DOP 2024
There are currently 11 Convening Organizations of the DoP, which take it in turns to host the annual DoP implementation meeting. This year’s event is hosted by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It conducts election observation in its member states, drawing its mandate from several African Union instruments. Since 2006, its Democracy and Electoral Assistance Unit (DEAU) has coordinated and organized the participation of the African Union in the observation of elections as part of its borader democracy support work.
The Carter Center
Founded by former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center (TCC) is a non-governmental organization that seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. TCC has been active in election observation since 1989, and has conducted more than 125 obsevation missions worldwide.
European External Action Service
The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service. Since 2011, the EEAS carries out the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy to promote peace, prosperity, security, and the interests of Europeans across the globe. Since 2000, the EU has deployed over 160 Election Observation Missions (EOMs) in more than 60 countries.
European Commission
The Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) is the European Commission service responsible for the administrative, financial and security aspects of EU electoral missions. The Service works closely with the European Parliament and Member States.
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) coordinates its global democracy support activities through the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG). The DEG has an official consultative role for the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) when the HR/VP selects priority countries for EU election observation missions and when it appoints of chief observers for those missions. Every EU election observation mission is headed by a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The European Parliament also sends delegations of MEPs for short-term election observation, reinforcing the long-term EU observation missions.
Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is a not-for-profit organization promoting credible elections and sustainable democracies in Africa. It was established in South African in 1996. Apart from conducting its own election observation missions on the continent, EISA works on election observation with organizations such as the African Union, African Regional Economic Communities, as well as citizen observation, political party poll watching, and electoral reform on the national level.
National Democratic Institute
The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental organization that works in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all. NDI has more than 25 years of experience in international election observation. It also assists the electoral integrity efforts of political parties and nonpartisan citizen (domestic) election monitoring organizations, which have included large numbers of women and youth in more than 90 countries and territories.
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States, held in Washington, D.C., from October 1889 to April 1890. Today, the OAS brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere. Since 1962 the OAS has deployed over 240 Electoral Observation Missions (OAS/EOMs) in 27 countries throughout the continent.
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observes elections in the 57 participating States of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a regional organization spanning North America, Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Since the 1990s, it has observed more than 400 elections and it has been a leading organization in the development of election observation methodology.
United Nations Electoral Assistance Division
The United Nations Electoral Assistance Division (UNEAD) provides various types of electoral assistance, including technical assistance, organization of electoral processes, and operational support and coordination of international electoral observers. Since 1991, more than 115 countries have requested and have received UN electoral assistance. UNEAD also maintains electoral partnerships with, and provides capacity development support to, other regional and intergovernmental organizations involved in elections.
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) was formed in November 1997 to promote and support democratization in Asia at the national and regional levels. It has since established itself as the foremost NGO working for democratic elections in the region. ANFREL’s main efforts are focused on conducting international election observation missions, developing capacity building programs for electoral stakeholders such as domestic election observer groups, media, and other CSOs working for democratization in their home countries, and undertaking campaign and advocacy activities to address electoral challenges and related issues encountered in the development of democracy in Asia.