The European Union funded Project to Prevent, Mitigate and Manage Election-Related Conflict and Potential Violence in South Africa (PEV-RSA) was crafted in collaboration with the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). The European Centre for Electoral Support is implementing this project in partnership with the IEC, which will last for 24 months, with activities to support the prevention, mitigation and management of election-related conflicts and potential violence that may arise prior to, during and after the 2019 general elections at national and provincial level. 

 

The objectives of the project are geared towards:
1) enhancing leadership and conflict management capacities among key players such as the coordinators and volunteers of the provincial conflict mediation panels;
2) reviving existing peace infrastructures and connect its work to the province conflict mediation panels by providing secretariat services i.e. coordination, inclusion in capacity building, institutional support;
3) supporting regional/international peer exchange meant to bridge the IEC with EMBs in other countries in order to share best practices pertaining to conflict prevention and management.

 

The overarching implementation strategy will be in line with the values of the European Response to Electoral Cycle Support (EURECS) crafted by ECES. The EURECS is an innovative delivery mechanism to implement electoral and democracy assistance activities that are consistent with European values and EU policies and targets the implementations of the recommendations of EU election observation missions in favour of beneficiary countries partners of the EU. EURECS adopts an inclusive approach towards a wide range of electoral stakeholders in order to ensure comprehensive and sustainable actions and it is built to help prevent, mitigate and manage electoral related conflicts.