In recent years, UNDP through its EU-sponsored insider mediators programme, the joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and through its Country Programmes has helped diffuse tension around democratic processes, provide early warning and early action to prevent escalation of pre-existing conflict dynamics and support peaceful environment, including during electoral processes.

Similarly, the United Nations Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) has coordinated a recurring training on prevention of electoral violence to strengthen personnel capacity on the topic of election-related violence.

With SELECT taking a phased approach, an initial phase of research conducted in 2018 demonstrated that integrated approaches, involving a broad range of stakeholders and addressing broad electoral challenges, can support credible and peaceful electoral experiences, mitigate the risks of violence and contribute to democratic governance and consolidation.

The initial phase has proven a valuable starting point to set the stage for SELECT. However, Identifying the challenges and describing the required response is not enough.

The second phase therefore aims to take SELECT forward by :

1. responding to the identified challenges by formulating programmable activities informed through research and consultations and showcased on this knowledge hub available in French and English and;
2. organizing outreach events/workshops including the exchange of best practices and lessons learnt as to enhance electoral violence prevention capacities at national and international level.