Helpdesk

Question
Multi-donor Funding for Elections in Fragile States: Please provide examples of good practice in multi-donor funding for elections in post-conflict or fragile states (e.g. pooled or basket funding arrangements). What areas of activity have these funds supported? How were they governed and co-ordinated?

Helpdesk response
Key findings: Basket funds have to date often been administered by UNDP, as was the case in Congo, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Togo. The main activities they have supported have been: technical assistance to the Electoral Management Body (EMB), voter registration, voter education, election monitoring, and support for civil society.

Basket funds usually operate with a two-tiered management structure: a policy or technical oversight committee (Steering Committee), and a day-to-day Programme Management Unit (PMU). The PMU reports to the Steering Committee, which usually includes contributing donors, the EMB and representatives from civil society. In addition, wider consultation is often facilitated through a stakeholder forum.

Whilst Pakistan, Tanzania and Togo are considered successful cases of basket funding, common challenges include: weak communication, coordination and consensus among actors, limited involvement of key stakeholders, poor time management and drawn-out recruitment processes.

It is suggested that the effective management of basket funds requires:

• a clear separation of roles
• an early assessment to define appropriate components of the basket
• timely and frequent reporting on behalf of the PMU
• a strong understanding of financial rules and regulations.

Full response: http://www.gsdrc.org/docs/open/HD538.pdf