Overview Information

Overview. Elections have been a vital part of democratic transitions, the decolonization process, and U.N. supported peace agreements ending civil wars around the globe. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs is the United Nations focal point for electoral assistance activities, advising the Secretary-General on requests from Member states, and ensuring consistency in the delivery of electoral assistance by the United Nations.

The focal point is supported in this function by the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs. The division:

• Reviews requests from Member States;
• Undertakes needs assessment missions;
• Provides technical assistance;
• Maintains the institutional memory of the Organisation’s experience in electoral assistance;
• Collaborates with other UN agencies and departments to design electoral assistance projects and the electoral components of peacekeeping operations;
• Coordinates and supports the activities of international observers, and helps to develop capabilities for non-partisan national election observation; and
• Maintains a roster of international electoral experts.

U.N. electoral assistance has evolved over time. During the 1990s, the United Nations organized or observed landmark elections and popular consultations in East Timor, South Africa, Mozambique, El Salvador and Cambodia. More recently, the Organization has provided crucial technical assistance in milestone elections in countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Burundi. Demand for U.N. electoral assistance is growing, as are the duration and complexity of these operations.

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Institutional History. In its 46th session, the United Nations General Assembly mandated the creation of a small unit to support the new role of focal point for electoral assistance activities (resolution A/Res/46/137 of 1992).  The unit was established within the newly formed Department of Political Affairs (DPA) to support its Under-Secretary-General who was designated as the focal point for electoral assistance activities. 

In early 1994, the unit was transferred to the Department of Peace-Keeping Operations (DPKO), when its Under-Secretary-General was designated as the focal point.  The transfer was made in an effort to rationalize the functions of both departments (DPA and DPKO) and to consolidate those Secretariat units working directly with the field. During this period, the unit was renamed the Electoral Assistance Division (refer to Report of the Secretary-General A/49/675).

In July 1995, the electoral assistance division was returned to DPA and the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs became the United Nations focal point.  Since that time the Division has remained within the Department of Political Affairs.  The current Under-Secretary-General of DPA, Mr. B.Lynn Pascoe, is the designated focal point for electoral assistance activities.

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Statistics. The United Nations received 363 official requests for electoral assistance between 1989 and 2005, delivering these services in 96 countries. Please note, the chart below groups statistics from 1989 to 1991, in year 1991. Of the 363 requests received, 101 have come from Member States of the United Nations and four from non-Member States. Also, while the chart below shows the number of requests received per year, electoral assistance can occur over a period of years, which must be maintained while new requests must also be serviced. (The grouping of Member States into regions in the second chart below, follows the unofficial arrangement of General Assembly regional groups as of 31 May 2002, identified under Annex I of UNEP/POPS/COP.1/INF/16)

Requests by Year

Requests by Region

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Requesting Assistance. The guidelines and preconditions of United Nations electoral assistance are described in General Assembly resolution A/Res/49/675 under Annex III.  Requests for electoral assistance are normally required to be made at least 12 weeks before an election.  In instances where the United Nations may provide electoral assistance to a Member State, two preconditions must be met:

• The first is the need for a formal written request for electoral assistance from the Government of the requesting Member State;
• The second is that an assessment be conducted to determine whether the United Nations should provide assistance and, if so, the most appropriate type of assistance.

Normally, the evaluation is conducted as a needs assessment mission to the country conducted by the Electoral Assistance Division.  In some cases, a formal needs assessment mission may not be necessary, when an alternative means of assessment are considered suitable.

Also, a third precondition applies for the organisation and conduct of elections, or the supervision and verification/observation of electoral processes.  In order to undertake any of these types of operations, a formal mandate must be provided by the Security Council or General Assembly.

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Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance. General Assembly resolution A/Res/46/137 established a Trust Fund for support to United Nations electoral assistance.  The trust fund enables countries to contribute voluntary funds in support of United Nations’ electoral assistance activities.  The Trust Fund is administered by the Department of Political Affairs.

In August 2007, the Trust Fund, initially entitled “The United Nations Trust Fund for Electoral Observation” was renamed, and its Terms of Reference revised to better address the existing and future operational needs for UN electoral support activities.

The trust fund allows for two types of contributions. Countries can contribute money to activities being conducted in a particular country, in which case the money is referred to as ‘earmarked’ for electoral assistance in that country.  On the other hand, money can be contributed as ‘non-earmarked’, in which case the funds can be allotted to electoral assistance activities at the discretion of the United Nations.

For specific information regarding the Trust Fund for Electoral Assistance, please contact the Electoral Assistance Division through the methods listed in the ‘Contact Us’ page of this website.

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