Signing of the agreement for electoral support.

Front Left to Right: Signatories - GECOM Chairman, Justice [ret’d] Claudette Singh and UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Berdi Berdiyev. Back Left to Right: GECOM CEO, Vishnu Persaud, British High Commissioner H.E. Jane Miller OBE and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Jean Njeri Kamau

Georgetown, Guyana – 9^th May 2025

The Government of the United Kingdom (UK), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in Guyana, is supporting the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to enhance institutional capacity and strengthen electoral processes ahead of the 2025 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

The Electoral Support Project, funded by the UK Government and implemented by UNDP, will provide high-level technical assistance, international expertise and best practices to support GECOM’s core activities in administering elections that meet international standards. The project is designed to support both the immediate and longer-term needs of GECOM in managing the 2025 electoral cycle and will continue through to March 2026.  The UK has allocated £750,000 to support this initiative. 

This partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation in bolstering national systems through the application of global best practices tailored to Guyana’s unique political and cultural context.

Building on the lessons learnt during previous electoral cycles, there is strong commitment and renewed emphasis on fostering transparency, trust, and inclusive participation in the electoral process. The key objectives of the project are:

• Technical Support for 2025 Elections: Deployment of senior international electoral experts, who will be based within GECOM, to provide technical advice and support to strengthen processes such as communications, operations and logistics, etc., for the preparation, management, and conduct of the elections.

• Capacity Building: Institutional strengthening of GECOM’s operational systems, human resources, and technical capacity for sustainable electoral administration.

• Improved Communications and Stakeholder Engagement: Enhancing public information strategies and fostering more inclusive engagement among electoral stakeholders to promote transparency and trust.

Left to Right: H.E. Sébastien Sigouin - High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana; H.E. Nicole D. Theriot - Ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana; Vishnu Persaud, Chief Elections Officer - Guyana Elections Commission; Justice [ret’d] Claudette Singh, Chairman - Guyana Elections Commission;  H.E. Jane Miller, OBE - High Commissioner of the British High Commission to Guyana; Jean Njeri Kamau, Resident Coordinator - United Nations Guyana; Berdi Berdiyev, Resident Representative a.i. - United Nations Development Programme in Guyana and Suriname; H.E. Rene VAN NES - Head of Delegation of the European

Through this collaboration, partners reaffirm their commitment to supporting and enhancing Guyana’s electoral processes and procedures and fostering social cohesion. 

In welcoming the launch of the project, British High Commissioner, H.E. Jane Miller noted “The UK is pleased to contribute to efforts that supports Guyana’s electoral processes in line with international best practices. This project reflects the continued UK-Guyana partnership to strengthen institutions and promote good governance.”

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Berdi Berdiyev emphasized that the project represents a strategic investment in strengthening democratic governance in Guyana. He noted that “the project aligns with key priorities of UNDP’s Country Programme Document 2022–2026 to strengthen mechanisms that support transparent and effective democratic processes and positively contributes to achievement of the SDGs on partnerships, peace, justice and strong institutions.”

GECOM Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh emphasized that “support through strategic partnerships is always welcomed, particularly from institutions that stand on the pillars of governance, democracy and rule of law – which aligns to GECOM’s constitutional mandate for the execution of free, fair and transparent elections in Guyana.”

 

Left to Right: Russell Zalizniak, Political/Economic Chief - U.S. Embassy in Guyana; Marcelo Varela-Erasheva, Project Manager - International IDEA; H.E. Sébastien Sigouin - High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana; H.E. Nicole D. Theriot - Ambassador of the United States of America to Guyana; Vishnu Persaud, Chief Elections Officer - Guyana Elections Commission; Justice [ret’d] Claudette Singh, Chairman - Guyana Elections Commission;  H.E. Jane Miller, OBE - High Commissioner of the British High Commission to Guyana; Jean Njeri Kamau, Resident Coordinator - United Nations Guyana; Berdi Berdiyev, Resident Representative a.i. - United Nations Development Programme in Guyana and Suriname; H.E. Rene VAN NES - Head of Delegation of the European, and Spiro Polycandriotis van Duynhoven, Head of the Political Section - Delegation of the European to Guyana.

About UNDP: The United Nations Development Programme works in nearly 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and build resilient institutions.

About GECOM: GECOM, established in 2000, is the independent constitutional body responsible for administering free, fair, and transparent elections in Guyana. 

About the UK High Commission: The UK High Commission in Guyana supports development, democratic governance, and strong bilateral relations between the UK and Guyana.

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