Introduction to Electoral Administration

The United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (UN IEAT) in South Sudan successfully conducted a comprehensive 4-day BRIDGE modular workshop, entitled “Introduction to Electoral Administration”. This pivotal event took place in Juba from May 14 to May 17 May 2024, and was aimed at enhancing the electoral knowledge of a diverse group of participants. The workshop was meticulously designed for the secretariat of the National Election Commission (NEC) of South Sudan, members of civil society, academia and UN IEAT officers.

A total of thirty participants comprising 18 men and 12 women were engaged in a series of interactive sessions. These sessions were facilitated by Tomsie Dlamini. Katia Madanat and Taona Mwanyisa. The workshop objectives were multifaceted, offering participants a unique opportunity to delve into various critical aspects of electoral administration. Key areas of focus included:

• Exploring electoral standards and the significance of international obligations and good practices.
• Exploring the nature and purpose of the legal framework and how it is applied in the electoral context.
• Introducing the main principles of electoral system design.
•  Exploring various models of EMBs, their functions and guiding principles.
• Exploring opportunities for promoting equal access to electoral processes.
• Introducing concepts and methodologies of electoral operational planning as a management tool.
• Discussing rationale and importance of voter and civic education programmes

Ian Smith, a representative from UN IEAT, inaugurated the workshop with a warm welcome to the participants. He provided an overview of the workshop’s content and highlighted the significance in preparing for the upcoming elections across the country’s 10 regions. Smith expressed gratitude to the participants for their engagement and wished them success in leveraging this opportunity to build capacity ahead of the elections.

The workshop was highly applauded by participants for its interactive format, the practicality of the exercises and the effectiveness of the BRIDGE methodology. The sharing of knowledge on electoral administration from various countries was particularly appreciated as it sparked discussions on adapting these insights in the South Sudanese context. 

A standout moment of the workshop was the participation of an exceptional individual, Josephine Kiden Simon. Despite facing the challenges of hearing impairment, Josephine’s remarkable achievements and unwavering determination left a lasting impression on both her peers and the facilitators. Her active participation and enthusiasm served as an inspiration, demonstrating that limitations are merely mental constructs that can be overcome with the right mindset. Josephine’s journey underscored the transformative power of resilience and the ability to surmount obstacles making her one of the most distinguished participants of the training.

The participants expressed their gratitude to UN IEAT and the sponsors for organising such a crucial training. They committed to further exploring the handbook and the BRIDGE website, to contribute professionally to the success and credibility of future elections in South Sudan. The workshop culminated in the presentation of certificates of completion to all participants, marking their achievement in this important modular workshop.