Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, commonly known as EISA, is a South African civil-society organisation established in Johannesburg in 1996. It was formerly known as the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. The organisation works across Africa on the practical and institutional conditions required for sustainable democratic government, with a particular emphasis on elections, electoral administration, political participation and accountable governance. EISA's stated purpose is to promote credible elections, participatory democracy, a culture of human rights and stronger governance institutions as foundations for the consolidation of democracy in Africa. Its work extends beyond election-day observation. Programme areas described by the organisation include democracy and conflict-management initiatives, electoral and civic education, analysis of elections and political processes, ballot and electoral services, political-party development, governance institutions, local governance and the African Peer Review Mechanism. It also maintains research and information activities, including a specialist library, in-house publications and an online democracy encyclopedia. The institute has participated in election-related work in several African settings. In 2004 it deployed an observation mission for Malawi's presidential and legislative elections. EISA has also cooperated with continental and international democracy-support organisations. Its work with the African Union's Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit included support in 2008 carried out in conjunction with the Carter Center and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. These activities reflect EISA's role as a technical and research-oriented organisation that combines field operations, institutional support, public information and democratic-governance analysis. EISA has listed a broad group of governmental, intergovernmental, philanthropic and civil-society donors, including the European Union, the Belgian government, the Canadian High Commission through CIDA, the United Kingdom's development agency, GIZ, USAID, Nordic development and human-rights institutions, several diplomatic missions, the Open Society network and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The range of donors indicates a project-based international development and democracy-support model rather than a commercial consumer-brand structure. Specific financial figures, current leadership details and the organisation's present operating scale are not established in the supplied reference material. In addition to field-based election work, EISA has provided a venue for discussion of governance and accountability in South Africa. One cited example is a conference involving Kader Asmal concerning parliamentary oversight of institutions established under Chapter Nine of the South African Constitution, including the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality. Overall, EISA is best understood as a specialist African democracy-support institution whose activities combine electoral assistance, observation, research, education, political-process support and governance strengthening.

EISA was established in Johannesburg in 1996 under the name Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. It later adopted the name Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, reflecting a broader continental remit. From its inception, the organisation focused on the relationship between credible elections and the institutional conditions needed for democratic consolidation. Its work has therefore covered both election processes and the wider political environment in which elections take place. The institute's programme areas have included democracy and conflict management, electoral education, election and political-process analysis, electoral and ballot services, political-party development, governance institutions, local government and the African Peer Review Mechanism. Research and information have been another continuing strand of activity, supported by a specialist library, in-house publications and an online democracy encyclopedia. This combination gives EISA both a field-facing and knowledge-producing role. A significant part of EISA's work has involved election observation and assistance. In 2004 it deployed an observation mission to Malawi for presidential and legislative elections. In 2008 it worked with the African Union Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, in cooperation with the Carter Center and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems. These engagements illustrate the institute's links with African regional institutions and international organisations involved in election support. EISA has also convened public and policy discussions on democratic accountability in South Africa. A documented example is a conference associated with Kader Asmal's criticism of Parliament's failure to monitor Chapter Nine institutions, which include the South African Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Gender Equality. Such activity places the institute within the broader South African debate about constitutional oversight and the performance of governance institutions. The organisation has identified donors from governments, diplomatic missions, multilateral programmes, foundations and international democracy-support networks. Listed supporters have included the European Union, the Belgian and Canadian governments, the United Kingdom's development agency, GIZ, Nordic agencies and institutions, USAID, the Open Society network, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and several embassies. The supplied sources do not provide a reliable current executive roster, detailed financial accounts, or a complete chronology of all country programmes. EISA is nevertheless documented as an African democracy and electoral institution with activities spanning observation, technical assistance, education, research and governance support.

• 2008

  Cooperation with the African Union electoral assistance unit

  [1]Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africaen.wikipedia.org

  EISA supported work with the African Union Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit alongside the Carter Center and IFES.

• 2004

  Election observation mission in Malawi

  [1]Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africaen.wikipedia.org

  EISA deployed an observation mission for Malawi's presidential and legislative elections.

• 1996

  Organisation founded in Johannesburg

  [1]Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africaen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was established in Johannesburg as the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, with a mission centred on elections and democratic development.

A specialist African democracy-support and electoral-assistance organisation combining field operations, election observation, research, civic education and governance strengthening.

• Electoral assistance

  Election observation missions

  EISA conducts or supports election-observation activities intended to assess electoral processes and contribute to public understanding of their credibility. Its documented work includes an observation mission to Malawi's presidential and legislative elections in 2004.

• Democracy education

  Electoral education

  The organisation develops or supports electoral and democracy-education activities designed to improve public knowledge of elections, participation and democratic institutions. The supplied material identifies electoral education as a core programme area but does not specify individual course names or products.

• Electoral services

  Electoral and ballot services

  EISA's programme portfolio includes technical electoral services and ballot-related support. The available references do not describe the precise countries, systems or service packages involved, but place these activities alongside election analysis and observation.

• Research and publishing

  Research and democracy information resources

  EISA produces and maintains democracy-related information through research, in-house publications, a specialised library and an online democracy encyclopedia. These resources support practitioners, researchers and members of the public seeking information on African elections and governance.

• 2008African Union electoral assistance cooperation

  Africa

  EISA worked with the African Union Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit, with the activity conducted in conjunction with the Carter Center and IFES.

  Outcome. The references document the cooperation but do not state a quantified or specific programme outcome.

  Source
• 2004Malawi election observation mission

  Malawi

  EISA deployed observers for Malawi's presidential and legislative elections as part of its work on credible electoral processes.

  Outcome. The supplied material confirms the deployment but does not provide a detailed assessment or final mission outcome.

  Source

• Expansion from a Southern African institute to a continental democracy organisationStrategy

  Background

  The organisation was initially known as the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa and is documented under the broader name Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

  Action taken

  It developed a programme portfolio covering African elections, democracy, governance, conflict management, political parties, local government and research.

  Aftermath

  The supplied material presents EISA as operating with a continental African focus, although it does not give the exact date or formal process of the name change.

  Source

1. 1Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2EISA official websiteeisa.org.za