Election Observation Project...

Project Officer: Dr Amanda Sives

Between October 2000 and December 2001, the CPSU undertook research into the role of the Commonwealth Democracy Programme, focusing on the role and impact of election observation. The project was undertaken by Dr Amanda Sives and was funded by the Human Rights Project Department of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The 15 month project, based at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, had three key aims.

• First, in July 2001, a report, Adding Value to the Commonwealth Democracy Programme, was submitted to the High Level Review of the Commonwealth recommending key changes in approach. The report was based on eight months of research during which time sixty-five people were interviewed across the Commonwealth, fifty Commonwealth observers responded to a questionnaire and Dr Sives observed the observers during the Guyana 2001 elections.

• Second, two sets of suggested good practice guidelines have been produced. The first set of guidelines is for future Commonwealth Observers and is based on the experience of many past observers. The CPSU is very grateful for the help of these observers. Follow the link here to download a PDF of the Commonwealth Observer Guidelines. The second is a set of guidelines for Commonwealth domestic observer groups. While these have been edited by Dr. Sives, they were written by experienced practitioners. Representatives from domestic observer groups in Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Guyana, Pakistan, South Africa and Zimbabwe each contributed a chapter. These guidelines will prove invaluable to domestic observer groups around the Commonwealth. They are available in hard copy form and also in PDF form, here on the website - Good Practice Guidelines for Commonwealth Domestic Observer Groups

• Third, an international conference, 'Election Observation and the Commonwealth', was held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies from 21-23 November, 2001. The conference brought invited guests from Commonwealth observer groups and representatives from Commonwealth organisations and international observer groups together to discuss the future of election observation and deepening democracy. Click here for the conference programme and a list of participants. The conference produced a set of recommendations to strengthen the Commonwealth approach to the development of democracy within member states. Additional funding for the conference came from the McDougall Trust, The Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.