NEEDS Info

European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) play an increasing and significant role in EU foreign policy and democracy assistance through the provision of methodical and practical assessments of electoral processes in partner countries. They are increasingly becoming a tool for evaluating the state of democratic progress or deficits of a country, providing the basis for designing future technical assistance to partner countries in a manner that could facilitate their democratic development. The European Commission (EC) is at the vanguard of the promotion of tools for the elaboration and reception of this notion, in conformity with the commitment of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) to democracy assistance and human rights promotion, and to the provision of electoral support, through a two-tier strategy of election observation and electoral assistance. EIDHR’s strategy aims to strengthen democracy-building and protection / promotion of human rights. This strategy is based on civil society organisations becoming an effective force for dialogue and a promoting vector of democratic reforms, also through election observation activities and the provision of concrete recommendations for the promotion of democratic reforms.

The Network for Enhanced Electoral and Democratic Support (NEEDS), a project funded by the EU Commission, will contribute to the consolidation of a consistent methodology for EU EOMs in line with international and regional commitments for democratic elections. The NEEDS project will work on achieving a stronger common European approach to the recruitment and training of observers and act as a facilitator for know-how transfer to civil society and domestic observer organisations. In accordance with the most recent developments in the EC’s strategy for democracy support, the project ses the next big challenge as the creation of proper synergies between EU EOMs and electoral assistance, to facilitate the inclusion of EU EOM and domestic observer recommendations in the political dialogue that the EU institutions hold with the partner countries and all their stakeholders, and further the development and impact of electoral observation in the promotion of democracy worldwide.

NEEDS Objectives:

Objectives
Expected Results
1. Contribute to the consolidation of a consistent methodology for EU EOMs in line with international and regional standards of democratic elections (including links with electoral assistance)
1.1 Updated materials and tools are available in EN, FR, ES
1.2 Standard Operating Procedures for EU EOMs are available in EN, FR, ES
1.3 Close links with other projects in relation to election observation are in place
1.4 Research results on selected election topics available
2. Improve EU observers’ capabilities, through development of a common EU approach in recruitment and training of observers
2.1 A common approach to selection and training is endorsed and implemented by Member States; a training methodology is available and in use
2.2 Updated training curricula and material available. 150 CT trained, delivery of one training activity for each CT member position (sessions in En/Fr/Es), improvement of their technical and interpersonal skills
2.3 Around 150 EU Long Term Observers (LTOs) have been trained (in EN, FR, ES); their technical, personal and interpersonal skills have improved
2.4 Support to specific and ad-hoc EOM training sessions for Core Team (CT) and for observers on international standards, on use and development of templates, on reporting, on security, on use of communication equipments, have been organised (upon request of EC)
2.5 A dynamic website devoted to observers training (including e-learning system) is developed and at the disposal of EU observers and partners (from third countries included)
3. Contribute to the democratic process in third countries, through targeted support provided to domestic observer groups and other relevant civil society organisations through regional partners; in this context, develop and promote strategies for the implementation of EU EOM recommendations, including capacity building.
3.1 Support to CSO active in democracy to ensure effective follow-up and implementation of EU EOM recommendations in EU EOM targeted countries
3.2 Network with 8 regional partners in election observation is created (tentative list: 3 in Africa, 2 in Latin America, 2 in Asia, and 1 in Middle East/Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe
3.3 20-24 domestic observer organisations have been identified and trained. The quality of their observation improved by training on international standards and proper monitoring of elections
3.4 Two Fora with regional partners and selected international organisations on lessons learned for domestic observation improvement and best practices, have taken place
3.5 Links with ACE and other similar programmes on election observation and election assistance are in place


NEEDS Activities:

NEEDS is structured in three main areas of activities:

