In accordance with its mandate of promoting free, transparent and credible elections in West Africa, the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) deployed a hybrid post-electoral monitoring mission (PEMM) and needs assessment mission (NAM) from September 15 to 21, 2024 in Cotonou, Benin.   

The Mission, led by Mr. Abdoulaye Sylla, President of Senegal's Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA), was supported by HEM. Amadou Diongue, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, Mr. Serigne Ka, Ag Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and electoral experts from ECONEC, International IDEA and EISA. 

The Mission met with various stakeholders in the electoral process, including the Autonomous National Electoral Commission CENA, the Media Regulatory Body (HAAC), the platform of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for the elections, political parties (Bloc Republicain (BR), Les Democrates (LD), and Union des Progressistes pour le Renouveau (UPR)), the Clergy of Benin, the National Identification Agency (ANIP) and UNDP. 

During these meetings, the mission reviewed issues related to the recommendations arising from the 2021 presidential election, and also assessed the prospects for the 2026 electoral process. The mission will draw up and submit a report to the authorities of the ECOWAS Commission. 

The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions( ECONEC)  is the umbrella organization for electoral management bodies (EMBs) in West Africa. The network was created in February 2008 to promote free, fair and credible elections. Its creation was inspired by the ECOWAS Declaration of Political Principles, which was adopted by the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government in 1991. 

True to its mandate of promoting free, transparent and credible elections in West Africa, the Ecowas Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), one of whose means of action is the implementation of capacity-building programs, has just organized a BRIDGE facilitators' training workshop (FdF) from August 20 to 31, 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The workshop brought together the training directors of election management bodies (EMBs) from ECOWAS member countries, electoral experts from across the West African region, staff from the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) and the RESAO Permanent Secretariat. 

This workshop, whose aim was to equip EMBs in ECOWAS member states with sustainable training capabilities and help develop an easily accessible pool of BRIDGE-accredited trainers in the West African region, achieved its intended objective.

The twenty or so participants in this training course, which was conducted in accordance with the BRIDGE training methodology, came away with a BRIDGE Semi-accreditation, enabling them to deliver BRIDGE training courses in the ECOWAS region.

The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions( ECONEC)  is the umbrella organization for electoral management bodies (EMBs) in West Africa. The network was created in February 2008 to promote free, fair and credible elections. Its creation was inspired by the ECOWAS Declaration of Political Principles, which was adopted by the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government in 1991.