BRIDGE Partner representatives meet on the sidelines of the Ottawa conference

BRIDGE Partner representatives attending the Global Conference on Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Elections held in Ottawa from 9 to 11 September 2026 met on the sidelines to discuss the relevance of conference topics to the current developments in BRIDGE.

Partners discussed the BRIDGE Partnership and reflected on its significant achievements over the last year, highlighting the strong contributions of all Partners to its success. Particular recognition was given to the leadership and coordination provided by the AEC and the BRIDGE Secretariat, whose stewardship has been instrumental in advancing the partnership, fostering collaboration, and maintaining momentum across the BRIDGE network. Key accomplishments mentioned included the comprehensive update of the BRIDGE curriculum and increased engagement with the global BRIDGE community through virtual events and knowledge-sharing initiatives. Partners also explored opportunities to collaborate on developing a new curriculum focused on artificial intelligence and elections.

In addition, Partners engaged in a substantive discussion on how to strengthen the long-term institutionalization and sustainability of BRIDGE beyond the commitment of individual organizations and champions, particularly in the context of constrained resources. Participants emphasized the importance of building resilient structures and shared ownership to ensure the partnership’s continued success. It was agreed that this issue requires further reflection and collective thinking among Partners to identify sustainable approaches for the future.

The Partner representatives also celebrated together the signing of the BRIDGE Partner Agreement Letter 2026 – 2029, ensuring all Partners remain committed to the principles expressed in the BRIDGE Strategic Plan 2025-2029 – BRIDGE: Together, … the BRIDGE Partners aim to build a foundation for more resilient, transparent, and inclusive electoral processes, thereby supporting the continued development and stability of democratic institutions across the globe. The BRIDGE Partners remain dedicated to our core values of collaboration, agility, respect and diversity for the varied contexts in which the BRIDGE partnership functions. By doing so, we strive to contribute positively to the global discourse on democratic governance and the reinforcement and protection of credible elections. 

Photo from left to right: Alberto Fernández Gibaja (International IDEA); Maarten Halff (UN EAD); Michele Griffin (UN EAD); Kath Gleeson (AEC); Aleida Ferreyra (UNDP); Juliane Müller (International IDEA); Lisa Poggiali (IFES); Sarah Lister (UNDP); Luis Martinez-Betanzos (UNDP).