UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Taye Amssalu has inaugurated the launch of the IEC Strategic Planning Process for the next electoral cycle of 2024-2028, as part of the Africa Election Fund Project funded by German Cooperation. 

UNDP continues supporting IEC Lesotho in consolidating and strengthening Institutional Capacity of IEC for peaceful and credible electoral process. As part of the project, IEC will engage political parties, COSs, media and other electoral stakeholders in strategic planning discussions. The IEC strategic plan is intended to be finalized early next year and will cover the next electoral cycle for the period of 2024-2028.

The African Election Fund project will focus on priority areas such as IEC Strategic Planning for the Electoral Cycle of 2024-2028, finding the strategic solution to the Voters’ Roll challenges, improving the IEC Strategic communication and capacity and team building of IEC staff.

Giving his opening remarks at the launch Mr. Amssalu congratulated IEC for the peacefully conducted elections both at the national and local level, with UNDP being the main United Nations agency engaging is the support of the electoral process. 

He indicated that the African Election Fund  supported by German government and being implemented by UNDP, is part and parcel of UNDP’s engagement of electoral support. He emphasized to the chairman of IEC that UNDP will be there every step of the way and walk the journey with them. He thanked all the stakeholders involved and explained that elections are about everyone. 

Africa Election Fund Project Chief Technical Advisor Shalva Tskhakaya  explained the project being the corporation between German Federal Foreign Office and UNDP, not only UNDP Lesotho but globally. 

“This corporation include working in eight different African countries specifically and three different regional initiatives around Africa. It works with the hope to ensure the transparent, credible and fair elections in Africa,” he explained.

IEC Commissioner Dr.Karabo Mokobocho Mohlakoana expressed gratitude to UNDP and German government. She said the project marks completion of  past electoral cycle phase and transitions in to new ones. She said the review of the strategic plan 2024/2028 will only be possible through meaningful participation of all stakeholders.

“We thank you for your presence and we invite you to actively engage in our Strategic Planning process as your contribution will be highly valuable to the institution . In particular, I would like to thank the UNDP in its efforts for capacitating those who will be taking part in this project, our respect for UNDP is profound,” he said.

The German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and the Regional Bureau for Africa of UNDP launched the inception phase of the phase of the Africa Election Fund in 2023. The fund is meant to strengthen democracy in Africa through innovative, agile, and timely support to electoral processes in a series of pilot countries and through a regional approach. Lesotho was selected as one of the pilot countries.