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GECOM to benefit from £750,000 Electoral Support Project
Kaieteur News- The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) is partnering with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Guyana to support the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) in enhancing institutional capacity and strengthening electoral processes through the launch of an Electoral Support Project.
In a joint release from the organizations on Friday, it was disclosed that the Electoral Support Project, funded by the UK Government to the sum of £750,000 and implemented by UNDP, will provide high-level technical assistance, international expertise and best practices to support GECOM’s core activities in administering elections that meet international standards.
GECOM’s Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh and UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Berdi Berdiyev sign the agreement for the Electoral Support Project. Also photographed are GECOM’s CEO, Vishnu Persaud, British High Commissioner, Jane Miller, and United Nations Resident Coordinator, Jean Kamau.
“The project is designed to support both the immediate and longer-term needs of GECOM in managing the 2025 electoral cycle and will continue through to March 2026,” the release stated.
Guyana’s General and Regional elections are constitutionally due this year.
According to the agencies, the partnership underscores the importance of international cooperation in bolstering national systems through the application of global best practices tailored to Guyana’s unique political and cultural context.
Detailing some of the key objectives of the project, the agencies noted that there will be technical support for 2025 Elections, which would see the deployment of senior international electoral experts, who will be based within GECOM, to provide technical advice and support to strengthen processes such as communications, operations and logistics, for the preparation, management, and conduct of the elections.
Capacity building will also form part of the project that aims to strengthen GECOM’s operational systems, human resources, and technical capacity for sustainable electoral administration.
Thirdly, it is set to improve communications and stakeholder engagement with GECOM which is geared at enhancing public information strategies and fostering more inclusive engagement among electoral stakeholders to promote transparency and trust.
“Building on the lessons learnt during previous electoral cycles, there is strong commitment and renewed emphasis on fostering transparency, trust, and inclusive participation in the electoral process,” the agencies said.
British High Commissioner, Jane Miller said that the UK is pleased to contribute to efforts that support Guyana’s electoral processes in line with international best practices. “This project reflects the continued UK-Guyana partnership to strengthen institutions and promote good governance,” she shared.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Berdi Berdiyev emphasized that the project represents a strategic investment in strengthening democratic governance in Guyana.
“The project aligns with key priorities of UNDP’s Country Programme Document 2022-2026 to strengthen mechanisms that support transparent and effective democratic processes and positively contributes to achievement of the SDGs on partnerships, peace, justice and strong institutions,” he highlighted.
Meanwhile, GECOM’s Chairperson, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh shared that support through strategic partnerships is always welcomed “particularly from institutions that stand on the pillars of governance, democracy and rule of law — which aligns to GECOM’s constitutional mandate for the execution of free, fair and transparent elections in Guyana.”
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