Index

15-18 November 2004, Manila


In January 2004, the Democratic Governance Group published a Practice Note on Electoral Systems and Processes that helped to launch electoral systems and processes as a sub-practice within UNDP. But more needs to be done to harness the considerable knowledge and expertise that exist within UNDP, to strengthen practice linkages with partners and to chart a course for the future. With this in mind, we shall be holding an Electoral Systems and Processes Practice Meeting in Manila between November 15th and 18th, 2004. The meeting is aimed primarily at UNDP's Country Office practitioners. Its objectives are to:

• Bring together a core group of UNDP practitioners from country, sub-regional, regional and global levels, as well as a limited number of senior practitioners, academics and partners with hands-on experience of electoral assistance programmes, for face-to-face dialogue to gain an overview of the sub-practice, strengthen interaction as a global community and build on external and intra-UN networks;

• Promote understanding of the substance of UNDP's electoral assistance entry points on the one hand, and the state of the art on the other, and identify the implications of the latter for the former;

• Derive a set of common community, policy and practical needs and a strategy to address them (including next steps in building the community, developing the practical tools to strengthen UNDP's capacity to implement electoral assistance, and general guidance needed by/available to UNDP practitioners); and

• Test the concepts and approach of a global programme on electoral systems and processes that focuses on knowledge networking; capacity building for long-term electoral assistance; and innovative partnerships and research.

The agenda for the meeting is being developed by a small preparatory committee and will form the subject of an electronic discussion among the confirmed participants in the meeting.

This Website contains a set of extensive and important background reading materials on the various areas of focus within the service line of electoral systems and processes, as well as logistical information for participants in the meeting.