to-Peer Learning and Accountability in Africa and the Discussion Paper on Data-Driven Strategies for Enhancing Electoral Trust and Integrity.
Through constructive dialogue and active engagement, participants contributed significantly to:
- Reviewing and refining the proposed methodologies;
- Engaging in an inclusive discussion on aligning the frameworks with the mandates and expectations of the African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), professional EMB networks, and other stakeholders;
- Developing concrete steps to foster ownership, identify practical implementation strategies, and outline a roadmap for piloting the methodologies across the continent.
The consensus reached during the meeting marked an important milestone toward ensuring that these tools are relevant, practical, and effective in supporting democratic governance and strengthening electoral integrity in Africa.
