To assist the State Election Commission in further advancing the election process and responding to legal framework, IFES conducted a thorough Needs Assessment Analysis of the existing technologies and analyzed the possibility of introducing new tools and technologies.
The Needs Assessment was led by a team of international and local experts. These experts conducted two in-country field missions and provided expertise and insights into best practices on global level.
Furthermore, the international and local experts provided guidance in identifying the most suitable software solutions that the project could procure to increase elections’ effectiveness, transparency, and efficiency and therefore deliver better services to citizens/voters.
Part of these efforts also sought to increase the knowledge and understanding of election stakeholders in regards to introducing new election technologies and practices in the country.
In this sense, the project provided technical expertise in assessing existing conditions and interest within the election administration, political parties, civil society, and other involved institutions to implement new tools and technologies.
The findings of the assessment served as a platform for further discussions with SEC commissioners and election administration staff regarding potential ways forward, as well as in identifying challenges and risks in introducing new technology, i.e. fingerprints for voter identification in elections.
The findings and proposed solutions from the assessment were discussed with SEC representatives.
