From 21 to 28 October 2025, Côte d’Ivoire hosted a Peer Learning Mission organised by the Association of African Electoral Authorities (AAEA), with the technical support of the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the collaboration of the African Union Commission (AUC).
This mission, implemented under the Pro-Electoral Integrity Project funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), brought together representatives from ten African Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs). The objective was to promote experience sharing, cooperation, and mutual learning to strengthen the credibility, transparency, and effectiveness of electoral processes across the continent.
Over the course of the week, the delegation held several meetings with key national stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), the National Press Authority, and the Observatory for Social Cohesion. These exchanges focused on electoral planning and operations, media regulation, public communication, and mechanisms for promoting peaceful elections.
The mission also included field visits to polling stations during the presidential election, allowing participants to observe procedures, engage with election officials and voters, and exchange experiences on electoral practices.
As highlighted by Fabio Bargiacchi, ECES Founder and Executive Director, the initiative reflects a growing dynamic of cooperation among African electoral institutions:
“This is the tenth peer learning mission deployed in the past two years. These initiatives create opportunities to share experiences, build solidarity, and strengthen institutional capacities across the continent.”
Through this mission, the AAEA, ECES, and the African Union reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering peer collaboration, capacity development, and electoral integrity in Africa.
26 October 2025