Methodology and Analysis Unit
  1. Assessment of EU EOM methodology and tools, taking into account international standards and updating accordingly
  1. Developing further training and methodological tools
  1. Launching studies and research on election topics upon EC request
  1. Assessment of the training needs of the Core Teams and Long Term Observers to indicate: available EU human resources for EU EOMs; number of observers required in the next five years; description of available expertise; recommendations on priority areas for training
  1. Development of a methodology for technical, personal and interpersonal training for the specific environment of election observation, with guidelines on interacting with EC Electoral Assistance initiatives and exercises for strategic thinking about the practical use of EU EOM recommendations in future assistance actions
  1. Providing regular review and updates of the training curricula and materials, paying close attention to developments in international standards and electoral best practice
  1. Development of evaluation techniques to be EC approved to indicate the quality of training participants and their viability for EU EOMs in particular conditions, detailing their acquired knowledge, their personal interaction capabilities and an accurate appraisal of their language skills. Quality assessment surveys of trainees will be created which will provide feedback on trainers, each training session and organisation in general.
  1. Oversight and quality review of translation of training material from English into French and Spanish
  1. Establishment of working relations with other election observer training organisations
  1. Oversight of the working group dealing with the creation of an integrated training and recruitment system for EU member states: assessing level and needs of observation training provided by Member States; identifying possible support for EU Member States to achieve a common approach to training and recruitment; proposing a strategy for the achievement of a common approach; advising Member State Focal Points on implementation of an approved strategy for the common approach; organising two meetings for year for the Focal Points and the EC
  1. Development of the Project website for participant interaction, visibility, communication and as a platform for training materials and e-learning modules
  1. Establishing synergies and cooperation with the ACE Electoral Knowledge Network partnership and all other major electoral related partnerships and networks


Training Coordination Unit
  1. Conducting ad-hoc briefings for EU EOM observers on the basic knowledge they will need: international standards, implementation of EU EOM methodology; the use of materials and specific security issues pertaining to their area of deployment
  1. Planning the number of trainings and suggesting format revisions on seminar content on the basis of trainer and participant evaluation
  1. Organising training for CT expert positions and LTOs in English, French and Spanish according to the priorities outlined by the MAU assessment
  1. Consolidation of an international pool of experts with a high level of electoral knowledge, experience and teaching ability
  1. Establishment of a database of experts, with updated contact details, peer reviews where applicable, linked to participant quality assessment results
  1. Establishment of a database of CT and LTO training participants, linked to evaluation results, which can be used as a recruitment and selection tool for MS Focal points and EC services
  1. Implementation of quality assessment surveys of trainers and participants and integration into the database on trainers and participants
  1. Moderation and coordination of the e-learning platform for CT, LTOs and STOs, managing participation in e-learning modules per CT position, LTO and STO online and providing evaluations for integration into the database on trainers and participants
  1. Coordination of logistics for all CT and LTO courses
  1. Assisting the Domestic Observer and Regional Network Department with the development and implementation of training of domestic observers, both in the regions and in the e-learning modules
  1. Management of the CT, LTO and STO training pages on the NEEDS website, moderation of forum discussions and liaison with MAU for updated materials on international standards for observation to be uploaded onto the site


Domestic Observers and Regional Network Unit
  1. Identify a maximum of 8 regional partners in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and South-Eastern Europe – assessing them according to their track record in election observation and their proven capacity in the training of domestic observer groups
  1. Identify the specific needs of the regional partners
  1. Establishment of a network for the regional partners for the exchange of experience and best practice on a regular basis
  1. Work in close cooperation with the regional partners to strengthen the capacity of domestic observer groups (no more than 24), in particular to use international standards for elections in election observation and produce credible observation reports, including through the provision of technical assistance training (project implementation and institution building)
  1. Organise 2 meetings in Brussels over the course of three years for the regional partners and selected international observation organisations for the discussion of international standards and lessons learned in election observation, capacity building and best practice of observation coordination
  1. Provide assistance to domestic observer groups and civil society organisations to monitor and assess follow up on recommendations prepared by EU EOM and domestic observers
  1. Liaise with the TCU for the implementation and management of e-learning modules for domestic observers in third countries from the NEEDS website