ECES was honoured to take part in the 27th Annual General Conference of the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries, from 1 to 5 December 2025, hosted by the Elections and Boundaries Commission of Eswatini, International IDEA and funded by the European Union, focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Elections: Threats and Opportunities.”
During his keynote address, ECES Founder & Executive Director, Fabio Bargiacchi, reflected on ECES’s 15-year journey, supporting electoral processes in more than 50 countries and strengthening cooperation with African EMBs, the African Union, International IDEA, and European partners.
He highlighted ECES’s continued work through the Pro-Electoral Integrity Programme, funded by Italy and implemented with the AU, as well as our long-standing support through MEPA scholarships for SADC EMB officials.
At the centre of the message was the introduction of LEAD-AI, the evolution of our flagship LEAD methodology, integrating leadership development, conflict prevention and AI literacy. LEAD-AI equips EMBs, civil society, youth and women groups, media, political parties and security actors to:
- recognise deepfakes and synthetic media
- detect bot networks
- understand algorithmic amplification
- counter disinformation
- integrate AI tools across the electoral cycle
- apply ethical and legal standards
- and respond effectively to AI driven crises
ECES also reaffirmed four key areas of support to ECF-SADC:
- LEAD-AI trainings across SADC
- Supporting regulatory frameworks and developing guidelines on AI and elections
- Enhancing the MEPA Master with AI modules
- Expanding Peer-Learning Missions
As emphasised during the conference, technology will influence elections — but leaders, institutions and informed citizens will define the future of democracy. ECES remains committed to ensuring that AI becomes an opportunity for electoral integrity, not a threat.
