Our challenge

 The Commonwealth has undertaken 19 Commonwealth Observer Groups (COGs) and Commonwealth Expert Teams (CETs) since the beginning of 2006. These are: Antigua & Barbuda (2009); Ghana, Bangladesh, Maldives, Swaziland and Belize (2008); Kenya, Sierra Leone, PNG, Nigeria, Lesotho (2007), Zambia, The Gambia, Guyana, Seychelles, Fiji Islands, Solomon Islands, Uganda (2006). In addition, during this period we have also conducted assessments of elections or referenda in Cameroon, Maldives, Zambia and Rwanda. We ensure that the reputation and physical profile of our observer teams allows us to have significant access. All teams are broadly representative of the Commonwealth and many have a former head of state as leader, giving us great visibility and access.

Between 2006 and 2008 we sent eight advisers to five Commonwealth countries to help strengthen democratic processes and institutions. For example, we have sent an Election Expert who is providing technical assistance to the Election and Boundaries Commission in Swaziland. The Expert provides advice to the Commission on policy, strategy and technical arrangements and based all advice on international standards for credible elections and best practices to ensure an apparent and accountable process.

We provide training to individuals and institutions in member countries in a number of ways. For instance we regularly conduct workshops to increase awareness of participants of key practices and issues, such as our series of Government and Opposition Workshops, the most recent of which was held in Nigeria for West Africa in 2008. We also, for example, provided experts to conduct training for the Human Rights Commission of Maldives on election observation. As well as observing the 2007 elections in Sierra Leone we also helped the Election Commission mainstream gender into its activities and help facilitate the participation of marginalised groups in the electoral process. Our adviser helped