Project Summary and Background
The Gorée Centre for Electoral Processes (GCEP) was created to provide a space for training, sharing of experiences, analyses and proposals that seek to strengthen democracy through elections that respect the norms and standards adopted by African and International decision-making bodies. Electoral Processes and the strengthening of democracy is a strategic focus for the Gorée Institute from 2009-2012.
Over the past 17 years, electoral cycles have become critical to the political, social and economic development of the West African sub-region. Recently, Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have held democratic elections. Only those of Nigeria have not been considered reasonably free and fair.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) have become essential to West African democratization processes, but their mandate has not always been evident, and their limited capacity and legitimacy, may reduce their impact on electoral processes. In addition, between elections there has been little activity that could contribute to the reduction of future election rigging and corruption.
Long-term engagement by CSOs in regional election observation missions has also been limited. In March 2007, the Gorée Institute launched an initiative by CSOs to strengthen regional capacity for electoral analysis and reform that led to the establishment of the Gorée Centre for Electoral Processes and initial assessment the state of democracy in West Africa Region.
The main objective of this project is to reinforce the capacities of national civil society networks and organizations to promote better electoral practices, collaboration, and reform and to create a space for reflection and dialogue on electoral processes and the state of democracy in West Africa.
Our work
Gorée Centre for Electoral Processes and Electoral Database
In March 2007, a pilot committee of six civil society organizations was formed to help direct the activities of the Gorée Centre for Electoral Processes. The Centre has taken an inventory of existing election materials and resources on the national, regional and continental levels, including the organizations, institutions, publications, research, legal tools and resource persons concerned with elections.
Materials and documents pertaining to West Africa have been posted on the Centre’s website (www.goreecenter.org), a database and contact list of electoral experts and resource persons has also been established. This information hub is easily accessible by the Centre’s partners and others further a field, and includes an electronic depository, an interactive forum, and the online database for electoral materials. In this way the Centre continues to support national and local stakeholders in the organization and development of effective responses to the challenges raised by election organization and civil society interventions, monitor regional election trends and activities, and develop and disseminate dynamic and useful knowledge.
State of Democracy in West Africa Case Studies
The Centre commissioned a series of 15 case studies of each of the countries of West Africa to be published in a book, “The State of Democracy in West Africa.” The book will also include two regional overviews by prominent experts in West African electoral reform, one concerning regional electoral management integration and the need for regional norms and standards, and the other providing a synthesis of the country case studies.
The studies are based on real experiences on the ground and are unique both because they reflect the regional situation and also because democracy is assessed at a social and political level. This depth of knowledge will be extremely useful to future investors in West Africa, key decisions makers, CSOs, international organisations and regional bodies. Published copies will be available in November in French and English.