From Assessment to Action: Strengthening Electoral Systems through Evidence-Based Engagement

In today’s Africa, elections are no longer judged solely by whether they take place — but by how they are conducted, who they serve, and what they yield. The African Centre for Governance (ACG) was founded on the principle that credible elections are not episodic events; they are the product of long-term institutional investment, legal clarity, transparent procedures, and most importantly, trust between the state and the people. In that spirit, ACG has adopted a firm stance: observation is not enough — action is the real measure of our impact.

Our approach begins with rigorous pre-election assessments — not as box-ticking exercises, but as serious diagnostic interventions that aim to detect early systemic risks, deepen understanding of contextual dynamics, and produce practical pathways for electoral resilience. These missions are designed to engage institutions before they are overwhelmed by crisis, and to propose reforms that are timely, strategic, and locally rooted.

Over the last 18 months, ACG has undertaken robust pre-election assessments across the SADC region, most notably in Botswana, Namibia, and currently, Malawi. These missions have collectively highlighted a pattern of recurring institutional fragility in systems that outwardly appear stable. They have also reinforced a core truth: that genuine electoral credibility cannot be separated from constitutional alignment, institutional independence, operational transparency, and stakeholder inclusion.

In Botswana, often lauded as a beacon of democratic continuity, ACG’s mission uncovered concerns that speak to deeper structural inertia. Our assessment identified three critical issues: first, the lack of autonomy of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), which is housed administratively within the Office of the President — raising valid questions around impartiality and perception. Second, the legal framework for elections, while clear on processes, fails to empower civil society and observers with meaningful access and oversight authority. Third, the absence of an independent audit mechanism for the voter roll and results transmission systems increases the vulnerability of the process to doubt — even if not to manipulation. These gaps, left unaddressed, risk eroding confidence in what is otherwise a calm electoral environment. Our recommendations, shared with stakeholders including the IEC and the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, focused on legal reform, transparent observer accreditation, and stronger voter education around technology and procedures.

In Namibia, ACG observed a highly structured and well-organised institutional landscape — the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) demonstrated strong logistical planning, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with other organs of state, including the judiciary and security sector. Yet, our team flagged a key vulnerability: the disconnect between electoral innovation and citizen confidence. The proposed reliance on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) without a voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) was a red flag for many stakeholders, including political parties and civil society. In environments where digital trust is low, elections must be not only technically secure but socially accepted. ACG advised a hybrid approach for the 2024 elections — running both electronic and manual verification in parallel, as a confidence-building measure. We also recommended a transparent audit of voter registration systems and a national civic education drive ahead of deployment of new technologies.

Across both missions, ACG’s teams were composed of legal experts, electoral practitioners, and governance analysts drawn from across the continent. Our methodology is rooted in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. But beyond theory, we apply a grounded, consultative approach: one-on-one institutional interviews, stakeholder roundtables, community dialogues, and field-based data collection. Our findings are not speculative. They are drawn from evidence, tested by local context, and designed to be usable by national actors.

As we continue our mission in Malawi, our emphasis remains on discretion, dialogue, and depth. While we are not in a position to publish findings until the conclusion of our reporting process, early observations reaffirm the importance of institutional independence, procurement transparency, and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Once finalised, our report will provide a detailed blueprint of recommendations to support electoral authorities, civil society, and regional observers in safeguarding Malawi’s democratic process.

But perhaps the most important lesson from all our work is this: assessment without implementation is theatre. It is not enough to observe and report. At ACG, we ensure that each assessment is followed by strategic follow-through — closed-door briefings with national leaders, legal support to draft reform frameworks, training sessions for observer networks, and multi-stakeholder forums for consensus building. This is what we call the “assessment-to-action” model — a practical, sustained, and accountable approach to strengthening electoral systems.

Our impact, however, depends on partnerships. No single organisation can achieve reform in isolation. ACG is therefore extending a firm call to:

• Electoral Commissionsseeking credible, neutral technical partners to support institutional review and reform.
• Governmentsthat understand the importance of investing in democratic resilience, not only to avoid crisis but to govern legitimately.
• Development agencies and donorslooking to fund African-owned and African-led electoral strengthening efforts that move beyond rhetoric to real results.
• Observer missions, both regional and domestic, that are seeking structured cooperation, shared resources, and joint capacity building across countries.

The future of African democracy will not be safeguarded by observers who arrive days before an election and leave the moment results are announced. It will be shaped by institutions and partners who are willing to invest in the hard, unglamorous work of institutional reform. ACG is proud to lead that charge — but we are even more proud to invite others to walk with us.

For partnership discussions, technical collaboration, or mission inquiries, please contact us via info@africancentregov.org
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