The ECF SADC Secretariat represented by the Executive Secretary and nine (9) of the ECF-SADC member commissions namely RSA, Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Malawi, Zanzibar, Tanzania , Seychelles  are attending the official launch of the Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Digital and Social Media in Elections in Africa taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa on 27-29 February 2024. The high-profile event hosted by the Electoral Commission of South Africa was officially opened by the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Paul Mashatile. Strategic stakeholders including the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations, electoral assistance agencies such as the UNDP, UNESCO, UNEAD, as well as the digital and social media companies are also attending  the launch and interacting  with the EMBs.

The Principles and Guidelines were adopted by the AAEA General Assembly in November 2023 in Cotonou, Benin. Therefore, the launch programme in Johannesburg gives effect to the Principles and Guidelines. The launch gives an opportunity to Election Management Bodies (EMBs) holding elections in 2024 and 2025 to explore how to harness the benefits and mitigate the risks entailed in the use of digital and social media in elections. The EMBs will identify priority areas and possible domestication of the principles and guidelines in their respective countries.