EISA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SADC to implement programme work in support of our vision. By supporting the SADC, EISA seeks to contribute to improving its election observation in an effort to promote credible democratic elections on the region, as mandated by SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections [Revised, 2015], as well as other relevant international and regional election benchmarks for the conduct and monitoring of elections.
Initially EISA's work with the SADC, through its Elections and Political Processes (EPP) department, was conducted with its Directorate of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security (OPDS Directorate), but in April 2011, the SADC Election Advisory Council (SEAC) was inaugurated and the SADC Election Support Unit (SECU) was established, with which EISA worked thereafter. EISA's technical assistance included supporting the inauguration and induction of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC).
Since signing a a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MEAC, EISA has trained and briefed SADC election observation missions (EOMs) to SADC countries ahead of the elections. Training is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of both long-term (LTOs) and short term (STOs). Facilitating training for election observers includes capacity development for the effective management and co-ordination of EOMs.
The EPP Department provided support to SADC during long-term observers training. The training took place in Luanda, Angola, from 16 - 17 August 2022, 25-31 March 2022 and in Maseru, Lesotho, from 26 September - 3 October 2022 ahead of the legislative elections. The purpose of this training was in accordance with the SADC Revised Principles and Guidelines for governing democratic elections to improve its election observation methodology.
EPP prepared the checklists for SADC for the Malawi elections. However, at the last minute, SADC decided not to deploy a mission due to Covid-19. For the Tanzania elections, SADC deployed a virtual election observation mission.
At the request of SADC, EPP assisted SADC by developing Popela system forms and training materials for the Malawi election re-run EOM. Due to travel restrictions, the mission was to be composed of SADC officials present in Malawi and was to be conducted virtually. However, SADC cancelled the mission due to the pandemic.
EISA also presented its inception report on the development of a training curriculum for SADC EOM core team thematic experts to the SADC secretariat in Botswana. The meeting was an attempt to better coordinate timelines for deliverables and gain an understanding of SADC and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) expectations. The report was well received and EISA will continue to engage SADC and GIZ to ensure that the curriculum is developed in a manner that strengthens SADC's long-term observation methodology.
EISA provided technical support to the SADC election observer missions deployed in Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius and Namibia. In each instance, EISA deployed a team of two trainers who facilitated in-country pre-deployment orientation and briefing programmes. SADC continues to use the EISA Popela system for data collection and analysis in its observer missions. EISA continues to provide its expertise by adapting and modifying the election day checklists that is used by SADC observers on election day.
EISA also conducted three refresher trainings of SADC observer missions: pre-deployment briefing of LTOs deployed to Malawi (21 - 26 April 2019); refresher training of STOs deployed to South Africa (27-28 April 2019); and refresher training of STOs deployed to Madagascar (20-21 May 2019).
EISA continued to provide support for SADC's Election Support Unit and Electoral Advisory Council in developing a comprehensive cycle-based election observation methodology in line with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
Notable achievements include: the completion of the development of an observer training curriculum for SADC LTOs and STOs; piloting the training curriculum during a two-week training of LTOs and STOs in Pretoria from 1-12 May; the configuration of the EISA Popela system on SADC servers and training of designated SADC staff in the use of the system; and technical support for the use of tablets during EOMs in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Madagascar and the DRC.
EISA finalised a contract to develop a training curriculum for SADC core team experts to further strengthen its long-term observation (LTO) methodology.
In 2018 Southern African Development Community (SADC) conducted its first LTO deployment, in accordance with the SADC observer reference manual and the training curriculum for LTOs and STOs that were developed with support from EISA. The EPP department also facilitated the pre-deployment refresher training and briefing sessions of the EOMs deployed in Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Madagascar.
EISA facilitated a two-day orientation and briefing programme to the SADC observers in these countries. SADC continues to use the EISA Popela system for data collection and analysis in its observer missions.
A team of two EISA trainers conducted an in-country EOM refresher workshop for the SADC EOM to the 23 August 2017 general elections in Angola. The two-day workshop was attended by 34 STOs, equipped the observers with the practical and theoretical knowledge and skills necessary to conduct their work effectively in the field.
The SADC Secretariat's Handbook on the Coordination and Management of EOMs was finalised in 2016 and presented to the SEAC. Publishing of the book will subsequently be done by SADC.
EISA was contracted to develop an observer reference manual for SADC EOMs. The first draft of the manual was presented at a review workshop held from 16-17 June in Gaborone. Following the feedback received during the workshop, a second draft has been submitted to the SADC secretariat and is awaiting final approval.
EISA provided technical support to the SEAC through the review of its observation methodology and EOM management. Specifically, EISA was contracted to revise the SADC staff Handbook on EOM management and coordination. This handbook on deployment methodology continues to be discussed, pending finalisation of the review of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. In March 2014 EISA co-facilitated a SEAC workshop which focused on the review underway of the Guidelines and Principles. The final draft was adopted by the SADC Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on 20 July 2015.
