The United Nations Integrated Election Assistance Team (IEAT) in South Sudan is implementing a 4-day BRIDGE modular workshop, Introduction to Electoral Administration, for the representatives of Civil Society Organizations.

The workshop aims to enhance broad understanding of key standards, principles and election management techniques that are fundamental to effective electoral practice throughout the electoral cycle. The workshop learning objectives were:

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

This workshop is part of a series of BRIDGE workshops taking place in 2024 as part of a broad capacity development programme that aims to (i) enhance the knowledge of the NEC/SHEC on electoral principles and practices and the functions of election management throughout the electoral cycle; (ii) raise the awareness of targeted stakeholders on electoral issues; and (iii) start to develop a qualified cadre of facilitators in South Sudan who are able to use the BRIDGE curriculum effectively in order to deliver workshops on electoral issues for the benefit of a range of electoral stakeholders.