ELECAM, UN partner for inclusive elections.

The Chairperson of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, Dr Enow Abrams Egbe, signed the technical file for the institution, while the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, Issa Sanogo, put pen on paper for the partnership. 

The Director General of Elections at ELECAM, Dr Erik Essousse, and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Opia Mensah Kumah, also signed part of the partnership booklet. 

The project, meant to ensure an inclusive and peaceful elections, is coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

It groups several UN agencies, including UN Women, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, the International Organization for Migration, IOM, High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNHCR, and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA.

Officials said the project, spearheaded by the United Nations System in synergy with ELECAM, will provide targeted expertise and inclusive support for all electoral stakeholders, usher in a new era of transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency in the country’s electoral processes. 

Objectives of the project

The project outlines several practical objectives designed to ensure free, fair, and credible elections. Among the key activities are training of ELECAM personnel to enhance institutional effectiveness and professional readiness, support for mixed electoral commissions, fostering bipartisan and inclusive electoral oversight.

It will also engage targeted campaigns to mobilize women and youth, address historical underrepresentation in political processes, combat disinformation, especially on social media, to promote fact-based political discourse.

It will also focus on ensuring the putting in place of an inclusive political dialogue, aimed to fostering consensus and reduce electoral tensions.

Enter officials 

Speaking during the launching ceremony, Dr Enow Abrams hailed the project, which he tagged as a “historic first” for Cameroon. He said it “marks an essential milestone in our democratic journey”. 

“It is the first time such a comprehensive, UN-backed initiative is being implemented with such a long-term vision for electoral integrity and inclusion,” he said, noting that ELECAM is committed to a successful, peaceful and an inclusive election”

He used the opportunity to call on those involved in the project to commit themselves to the same path of dialogue for peace to reign before, during and after elections. 

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Cameroon, Issa Sanogo, said the technical assistance project aims at building capacities, sensitising stakeholders of the electoral process as well as ensuring that all stakeholders rallied in terms of civic participation including marginalised and displaced populations.

He said through the partnership, they intend to ensure that there are consultations between the different stakeholders so as to ensure the objectives of the project are met.

“We are very hopefully that through the initial support we are getting, we will have more partners joining us in that effort to accompany the endeavours that we are going to have ion the next electoral cycle for an inclusive, peaceful and transparent elections,” Sanogo said.

He noted that the project dates back in 2024 when ELECAM addressed a request to the United Nations Secretary General demanding electoral assistance.

The request, he said, was responded with a group of technical workers who were sent to the field to evaluate the job before the signing of the agreement booklet to concretise partnership.

According to the Director General of Elections at ELECAM, Dr Erik Essousse, the project represents a structural opportunity for ELECAM to rethink its mechanisms for preparing and conducting elections. 

“Our approach must be grounded in transparency, civic education, and logistical innovation,” he stated. 

The various partners during the ceremony took time to pledge their support to ensure the objective of the partnership is met.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3446 of Monday May 12, 2025