ZESN Voter Education ZESN Voter Education - ZESN Voter Education bridging funds Zimbabwe Election Support Network, ZESN, ska genomföra nämnda program under 2016-2018 för att stärka berörda valinstitutioner i Zimbabwe inför, under och efter de allmänna valen 2018 (parlament, president och kommunfullmäktige), samt genomföra väljarutbildning och oberoende observation av dessa val. ZESN är ett nätverk av 31 organisationer från olika delar av det civila samhället (kvinnorättsorganisationer; fackföreningar; MR-organisationer; media; kyrkliga organisationer; osv.), som alltsedan 2000 spelat en viktig roll för att befästa och utveckla Zimbabwes demokrati. 

Insatsen har fyra huvudsakliga mål (outcomes):
- ökad transparens i valprocesserna;
- stärkta valinstitutioner och ökad kvalitet i valprocesserna;
- ökad effektivitet i nätverkets kapacitet;
- ökad tillgång för medborgarna, och deltagande i, valprocesser.

ZESN leds av ett sekretariat i Harare, och har ett fältkontor i Bulawayo. Ett flertal utvärderingar har bekräftat betydelsen och kvaliteten av ZESNs arbete. Sida har stött organisationen sedan 2001, med god erfarenhet. Zimbabwe Election Support Network, ZESN, will implement its programme "Electoral Support Project 2016-2018" to strengthen Zimbabwe's electoral institutions before, during and after the general elections in 2018 (parliamentary, presidential and municipal), and conduct voter education and independent observation of these elections. ZESN is a network of 31 organizations from different parts of civil society (women's rights organizations, trade unions, human rights organizations, the media, religious organizations, etc.), which since 2000 has played an important role in consolidating and developing Zimbabwe's democracy. 

The initiative has four main objectives (outcomes):
- Increased transparency of electoral processes;
- Strengthening valinstitutioner and increased quality of electoral processes;
- Increased efficiency in network capacity;
- Increased access of citizens, and participation in, electoral processes.

ZESN is led by a secretariat in Harare, and has one field office in Bulawayo. Several evaluations have confirmed the importance and the quality of the work. Sida has supported the organization since 2001 with good experience. The overall goal of ZESN is: To facilitate the participation of civil society in local authority, parliamentary, presidential elections and by-elections in order to promote democratic values, transparent, free and fair electoral environment and processes in accordance with set international standards.
ZESN’s theory of change follows the logic that if there is/are: Strengthened national democratic institutions; Improved transparency in electoral processes; Increased citizen access to and participation in electoral processes; and Enhanced effectiveness of CSOs’ election-related interventions; then the desired impact, of “a Zimbabwe where citizens are empowered to hold the State to account for the respect of human rights, good governance and democratic principles” will be realized.
The current project which is being supported by Sweden has the impact goal of:A Zimbabwe where democratic electoral environment and processes are upheld.
The main sub/outcome goals are:1. Increased citizens access to and participation in electoral processes2. Improved transparency in electoral processes3. Strengthened democratic institutions and processes4. Enhanced effectiveness of CSOs’ election related intervensions.