EISA works on election observation with organisations such as the African Union, African Regional Economic Communities, as well as on citizen observation, political party poll watching, and electoral reform on the national level.
Election management and observation
Democratisation and electoral reform
EISA international election observation missions bring representatives of civil society organisations, election management bodies, political parties, academic institutions and the media of all SADC countries together to observe elections.
Support to the African Union Commission and the Pan African Parliament aims at improving election observation and so promote credible democratic elections on the continent as mandated by the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Pre-election Assessment Mission reports informed the deployment of EOMs.
Support to Regional Economic Communities aims at to improving their election observation in an effort to promote credible democratic elections on the continent, as mandated by international and regional election benchmarks for the conduct and monitoring of elections.
EISA international election observation missions: See above.
Citizen observers training by EISA contributes to inclusive, transparent, credible, and peaceful elections, through building the observation and advocacy capacity of CSOs, while exposing them to international best practices and principles of international electoral observation.
Parties' poll-watchers act as watchdogs over the electoral processes. Well trained political party poll-watchers ensure transparency, reduce opportunities for electoral fraud and increase the credibility of future elections. This is especially important in countries plagued by intractable violence and political instability and they transition to democracy.
Electoral reform Wherever resources are available, EISA will follow up on citizen observation and poll watching with a stakeholders' election review conference to generate suggestion for electoral reform and will assist in drafting electoral law.
The UN DOP Group
Addressing electoral integrity in Africa is a research and advocacy project aimed at contributing to the improvement of assessment of electoral integrity; and in the long run to contribute to the mitigation of electoral flaws that undermine democratic consolidation and good governance in Africa.
Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region has served as benchmarks on for observation, monitoring and assessment of elections in the SADC region from 2004 onwards, and has informed and inspired post-election reviews and election reforms in the SADC region and inspired the development of similar tools in other regions of the globe.
