Introduction to Electoral Administration

The United Nations Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (UN IEAT) in South Sudan successfully conducted a comprehensive 3-day BRIDGE modular workshop titled “Introduction to Electoral Administration.” The training took place in Juba from the 21 to the 23 May 2024 and attracted participants from the National Electoral Commission, civil society, the Government of South Sudan, and UN agencies. A total of 21 participants attended the workshop, including 14 men and 7 women. The workshop was facilitated by Tomsie Dlamini, Katia Madanat, and Taona Mwanyisa. The objectives of the workshop 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.
• Understanding the nature and purpose of the legal framework and its application in the electoral context.
• Introducing the main principles of electoral system design.
• Examining various models of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), their functions, and guiding principles.
• Promoting equal access to electoral processes.
• Introducing concepts and methodologies of electoral operational planning as a management tool.
• Discussing the rationale and importance of voter and civic education programs.

The workshop was timely as the country prepares for elections tentatively scheduled for December 2024. Key subjects covered included the Electoral Cycle, designed to help participants recognize that it is a cyclical planning tool comprising interdependent components and not a one-off event that takes place on polling day alone. Participants also learned to identify the elements of various electoral operations. This session set the tone for subsequent sessions, which included topics such as international principles of elections, the legal framework for the electoral process, models of election management bodies, and inclusion sessions that reflected on the role of marginalized groups such as women and people with disabilities in the electoral process. This session also identified strategies to include them in democratic process of elections.

Feedback from participants through daily evaluations indicated an appreciation for the training model, which allows for active participation. Participants valued the case studies from other countries and their alignment with the South Sudanese experience. However, some participants felt that there was too much information to absorb within three days and suggested extending the workshop to four days. There was a consensus that the training would help them transfer the knowledge gained to other stakeholders in preparation for the forthcoming elections.

The workshop concluded with the presentation of certificates of completion to all participants, marking their achievement in this important modular workshop.