The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) – member of EPD’s Community of Practice – is proud to announce the signature of the Project to Support National Electoral Observation in Gabon.
Funded by the European Union, this project aims to contribute to the integrity of the national electoral process by supporting credible, professional, and transparent national electoral observation activities, democratic advocacy, as well as political dialogue. In other words, it intends to enhance the link between national electoral observation activities and international and regional public law instruments in order to strengthen national electoral stakeholders’ ownership of the democratic reform process.
Moreover, following the recommendations formulated by the observation missions during the presidential elections of August 2016, the project aims to implement actions strengthening the advocacy capacities of the national actors involved in supporting the democratic consolidation.
Moreover, following the recommendations formulated by the observation missions during the presidential elections of August 2016, the project aims to implement actions strengthening the advocacy capacities of the national actors involved in supporting the democratic consolidation.
Given the current situation of post-electoral political deadlock, and in order to ensure the overall relevance of the action, the project will support the implementation of advocacy initiatives facilitating inclusive political dialogue. This latter is an essential element of a multiparty democracy and an important instrument for identifying consensual solutions to challenging situations.
Indeed, supporting political dialogue initiatives is one of ECES’ key activities. These can take different forms and can be implemented on/from a local and communal level up to a national, regional and international levels, and have the potential to strengthen and consolidate a wide range of stakeholders’ commitments, alongside the respect for common and shared democratic values.
Indeed, supporting political dialogue initiatives is one of ECES’ key activities. These can take different forms and can be implemented on/from a local and communal level up to a national, regional and international levels, and have the potential to strengthen and consolidate a wide range of stakeholders’ commitments, alongside the respect for common and shared democratic values.
Advocacy initiatives in favour of inclusive political dialogue are particularly relevant in contexts characterised by fragile institutional frameworks and risks of instability and electoral violence. This is notably the case of Gabon. Therefore, the actions aim to raise the awareness of national electoral and political actors with regards to:
- the importance of an inclusive national dialogue in the current situation of political impasse for identifying shared solutions to contribute to the credibility of future elections;
- the importance of securing a framework/space for dialogue for all national actors involved in the political and electoral process, in order to enhance the democratic culture based on dialogue and mutual trust.
