The mission found all conditions satisfactory and recommended a positive response to the Government’s request for a UN coordination of the international assistance to the 2003 municipal elections. As a result, UNDP formulated a project of aimed at:

• the provision of technical assistance to the election management bodies (STAE and CNE) during the preparation and holding of the 2003 municipal elections, and their immediate post-electoral period, while laying a strong foundation for the 2004 general elections;

• the funding of specific electoral activities and materials, namely in support of the civic education campaigns, training programmes and voting materials.

• the coordination of donor financial contributions.

Following the holding of local elections in Mozambique on 19 November 2003, the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Department of Political Affairs conducted an evaluation of the UN support delivered through the UNDP Technical Assistance Project.

The general evaluation of the project and its management was positive. Both the technical and financial contributions as well as quality of the relations established at the technical and managerial levels and their national counterparts were highly praised.

According to the evaluation report, international actors emphasized that the 2003 Mozambican local elections should be viewed as a step towards the preparation of general elections planned for 2004 rather than an isolated event. Additionally, they considered that the sustainability of future electoral processes will depend on their incorporation as periodic governmental activities, foreseen in the law and planned for well in advance, both in its organizational and budgetary aspects.

The municipal elections experience also evidenced the need for an early adoption of the legal framework concerning 2004 general elections and for budgetary commitment by the Government of Mozambique and international donors for their organization and conduct.

Experience in these elections showed that a clearly defined role and code of conduct for international and national observers would make their contributions more effective.

Among other aspects, the report stresses that the main stakeholders strongly supported a continuation of the role of the United Nations as coordinator of international assistance in complementing bilateral and multi-lateral efforts.

In addition to UNDP, donor contributions to the municipal elections within the UNDP Technical Assistance Project were the Governments of Italy, Sweden and Canada.

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For more information, please contact Nelson Xavier, UNDP Public Information Officer.

Mobile: + 258 82 314 060

Tel. + 258 01 481438 / Fax + 258 01 491691

E: mail: nelson.xavier@undp.org

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UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.