EISA's support to SADC in election observation included the training and briefing of EOMs deployed in Malawi, Botswana Mozambique, Lesotho, Tanzania and Seychelles. EISA provided relevant information and materials in the three official SADC languages - English, French and Portuguese - to support observers during their deployment. Through these workshops, EISA contributed to the improvement of SADC's election observation methodology and its assessment of elections in the region. The presence of SEOMs in these three countries contributed to the integrity of the elections assessed.
EISA provided technical support to the SEAC through the review of its observation methodology and EOM management. Specifically, EISA was contracted to revise the SADC staff handbook on EOM management and coordination. In March 2014 EISA co-facilitated a SEAC workshop which focused on the review of the Guidelines and Principles being undertaken.
EISA's support to SADC in election observation included the training and briefing of EOMs deployed in Malawi, Botswana and Mozambique. EISA provided relevant information and materials in the three official SADC languages - English, French and Portuguese - to support observers during their deployment. Through these workshops, EISA contributed to the improvement of SADC's election observation methodology and its assessment of elections in the region. The presence of SEOMs in these three countries contributed to the integrity of the elections assessed.
EISA continued to provide technical support to the SADC EOMs in all the three countries that held elections in the region in 2013, namely Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Madagascar.
EISA also provided technical support to the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) through its contributions to SEAC workshops.
EISA provided technical support to the SADC Election Advisory Council (SEAC) and to SADC EOMs. EISA extended its contribution to the SADC observation missions with EISA contracted to produce a background briefing document to provide a political analysis of countries holding elections, namely: Lesotho and Angola. EISA was also contracted to conduct a refresher training and briefing session for SADC observers deployed to Lesotho and Angola. Besides the in-country refresher training of observers, EISA was also contracted to conduct a four day training of SADC observers that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 8 to 11 October 2012.
EISA continued to provide technical support to the SEAC. Specifically, EISA was contracted to develop the Council's five-year strategic plan and making presentations at all SEAC meetings held in 2012. It was also contracted to finalise the Handbook for SADC Observers and to write an advisory paper on SADC election observer deployment methodology.
In April 2011, the SADC Election Advisory Council (SEAC) was inaugurated and the SADC Election Support Unit (SECU) was established. EISA was contracted to facilitate the induction training of the Council during its inaugural meeting where SEAC members were given orientation on the genesis, rationale, and mandate of the Council. Furthermore, EISA also contributed to the development of the Council's rules and guidelines. EISA was again contracted to facilitate the SEAC strategic planning meeting that was held in November 2011 in Kinshasa, DRC. The purpose of the strategic planning was to establish the framework for the development of the 5-year strategic plan for SEAC.
EISA was contracted to train and facilitate the briefing sessions for SADC observers during the elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles and Zambia.
EISA was also asked to train approximately 50 staff of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on SADC election observation in March 2011. These trainees will be added to the pool of SADC observers to be deployed over the next year.
Besides training workshops for observers, EISA also contributed to the improvement, at the technical level, of the capacity of the SADC Secretariat in developing a handbook on EOM management for SADC staff members.
The initial agreement in 2009 for developing staff's capacity to train observers was modified to training by EISA itself of EOMs members in 2010. The programme was aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the EOMs and included capacity development for the SADC secretariat in management and co-ordination of EOMs. Three workshops were held in:
The support programme was aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the EOMs by way of staff development for the SADC secretariat in management and coordination of EOMs as well as in their capacity to train observers themselves.
One observer training workshop was held in May 2009 in Gaborone, Botswana, for 40 participants. This workshop has contributed to improvements at the technical level of election observation by SADC.
In August 2009, the department also facilitated the SEAC Task Force meeting, the aim of which was to assist the Task Force in the development of the SEAC structures, rules, and procedures. The report of this workshop was tabled and approved by the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in September 2009.
Feb & Jul 2008
EPP provided training to SADC observers through the Organ on Politics Defense and Security Affairs (OPDS) Directorate. Two observer training workshops were held. The first was in February 2008 in Gaborone, Botswana, and the second was in Johannesburg, South Africa, in July 2008. These workshops have contributed to improvements at the technical level of election observation by SADC.
EPP, with the assistance of the Germany Development Agency (GTZ), instituted a training programme for SADC observers through the OPDS Directorate. The programme is aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the EOMs and includes facilitating training for election observers and capacity development for the SADC secretariat in management and coordination of effective EOMs.
The first observer workshop was held in November 2007 in Midrand, South Africa, to begin to prepare SADC to observe elections in 2008 in Zimbabwe, Angola and Swaziland. This workshop has contributed to improvements at the technical level of election observation.
