Our Offices and International Presence
Since its establishment in 2010, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) has developed an extensive international presence to support its mission of strengthening electoral processes, building democratic resilience, promoting electoral integrity and contributing to sustainable peace.
Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, ECES maintains an international network of offices facilitating institutional partnerships, regional cooperation and the implementation of electoral support programmes at national, regional, continental and global levels.
In addition to its headquarters, ECES has established strategic institutional offices in Florence (Italy), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Mauritius, strengthening its cooperation with EU Member States, European, African and international institutions, as well as continental and regional organisations.
Since 2010, ECES has established offices in 28 countries:
Afghanistan, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Ukraine, Zambia and Zanzibar (Tanzania).
This international presence reflects ECES’s commitment to working closely with national authorities, electoral management bodies, global, continental and regional organisations, civil society and international partners, ensuring that electoral support is responsive to local priorities while contributing to broader regional, continental and global cooperation.
Brussels - International Headquarters
Located at the heart of the European Union, ECES’s headquarters in Brussels serves as the organisation’s principal institutional, strategic and operational centre.
As one of the world’s leading diplomatic centres, Brussels hosts the principal institutions of the European Union and NATO, as well as numerous international organisations and diplomatic representations. Its proximity to the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Council, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament facilitates continuous dialogue and cooperation with EU institutions, EU Member States and the wider international cooperation community.
From Brussels, ECES coordinates its international programmes, institutional partnerships and electoral support initiatives, promoting inclusive, credible and peaceful electoral processes in accordance with its independent, non-partisan mandate.
The headquarters also plays a central role in financial management and in the development and dissemination of ECES’s innovative methodologies and tools, including the European Response to Electoral Cycle Support (EURECS), which underpins the organisation’s integrated approach to electoral support.
Address: Avenue Louise 222, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 2 325 55 58
Email: info@eces.eu
Florence - Institutional Liaison Office
ECES’s Liaison Office in Florence strengthens the organisation’s institutional presence in Italy and facilitates cooperation with Italian public institutions, development cooperation agencies, universities and other strategic partners.
The office supports institutional dialogue and collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and other Italian and European partners engaged in electoral support, international cooperation and the promotion of democratic resilience.
Its establishment was closely associated with Pro Electoral Integrity, an initiative funded by Italy and implemented in cooperation with the African Union Commission to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic processes across Africa. Through this initiative and its broader engagement on the continent, ECES has implemented activities in 53 of the 55 Member States recognised by the African Union, reflecting the extensive geographical reach of its electoral support programmes.
Building on this experience, the Florence office contributes to the development of long-term institutional partnerships and joint initiatives, particularly between Italy, Europe and Africa.
Located in the historic centre of Florence, it also provides a setting for institutional meetings, strategic consultations and international cooperation activities.
Address: Borgo San Jacopo 4, 50125 Florence, Italy
Addis Ababa — African Continental Office
Located in Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, ECES’s African Continental Office serves as a strategic platform for strengthening the organisation’s institutional partnerships and activities across the African continent.
The office also supports the implementation of a long-standing electoral support project in Ethiopia, funded by the European Union and Germany, providing assistance to the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) and civil society organisations, particularly in the areas of election observation, civic and voter education, and institutional capacity development.
The office facilitates cooperation with the African Union Commission, African electoral management bodies, regional electoral networks and other institutional partners involved in electoral integrity, democratic governance, conflict prevention and sustainable peace.
It supports the coordination and implementation of electoral support initiatives at national, regional and continental levels, promoting institutional capacity development, knowledge exchange and cooperation among African electoral stakeholders.
Through its continental and regional responsibilities, the office contributes to ECES’s engagement with African regional organisations and electoral networks, operating in Addis Ababa with an African continental mandate.
The Addis Ababa office therefore combines a strategic continental mandate with operational responsibilities, reinforcing ECES’s commitment to African ownership, institutional cooperation and sustainable electoral support.
Address: Bole Cape Verde Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Mauritius - Regional Office for Indian Ocean and Southern Africa
ECES’s Regional Office in Mauritius provides a strategic platform for strengthening institutional cooperation and electoral support initiatives across the Indian Ocean region and Southern Africa.
The office facilitates engagement with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and its Member States, as well as countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), supporting the development of regional partnerships and electoral support programmes.
Particular emphasis is placed on ECES’s institutional cooperation with the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC), promoting electoral integrity, institutional capacity development, regional dialogue and the exchange of experiences and good practices among electoral management bodies.
The Mauritius office also supports the preparation and coordination of regional initiatives, including cooperation programmes involving the Indian Ocean Commission and Southern African electoral institutions.
Through this regional presence, ECES contributes to strengthening South-South cooperation, regional ownership and inclusive, credible and peaceful electoral processes.
Address: Blue Tower, 3rd Floor, Rue de l’Institut, Ébène, Mauritius
