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Over the past several years, the Republic of Malawi has made incremental progress to create and sustain a politically stable climate for its citizens. This is notwithstanding the challenges the nation faced in the period between 2008 and 2011, when democratic governance was under severe strain in the country.

Over the past several years, the Republic of Malawi has made incremental progress to create and sustain a politically stable climate for its citizens. This is notwithstanding the challenges the nation faced in the period between 2008 and 2011, when democratic governance was under severe strain in the country.

All political parties need funding to play their part in the political process, yet the role of money in politics is arguably the biggest threat to democracy today.

This report examines how national constitutions can improve the delivery of services through decentralization, in particular by exploring the impact that different forms of decentralization and sequencing can have on the outcome.

The term ‘corruption’ is used to describe a wide range of dishonest behaviour, including bribery, embezzlement, abuse of authority, extortion, illicit enrichment, kickbacks, and trading in influence, in addition to actions connected to, and often used to aid in the commission of, corrupt activities such as money laundering, concealment and obstruction of justice.

Countries rich in oil and gas often derive great wealth from these resources. Yet such countries are also often host to chronic economic problems, regional infighting and democratic deficits—factors which lead to high levels of corruption and lack of government accountability in the oil and gas industry.

Whilst statistics show that Lesotho is doing well in addressing United Nations Millennium Development Goal 3 on “promoting gender equality and empowering women”, equal participation in elections remains an issue of concern. Following the February 2015 elections, only 30 out of 120 Members of Parliaments in the Lower House are female.

On 18 August 2015, International IDEA and the Electoral Commissions Forum of the SADC countries (ECF SADC) signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing the partnership between the two organisations.

Building on past initiatives but also looking at current challenges confronting electoral commissions in the region, the newly signed MoU sets out six key areas of collaboration:

Burkina Faso will hold its general election on 11 October 2015. This election will be the first in 27 years as the country moves forward in its political transition. It is therefore crucial that all actors, including personnel in charge of securing elections, have a good understanding of the electoral process.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of Lesotho and International IDEA are conducting a roundtable on the Institutionalization of Gender Equality in Electoral Processes in Maseru on 5-6 August 2015.

Starting 2 August representatives of the African Union, African Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and civil society organizations will attend the inaugural meeting of African Governance Architecture (AGA) platform focusing on democracy and elections, governance, human rights and transitional justice as well as constitutionalism and rule of law throughout the continent.

The Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) organized a workshop on 23 June in Abuja, Nigeria, to evaluate the impact of the Electoral Risk Management Tool (ERMTool) developed by International IDEA during the recent general elections.

Under the memorandum of understanding that International IDEA signed with the High Elections Committee in Egypt (HEC), the Cairo programme organized a meeting between foreign embassies present in Egypt and the HEC. The 11 July meeting was held to explain the management of the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, in alignment with the committee’s dedication to transparency on the international level.

Starting today about 22 commissioners and senior staff from the Malawi Electoral Commission will meet in Lilongwe for a five day BRIDGE workshop focusing on electoral technology and strategic and financial planning.

The workshop is organised by International IDEA partnering with the AU Department of Political Affairs and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and is an integral part of the AU DPA’s post-election follow-up programme in Malawi.

Starting today about 22 commissioners and senior staff from the Malawi Electoral Commission will meet in Lilongwe for a five day BRIDGE workshop focusing on electoral technology and strategic and financial planning.

The workshop is organised by International IDEA partnering with the AU Department of Political Affairs and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and is an integral part of the AU DPA’s post-election follow-up programme in Malawi.

On June 23, the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) organized a workshop in Abuja to evaluate the impact of the Electoral Risk Management Tool during the recent general elections. For over a year now, INEC has been implementing the ERMTool with technical and advisory support from International IDEA and the African Union.

Together with the AU Department of Political Affairs and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) we at International IDEA are organizing a five day capacity building workshop in Conakry, Guinea starting Monday.

The training is part of the BRIDGE programme and aims to build the capacity among the staff of the electoral commission in Guinea to enhance the integrity of electoral operations ahead of the upcoming elections.

Tensions are reaching boiling point in Burundi as outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza insists on running for a third term as the country’s leader. His bid comes amid protests of large numbers of citizens and the international community that such a move would be unconstitutional and contrary to the Agreement of Arusha for Peace and Reconciliation, signed in 2000 to end to protracted ethnic conflict in Burundi.

Tensions are reaching boiling point in Burundi as outgoing President Pierre Nkurunziza insists on running for a third term as the country’s leader. His bid comes amid protests of large numbers of citizens and the international community that such a move would be unconstitutional and contrary to the Agreement of Arusha for Peace and Reconciliation, signed in 2000 to end to protracted ethnic conflict in Burundi.

Political parties in Zambia take on the challenge to go beyond promises and institutionalise gender equality. Following a roundtable discussion, organised by International IDEA and the Foundation for Democratic Processes of Zambia, the five main parties in the National Assembly have signed an official communique, showing their commitment achieve greater gender equality in Zambian politics.