Background
In January 2005, long years of conflict between the North and the South of Sudan came to an end with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Among key milestone events mandated by the CPA, general elections will be held in spring 2010. Transparent, credible, and peaceful elections would present a historic opportunity for Sudan to consolidate and sustain peace gain international recognition and allow more participation of the population in decision making

The newly established National Elections Commission has been tasked to implement the forthcoming elections for: The President of Sudan; The President of the Government of Southern Sudan; The National Assembly; The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly; The State Assemblies; and State Governors.

Political Parties Affairs Council will register political parties throughout Sudan to contest the elections and develop their long-term capacity.

With support from Italy, UK Department for International Development, Denmark, Norway and European Commission, UNDP will support the National Elections Commission and the Political Parties Affairs Council in their various elections-related activities. Furthermore, UNDP is committed to the electoral-cycle approach to strengthen the democratic process, rather than just the event of polling day. Therefore, there is a focus on strengthening the capacity of national democratic institutions and promoting meaningful participation of voters and all stakeholders in electoral events.

Objectives
The Support to elections and democratic governance project aims ultimately to improve democratic governance in order to achieve long-term sustainable peace and development. Central to this aim, UNDP’s activities include strengthening the institutions, systems, and processes of democratic governance.

The project anticipates supporting activities in the following areas:

1. Increased voter knowledge of the democratic process to participate in the electoral events: UNDP will support civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out civic and voter education activities to all citizens with special attention to include historically marginalized group such as women, youth, and the disabled. Activities include face-to-face meetings, theater performances, public and community events, radio and television programs, and school activities throughout Sudan.

2. Enhance the quantity and quality of elections-related reporting: National journalists will be trained to enhance the quality, accuracy and balance of elections-related reporting thereby contributing to an informed electorate. A media monitoring program will provide independent analysis of media coverage of the elections.

3. Support to domestic groups to observe the electoral processes and report its findings: Training and coordination support will be provided to domestic observation networks to enhance their capacity of monitoring and reporting on electoral events and promote transparency and confidence in the electoral process.

4. Provision of material, logistical and capacity-building support to the National Elections Commission to carry out free and fair elections: Working closely with the Commission, the Southern Sudan High Committee, and respective State High Committee’s for elections, UNDP’s activities will include support and technical advice to training, public awareness, establishment of offices, communications, elections materials and transportation.

5. Support to the Political Parties Affairs Council: UNDP will provide material and technical support to the newly established Council.

6. Facilitate participation of key stakeholders: The participation of all voters, and in particular women and youth, will be enhanced through support to targeted civil society activities, strengthened security for election-day and judiciary for dispute-resolution processes.