Valstöd lokala och regionala val Mali 2014-2015 Local elections support Mali 2014-2015 UNDP has applied to Sida for contribution to the basket fund established to support the electoral process in Mali, its second phase now focussing on local elections during 2014-2015.

The intervention is part of a longerterm process of democratisation following the political and institutional crisis that erupted in 2012. The main purpose of the programme is to strengthen the pluralist democracy, entrench rule of law and consolidate the political stability of Mali. The support to the electoral process is channeled through an election basket fund managed by UNDP in close cooperation with other national and international partners. This phase of the electoral process includes local and regional elections which are foreseen for 27 April 2015.

The intervention consists of four key components:
1. Strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Interior and Security (MIS) to manage and coordinate the electoral process 2014-2015
2. Support to civic and voter education with focus on dissemination of electoral information.
3. Sustaining the results achieved through the work on the adminstrative census with civil registration (RAVEC Recensement Administratif à Vocation d'Etat Civil)
4. Strengthening the long term capacity of the electoral institutions

The total budget of this intervention is approximately 80 MUSD of which the Government of Mali will contribute approximately 42 MUSD - leaving 38 MUSD for external financing. 20 MUSD is already in the basket fund, making the gap to be mobilised approximately 18 MUSD - or 133 MSEK. The Swedish contribution amounts to 45 MSEK, to be disbursed upon signature of agreement. This is a continuance of the 2013 development intervention where Sweden contributed 45 MSEK to the same basket fund. UNDP har sökt finansiering från Sida för den korgfond som etablerats till stöd för valprocessen i Mali,  för den andra fasen som fokuserar på lokala val under 2014-2015.

Insatsen är del av en längre demokratiseringsprocess som startat till följd av den politiska och institutionella krisen 2012. Insatsens huvudsyfte är att stärka den pluralistiska demokratin, bygga grundvalar för rättsstaten samt konsolidera den politiska stabiliteten i Mali. Stödet till valprocessen kanaliseras genom en korgfond som administreras av UNDP och som genomförs i nära samarbete med andra nationella och internationella partners. Denna fas av valprocessen inkluderar lokala och regionala val som planeras hållas den 27 april 2015.

Insatsen består av fyra nyckelkomponenter:
1. Stärkande av kapacitet för Inrikesministeriet för att samordna och ansvara för valprocessen 2014-2015
2. Stöd till medborgarutbildning med fokus på spridning av valrelaterad information.
3. Upprätthålla resultaten som uppnåtts genom arbetet med den administrativa folkräkningen (RAVEC)
4. Stärkande av kapacitet på sikt för valinstitutionerna

Den totala budgeten för dena insats är ca 80 MUSD därav Malis regering bidrar med ca 42 MUSD - vilket lämnar 38 MUSD för extern finansiering. 20 MUSD finns redan i korgfonden vilket ger ett finansiellt behov av ca 18 MUSD - ca 133 MSEK. Det svenska bidraget uppgår till 45 MSEK. Detta är en fortsättning av utvecklingsinsatsen 2013 då Sverige bidrog med 45 MSEK till samma korgfond. The intervention's outcome objectives are clearly described, as follows:
1- The organisation f communal, municipal and local elections- with an integrated gender perspective- that are credible, legitimate and conformant to national legislation, international norms and regional instruments governing electoral processes.
2- National institutions, systems and processes of democratic governance are strengthened for better management of electoral processes.
Expected results- i.e. outputs are relevant and follow a logical chain in relation to the intended outcomes as well as contribute to the overall impact of the intervention. They are as folows:
1. The national capacity to manage the electoral process is strengthened permitting national ownership of the coordination mechanisms and sustainability of results2. Equal access and participation of women and vulnerable groups is ensured through an inclusive programme of civic education, communication/information and awareness raising taking into account their specific needs3. The local elections are organised in accordance with legal provisions and in a free, fair and transparent manner4. The election results are maintained based on the joint evaluation of the Ministry of Interior and Security(MIS) and development partners with the view to continue developing capacity of the institutional actors and civil society active in the electoral domaine5. RAVEC is restructured and finalised for the recast of the electoral register for the electionsMeasurable indicators are part of the results framework and Sida assesses them to be of sufficient quality. Baseline values exist for most but not all indicators, building on results to date in the ongoing electoral process project. This is deemed satisfactory at present but dialogue with UNDP will be undertaken to include more baselines if possible, based on project results to date and previous data pertaining to the electoral process in Mali.Critical assumptions are presented in the project document with major factors such as political will, potential low interest in the voting population and the dominant issue of insecurity and low state presence in the northern regions. Some mitigation measures have been defined but most will be beyond the scope of this project. The recent outbreak of Ebola is an additional risk which needs to be taken into account with potential need for additional mitigation strategy - to be explored further in dialogue with UNDP. It is the intention of the Sweden’s Embassy to liaise closely with the steering committee, national and international partners, to monitor and, if possible, influence the electoral process in face of these external conditions.