International Development Grant
Support to Elections in Sierra Leone
Project Number: CA-3-P005699001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $1,000,000.00
Start Date: January 23, 2018
End Date: March 31, 2018
Duration: 1.0 years
Project Description
This project supports two multi-donor funds administered by the UNDP in Sierra Leone: 1) the Conflict Prevention and Mitigation (CPM) fund; and 2) the Support to the National Electoral Commission (SNEC) fund. Both funds seek to expand levels of electoral and democratic awareness and participation of women and girls and prevent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). On March 7 2018 Sierra Leone is conducting local legislative and presidential elections. These are the fourth elections since its decade-long civil war ended and the first conducted without the presence of a UN Observer Mission. The CPM fund is intended to contribute to a peaceful and secure environment during the 2018 election processes through preventive and mitigation activities including enhanced national dialogue peace advocacy and peaceful response capacities as well as sustained public security civil protection human rights promotion and peaceful response capacities. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone successfully managed the administration of peaceful elections in 2007 and 2012 with declining levels of international involvement in the management of each election. While Sierra Leone has made progress in strengthening the electoral process NEC requires further support. The SNEC fund aims to complement Government of Sierra Leone resources with technical and material support to the NEC to further their work on meeting their responsibilities for key 2018 electoral processes.
Expected Results
In partnership with other donors Canada contributes to the following expected outcomes: 1) the Conflict Prevention and Mitigation fund: i) enhanced national dialogue peace advocacy and violence prevention; and ii) sustained public security civil protection human rights promotion and peaceful response capacities. 2) the Support to the National Electoral Commission (SNEC) fund: 1) strengthened capacity to administer technically sound credible inclusive and sustainable elections; and 2) improved confidence and participation in the electoral process.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved by the UNDP through the support of the Government of Canada and other international donors in 2017-2018 includes: The Conflict Prevention and Mitigation fund: 1) nationwide peace advocacy campaigns created awareness among the public on peaceful election processes political tolerance and the need for citizens to participate in democratic elections; 2) during the run-up to the March 2018 elections a peace pledge was signed by 18 presidential candidates committing them and their supporters to peaceful conduct of campaigns elections and acceptance of results; 3) through supporting human rights work the project helped justice institutions (such as courts and tribunals) address electoral disputes by fast-tracking and resolving over 405 cases through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms. The Support to the National Electoral Commission (SNEC) fund: 1) the presidential parliamentary and local government elections of 2018 were held in a timely and credible manner; 2) a peaceful transition from one legitimately elected government to another was achieved; 3) the NEC’s planning and management capacity was strengthened; and 4) the NEC conducted inclusive elections which were commended by electoral observation missions.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated