Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LOME210
2007-03-14 17:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lome
Cable title:
DONORS DISCUSS TOGO ELECTION PROGRESS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHPC #0210/01 0731704 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 141704Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LOME TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7844 INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA PRIORITY 2104 RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU PRIORITY 3926 RUEHOU/AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU PRIORITY 8859 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0537
UNCLAS LOME 000210
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR D'ELIA AND KANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL EAID TO
SUBJECT: DONORS DISCUSS TOGO ELECTION PROGRESS
UNCLAS LOME 000210
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR D'ELIA AND KANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL EAID TO
SUBJECT: DONORS DISCUSS TOGO ELECTION PROGRESS
1. Ambassador and DCM attended an expanded donors "Group of
Five" meeting on March 9 called by German Ambassador Hubert
Kolb. Also present were the Ambassador of France and his DCM,
the Delegate from the EU and his DCM, the Resident
Representative of UNDP, the Resident Representative of the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Head of Mission of
the International Committee of the Red Cross. The group
listened to a presentation by Alexandre Ponyo, a UNDP
elections expert, on the state of play with respect to the
technical side of voter registration for the legislative
elections schedule for June 24.
2. The EU and the UNDP have teamed up for a project called
PEACE - Projet d'Enregistrement et d'Appui au Cycle Electoral
du Togo - i.e., the Project of Voter Registration and
Electoral Assistance to Togo. The project's general
objectives are (a) the organization of elections that will be
considered free, fair and transparent within Togo as well as
internationally and (b) reinforcement of the capacity and the
means of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)
to manage an electoral process that meets national and
international standards.
3. The project has four specific objectives:
A. Creation of an electoral list that is reasonably
trustworthy utilizing a computerized registration kit which
collects biometric data and produces a voter registration
card for delivery on the spot.
B. Reinforcement of the capacity of NGOs, civil society, and
the media to observe national elections.
C. Provision of a safe environment for conduct of elections.
D. Building on the gains made during this electoral process
to continue long term development of the CENI and civil
society with respect to elections
4. The expected results are as follows:
A. Consolidation of the democratic process
B. A biometrically-based data base of Togolese voters that is
secure and reliable.
C. At least 48% of the population will receive a unique piece
of personal identification.
D. A list of the electorate that fulfills the requirements of
universal suffrage.
E. The rights of the population as well as the voters will be
respected.
F. The CENI will have well-trained personnel and a modern
technical election infrastructure.
G. The political parties will be involved in the electoral
process.
H. Election results will be gathered in near real time and
accepted by the parties engaged in the elections.
5. Structures to implement the project at the national and
local level have been agreed with the Independent National
Electoral Commission (CENI). In addition, the EU plans to
have a robust observer team in Togo for the election.
6. UNDP has estimated the elections will cost about USD
22,700,000 or about USD 7.70 per voter. This estimate is the
fourth iteration of estimates for cost and is within the
historical range in light of the conditions expected in Togo.
In UNDP's experience, elections in stable democracies cost
from one to three dollars per voter. For democracies in
transition elections cost from three to eight dollars per
voter, and countries in a post-conflict environment spend
from eight to forty-five dollars per voter.
7. In order to keep the technical side of the election
process on track UNDP recommends the following:
A. Confirm availability of money necessary for Project PEACE
Togo via request to EU and UNDP.
B. Rapidly setup the pilot project.
C. Involve Ministries of Territorial Administration,
Cooperation, Communications and Human Rights.
D. Chose a technical operator for the implementation of the
voter registration project.
E. Update administrative districting to have voting districts
with similar numbers of voters.
F. Begin preparations for awareness campaigns directed at
voters.
G. Reinforce the decision-making autonomy of the CENI.
8. Comment: Post reiterates its earlier request for USG
contingency funding to assist Togo's upcoming legislative
elections. These elections are the centerpiece of a strategy
negotiated between the ruling party and its opponents to end
Togo's long political and economic crisis through a process
of democratization. The EU and the UNDP have stepped up to
the plate in a big way to assist the Togolese with this
critical exercise, but funding for only about two-thirds of
the estimated USD 23 million costs have been identified from
donor and GoT resources. Even a token USG contribution, e.g.,
through the UN's election trust fund or using a USG NGO
specializing in election assistance, will have an important
symbolic impact in Togo, which has always looked to the U.S.
as the world's leading proponent of democracy and good
governance. End Comment.
DUNN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR D'ELIA AND KANEDA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL EAID TO
SUBJECT: DONORS DISCUSS TOGO ELECTION PROGRESS
1. Ambassador and DCM attended an expanded donors "Group of
Five" meeting on March 9 called by German Ambassador Hubert
Kolb. Also present were the Ambassador of France and his DCM,
the Delegate from the EU and his DCM, the Resident
Representative of UNDP, the Resident Representative of the UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Head of Mission of
the International Committee of the Red Cross. The group
listened to a presentation by Alexandre Ponyo, a UNDP
elections expert, on the state of play with respect to the
technical side of voter registration for the legislative
elections schedule for June 24.
2. The EU and the UNDP have teamed up for a project called
PEACE - Projet d'Enregistrement et d'Appui au Cycle Electoral
du Togo - i.e., the Project of Voter Registration and
Electoral Assistance to Togo. The project's general
objectives are (a) the organization of elections that will be
considered free, fair and transparent within Togo as well as
internationally and (b) reinforcement of the capacity and the
means of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI)
to manage an electoral process that meets national and
international standards.
3. The project has four specific objectives:
A. Creation of an electoral list that is reasonably
trustworthy utilizing a computerized registration kit which
collects biometric data and produces a voter registration
card for delivery on the spot.
B. Reinforcement of the capacity of NGOs, civil society, and
the media to observe national elections.
C. Provision of a safe environment for conduct of elections.
D. Building on the gains made during this electoral process
to continue long term development of the CENI and civil
society with respect to elections
4. The expected results are as follows:
A. Consolidation of the democratic process
B. A biometrically-based data base of Togolese voters that is
secure and reliable.
C. At least 48% of the population will receive a unique piece
of personal identification.
D. A list of the electorate that fulfills the requirements of
universal suffrage.
E. The rights of the population as well as the voters will be
respected.
F. The CENI will have well-trained personnel and a modern
technical election infrastructure.
G. The political parties will be involved in the electoral
process.
H. Election results will be gathered in near real time and
accepted by the parties engaged in the elections.
5. Structures to implement the project at the national and
local level have been agreed with the Independent National
Electoral Commission (CENI). In addition, the EU plans to
have a robust observer team in Togo for the election.
6. UNDP has estimated the elections will cost about USD
22,700,000 or about USD 7.70 per voter. This estimate is the
fourth iteration of estimates for cost and is within the
historical range in light of the conditions expected in Togo.
In UNDP's experience, elections in stable democracies cost
from one to three dollars per voter. For democracies in
transition elections cost from three to eight dollars per
voter, and countries in a post-conflict environment spend
from eight to forty-five dollars per voter.
7. In order to keep the technical side of the election
process on track UNDP recommends the following:
A. Confirm availability of money necessary for Project PEACE
Togo via request to EU and UNDP.
B. Rapidly setup the pilot project.
C. Involve Ministries of Territorial Administration,
Cooperation, Communications and Human Rights.
D. Chose a technical operator for the implementation of the
voter registration project.
E. Update administrative districting to have voting districts
with similar numbers of voters.
F. Begin preparations for awareness campaigns directed at
voters.
G. Reinforce the decision-making autonomy of the CENI.
8. Comment: Post reiterates its earlier request for USG
contingency funding to assist Togo's upcoming legislative
elections. These elections are the centerpiece of a strategy
negotiated between the ruling party and its opponents to end
Togo's long political and economic crisis through a process
of democratization. The EU and the UNDP have stepped up to
the plate in a big way to assist the Togolese with this
critical exercise, but funding for only about two-thirds of
the estimated USD 23 million costs have been identified from
donor and GoT resources. Even a token USG contribution, e.g.,
through the UN's election trust fund or using a USG NGO
specializing in election assistance, will have an important
symbolic impact in Togo, which has always looked to the U.S.
as the world's leading proponent of democracy and good
governance. End Comment.
DUNN