In Djibouti, we are currently implementing a Peer Learning Mission under the framework of the Association of African Election Authorities (AAEA) at a pivotal moment for the country’s democratic process. The mission coincides with the presidential elections scheduled for April 10, providing a timely platform for exchange, observation and institutional cooperation among Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs).
Implemented by ECES, the initiative is part of the Pro-Electoral Integrity, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and carried out in partnership with the African Union Commission – Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AUC-PAPS). Our team on the field is composed by Fabio Bargiacchi (Founder and Executive Director), Alessio Beltrami (Deputy Head of Operations), José Manuel Pinto Teixeira (ECES Vice President), Eva Palmans (Senior Programme Advisor), Granville Abrahams (Senior Electoral Manager Expert), Khaldoun Dudin (Senior ICT Electoral Expert) and Sofia Antonetti (Programme and Communication Officer).
The Peer Learning Mission reflects the core mandate of the AAEA as a non-partisan, peer-to-peer platform fostering cooperation, knowledge-sharing and professionalization among African election authorities. Participants include EMBs representatives of several African counties: a Commissioner of Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante of Mauritania, Commissioners of the National Elections Commission of Egypt, a Board Member of the National Election Board of Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission of South Sudan, a Commissioner of the National Independent Election Commission of Somalia, the Deputy Chairman of the Tunisian Independent Supreme Authority for Elections, a Commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission, the Regional Electoral Officer for the Electoral Commission of Namibia, the Regional Electoral Officer for the Electoral Commissions Forum of the Southern African Development Community Secretariat (for Botswana) and the Commissioner for the Electoral Commission of Ghana and the Programme Manager to the AAEA Secretariat.
The mission facilitates the exchange of best practices, lessons learned and operational expertise across diverse electoral contexts. It also supports problem-solving, networking and the development of long-term institutional partnerships aimed at addressing critical areas such as voter registration, election technology, conflict management, inclusion and post-election review mechanisms.
Through this combination of technical exchange, capacity building and peer dialogue, the mission contributes to strengthen cooperation among African EMBs and enhance their ability to manage elections in line with international standards and democratic principles. It also reinforces the role of continental platforms such as the AAEA and partnerships with institutions like the African Union in promoting shared solutions to common electoral challenges.
