ECES is pleased to announce the signature of a new two-year project entitled A European Response to Electoral Cycle Support in Mauritania (EURECS – Mauritania). Implemented by the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and funded by the European Union, the project aims to support institutions and actors involved in the electoral process in the lead-up to the upcoming electoral milestones scheduled for 2028 and 2029. The project is part of the European integrated approach to electoral cycle support, based on the EURECS methodology developed by ECES. Its overall objective is to strengthen the institutional and professional capacities of the main stakeholders within Mauritania’s electoral framework, in order to support the organisation of inclusive and credible electoral processes.
The action is structured around two specific objectives:
- Improving and harmonising the electoral legal framework in order to ensure the organisation of inclusive and credible elections while guaranteeing the neutrality of institutions.
- Strengthening the capacities of HAPA and the CNDH to promote and uphold fundamental freedoms while combating disinformation.
This action is part of the broader framework of cooperation between the European Union and Mauritania, guided by the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021–2027, which places emphasis on institutional strengthening, the promotion of human rights, respect for the rule of law, and citizen participation. It is also aligned with the Global Gateway strategy and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, as well as SDG 5 on gender equality. Furthermore, the action complies with international principles of aid effectiveness and aligns with the priorities of the European Union’s Gender Action Plan.
In this context, and in preparation for the general elections of 2028 and 2029, the project provides an initial short-term support to the key institutions of the electoral process, notably the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the Constitutional Court, HAPA, and the CNDH. The intervention integrates cross-cutting considerations related to gender, inclusion, and the involvement of civil society in monitoring electoral processes. Each institution will benefit from tailored support aligned with its mandate, aimed at strengthening its effectiveness and contributing to a more transparent, accessible, and equitable electoral process, based on reliable and well-regulated information, with a view to preventing tensions and consolidating democracy.
The project builds on a needs assessment mission conducted by ECES in February 2025, the recommendations of the European Union Electoral Expert Mission of 2024, as well as conclusions formulated by national institutions following the most recent electoral processes. Implemented directly by ECES, in coordination with the European Union Delegation and national partners, the project currently focuses on preparatory capacity-building activities. Through this action, ECES supports Mauritanian institutions and stakeholders in the progressive strengthening of the electoral framework, in line with the cooperation priorities defined between the European Union and Mauritania.
