
EC-UNDP PARTNERSHIP
The Joint Task Force on Electoral Assistance
In 2006, the EC and UNDP strengthened and formalized their de facto partnership in the field of international electoral assistance with the signature of the Electoral Assistance Guidelines. The Guidelines were renewed in 2008 and most recently in April 2016, when they were officially endorsed and signed by the UNDP Administrator Helen Clark and the Commissioner Neven Mimica (see video of the event).
The Guidelines set parameters for cooperation between the two organizations on issues such as project formulation, recruitment, visibility and operational support to the ongoing projects and troubleshooting. They also establish the EC-UNDP Joint Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF), a Brussels-based coordination mechanism that has the aim of increasing the overall efficiency and adherence of the projects to the common EC-UNDP strategic approach.
The JTF, composed of the EU and UNDP experts, has been expanded in 2016 to include representatives from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and UN’s Department of Political Affairs/Electoral Assistance Division (DPA/EAD), as well as relevant geographical desk representatives from both organizations. JTF supports all current and upcoming joint EC-UNDP electoral assistance projects world-wide by organizing kick-off trainings at the inception of each project (for both EU Delegation and UNDP Country Office staff), enhancing project’s visibility and information sharing (by maintaining project websites and publishing joint monthly reports), assisting with reporting (financial and narrative), troubleshooting, etc.….
To find out more or to request assistance please consult JTF website.