In a bid to strengthen the integrity and sustainability of electoral processes across West Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) is set to conduct a comprehensive training-of-trainers workshop on electoral management. The workshop, which aligns with ECONEC’s mandate to promote free, transparent, and credible elections in the region, will take place from August 20 to 30 in Lagos.
The workshop is organized under the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy, Governance, and Elections) framework, a globally recognized training program that aims to enhance the capacity of electoral management bodies (EMBs). According to a statement released by Mr. Serigne Mamadou Ka, the acting head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division and permanent secretary of ECONEC, the training is designed to develop a sustainable pool of BRIDGE-accredited trainers within the ECOWAS member states.
“The workshop aims 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,” Mr. Ka said. He emphasized that the initiative would foster a more robust and self-sufficient electoral system in the region, ensuring that elections are conducted with the highest standards of transparency and credibility.
The event will bring together key stakeholders, including training directors from election management bodies across ECOWAS member states, electoral experts from the region, and staff from the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division and ECONEC Permanent Secretariat. The workshop will utilize the interactive and practical BRIDGE training methodology, which includes group exercises and discussions designed to engage participants actively.
Established in February 2008, ECONEC serves as the umbrella organization for electoral management bodies in West Africa. Its creation was inspired by the ECOWAS Declaration of Political Principles, adopted in 1991, which underscores the importance of democratic governance and credible elections in the region.
This workshop marks a significant step forward in ECONEC’s ongoing efforts to support and enhance the electoral processes in West Africa, ensuring that member states are better equipped to manage elections that are free, fair, and reflective of the will of the people.
