Project examples

Commonwealth Observer Groups

On the ground, the work of observer groups requires an understanding of the registration process, the election campaigns, coverage from the national media and other aspects relating to the administration and preparation for the election.

International observer groups like ours bring a significant amount of expertise and that their profile -- with members often including former Prime Ministers and Presidents -- attracts worldwide media coverage. For example, Dr Kenny Anthony, who chaired the Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone, is a former Prime Minister of St Lucia, in the Caribbean.

Christiana Thorpe, Chairperson and Chief Electoral Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission in Sierra Leone, says that the international presence which groups bring, demonstrates that “a country’s democratic practices are acceptable to the whole world.” She adds that the “rigorous and strong support from the Commonwealth” gives the “local people confidence to participate in the process.”

As part of preparations for the elections which took place in August 2007, the Government of Sierra Leone invited organisations, including the Commonwealth Secretariat, to send observer groups to assess the election in a fair and balanced manner, offering conclusions and recommendations.

These elections, which saw the opposition leader Ernest Bai Koroma win power after a presidential run-off, were widely commended by international observers. Dr Anthony described it as a “landmark election,” and complimented the “competence, fairness, efficiency and transparency” of the National Electoral Commission.

Promoting best practice and democratic values

We organised a workshop with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on the relationship between government and opposition for Commonwealth West African countries, and Liberia, in the Nigerian capital Abuja. This workshop, which was delivered in co-operation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and with the support of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, took place in June 2008. The workshop explored issues on: the work of government; the work of the opposition; the challenge of leadership; political parties and elections; the role of parliament; accountability, as provided for by oversight institutions, the media and civil society; and the broader context, especially regarding gender and human rights. Participants came from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia.

Technical assistance

We have placed a Media Expert in Malawi’s Electoral Commission in order to help them better manage their relations with the media and to monitor the media’s coverage of the election campaign. The aim is for a more transparent management of the election and a fair and free environment for the election campaign. The expert is responsible for developing a media and communications plan; advising and supporting the Electoral Commission on External and Internal Communications; developing a media code of conduct; identify and train and media monitoring team and developing a media training programme on election coverage and the role of the media in a democratic election.