Principles and Mandate
Requesting Assistance
Responding to Requests
Challenges and Demands
In countries without a UN mission,
UNDP plays a leading role as the UN system’s main provider of support - while also contributing to efforts in mission settings.
Electoral assistance is an important feature of UN peace operations.
peacekeeping missions
are mandated to provide technical, logistical, and security support to electoral processes, often working alongside national authorities.
In some contexts,
and
UN Resident Coordinators also provide strategic leadership and help coordinate electoral assistance at the country level in non-mission settings.
special political missions
Electoral Assistance
The General Assembly has shaped this work since its first resolution in 1991, and most recently in A/RES/78/208, which reaffirms that:
Principles and Mandate
• UN support is demand-driven and provided only at the request of the Member State, with full respect for national sovereignty. • The Focal Point for Electoral Assistance (Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs) coordinates UN electoral assistance across the system and plays a leadership role in setting internal policy.
• System-wide Coordination: UN electoral assistance is delivered in coordination across relevant UN entities to ensure coherence and avoid duplication.
UN electoral assistance reflects the Organization’s commitment to democracy, peace, development and human rights, and is guided by key principles:
• Neutrality and impartiality
• Respect for sovereignty and national ownership
• Recognition of diverse national practices – there is no single model of democracy
• Delivery as one UN – coordinated and coherent support across the UN system
Electoral Assistance
Requesting Assistance
Who can request: Appropriate national authorities (typically the Head of Government or Minister of Foreign Affairs or those acting on their behalf; this may also be a ministry involved in elections or the electoral management body). Requests can be addressed directly to the focal point. Assessment: The focal point considers all requests; DPPA’s Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) conducts a needs assessment in consultation with other UN entities; the focal point sets parameters of support.
Outcome: Based on the needs assessment, the UN develops tailored recommendations and activities aligned with national priorities and UN policy - done in close consultation with national authorities.
Learn more: UN Electoral Needs Assessment Guidelines
Electoral Assistance
Challenges and Demands
UN electoral assistance aims to support Member States in addressing the challenges they face in conducting elections, including:
• Elections in crises and climate-affected contexts: A number of elections take place amid conflict, pandemics, displacement, or climate-related disruptions.
• Resource challenges: Declining donor funding risks the sustainability of support and the UN’s ability to meet Member States’ needs.
• Digital technologies & information integrity: Addressing disinformation, hate speech, cybersecurity threats, and the influence of artificial intelligence - challenges that disproportionately affect women.
• Inclusion: Supporting the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
Electoral Assistance
Responding to Requests
The UN aims to respond positively to requests for electoral assistance from Member States where it can. The focal point considers the following factors, among others, when deciding on the type and extent of support:
• Operational Readiness: Enough time to deploy UN personnel and procure necessary equipment.
• Available Funding: Sufficient resources to support the activity effectively (The UN needs to raise funds for every support activity it undertakes)
• Comparative Advantage: The UN offers added value compared to other actors.
• Domestic Support: Broad national backing for UN engagement in the electoral process.
Learn more: UN Electoral Needs Assessment Guidelines
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Transcript
Principles and Mandate
Requesting Assistance
Responding to Requests
Challenges and Demands
In countries without a UN mission,
UNDP plays a leading role as the UN system’s main provider of support - while also contributing to efforts in mission settings.
Electoral assistance is an important feature of UN peace operations.
peacekeeping missions
are mandated to provide technical, logistical, and security support to electoral processes, often working alongside national authorities.
In some contexts,
and
UN Resident Coordinators also provide strategic leadership and help coordinate electoral assistance at the country level in non-mission settings.
special political missions
Electoral Assistance
The General Assembly has shaped this work since its first resolution in 1991, and most recently in A/RES/78/208, which reaffirms that:
Principles and Mandate
• UN support is demand-driven and provided only at the request of the Member State, with full respect for national sovereignty. • The Focal Point for Electoral Assistance (Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs) coordinates UN electoral assistance across the system and plays a leadership role in setting internal policy. • System-wide Coordination: UN electoral assistance is delivered in coordination across relevant UN entities to ensure coherence and avoid duplication.
UN electoral assistance reflects the Organization’s commitment to democracy, peace, development and human rights, and is guided by key principles: • Neutrality and impartiality • Respect for sovereignty and national ownership • Recognition of diverse national practices – there is no single model of democracy • Delivery as one UN – coordinated and coherent support across the UN system
Electoral Assistance
Requesting Assistance
Who can request: Appropriate national authorities (typically the Head of Government or Minister of Foreign Affairs or those acting on their behalf; this may also be a ministry involved in elections or the electoral management body). Requests can be addressed directly to the focal point. Assessment: The focal point considers all requests; DPPA’s Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) conducts a needs assessment in consultation with other UN entities; the focal point sets parameters of support.
Outcome: Based on the needs assessment, the UN develops tailored recommendations and activities aligned with national priorities and UN policy - done in close consultation with national authorities.
Learn more: UN Electoral Needs Assessment Guidelines
Electoral Assistance
Challenges and Demands
UN electoral assistance aims to support Member States in addressing the challenges they face in conducting elections, including:
• Elections in crises and climate-affected contexts: A number of elections take place amid conflict, pandemics, displacement, or climate-related disruptions. • Resource challenges: Declining donor funding risks the sustainability of support and the UN’s ability to meet Member States’ needs.
• Digital technologies & information integrity: Addressing disinformation, hate speech, cybersecurity threats, and the influence of artificial intelligence - challenges that disproportionately affect women. • Inclusion: Supporting the participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
Electoral Assistance
Responding to Requests
The UN aims to respond positively to requests for electoral assistance from Member States where it can. The focal point considers the following factors, among others, when deciding on the type and extent of support:
• Operational Readiness: Enough time to deploy UN personnel and procure necessary equipment. • Available Funding: Sufficient resources to support the activity effectively (The UN needs to raise funds for every support activity it undertakes) • Comparative Advantage: The UN offers added value compared to other actors. • Domestic Support: Broad national backing for UN engagement in the electoral process.
Learn more: UN Electoral Needs Assessment Guidelines