Zambia

Zambia’s traditionally peaceful political environment and relatively open democratic space have been challenged in recent years by democratic backsliding coupled with increased political polarization and violence. In this context, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) seeks to support the independence and resiliency of Zambian democratic institutions. 

Since 2015, IFES’ programming in Zambia has focused on building the capacity of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) through trainings, evaluations and technical assistance to improve systems, policies, and processes.   

IFES currently works in Zambia under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Zambia Political Accountability and Leadership (ZPAL) project, and prior to that, the USAID-funded Zambia Political Participation and Leadership Activity (ZPPLA). Through these programs, IFES has fostered improved transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity by the ECZ. IFES has provided technical assistance in conflict mitigation, capacity building, and process improvement, including training of Provincial and District Election Officers on conflict resolution and leadership. IFES also supported the establishment of Election Support Centers at national and provincial levels to improve logistical and security coordination. With IFES’s technical assistance, ECZ has developed a new Voter Education Strategy and Accreditation Guidelines for civil society organizations, as well as introducing an online platform to streamline voter education and observation processes. Additionally, IFES support has resulted in ECZ’s adoption of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to enhance performance tracking against the commission’s strategic plan, as well as a Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, Communications Strategy, newsletter, and revamped website, promoting participatory and transparent processes.