Decision on the Establishment and Organization of a Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit and Fund

Jurisdiction
African Regional Bodies · African Union (AU)
Citation
EX.CL/Dec.300 (IX)
Regional Body / Author
Executive Council of the African Union
Date
29 June 2006
Language
English
Type
Decision

DECISION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF A
DEMOCRACY AND ELECTORAL ASSISTANCE UNIT AND FUND
DOC. EX.CL/272 (IX)

The Executive Council:

  1. TAKES NOTE of the Report;

  2. APPROVES the recommendations contained therein;

  3. DECIDES:

  1. To set up a “Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit” within the Political Affairs Department of the African Union Commission;

  2. That the Unit shall be responsible for coordinating and implementing all African Union Commission actions aimed at promoting democracy and democratic elections in Africa; the duties of the Unit shall include the promotion of democracy in general, observation and monitoring of elections and electoral assistance;

  3. That the Unit shall be financed by the African Union ordinary budget and the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Special Fund;

  4. That the Commission is hereby authorized to take all the necessary measures to set up and operationalize the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit as soon as possible.

  1. ALSO DECIDES:

  1. To set up a “Democracy and Electoral Assistance Special Fund” within the African Union Commission;

  2. That the purpose of the Fund is to lend support to the activities of the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit;

  3. That the Fund shall be resourced from the ordinary budget of the Union, voluntary contributions from Member States, including the private sector, civil society and individuals, as well as from other fund-raising activities;

  4. That the Fund shall be managed, administratively by the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit within the Political Affairs Department and financially by the Finance Directorate. Fund operations shall be governed by the Financial Rules and Regulations of the Union;

  5. That the Fund shall benefit national electoral institutions and the Electoral Assistance Unit;

  6. That the Commission shall lay down the procedures for accessing the Fund and also mechanisms for the evaluation and performance of programmes financed by the Fund;

  7. That the Commission is hereby authorized to take all the necessary measures to set up and operationalize the Democracy and Electoral Assistance Fund.

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