Working with Stakeholders
Vania Anguelova, Independent Electoral Consultant
London, November 28th 2011
Who are the Stakeholders?
 Individuals or groups and organizations that have an
interest or “stake” in the EMB operations.
Primary Stakeholders
 Primary stakeholders are those who directly affect or are
affected by the EMB activities, policies and practices:
-
Political parties and candidates;
-
EMB staff;
-
The executive branch of government;
-
Legislatures;
-
Electoral dispute resolution bodies;
-
The judicial system;
Primary Stakeholders
- The media;
- The electorate – voters and prospective voters;
- Civil society organizations;
- Election monitors and observers;
- The donor community and electoral assistance agencies.
Secondary Stakeholders
 Secondary stakeholders are those more loosely affiliated
to the EMBs and they can differ from case to case:
- EMB suppliers;
- The public at large;
- Regional and international network.
Primary Stakeholders
Political Parties and Candidates
 Regular communication essential to build a confidence
and relationships
 Treat them all with respect, impartiality and fairness
 Establish regular meetings especially during the
elections
 Promotes good relationships and acceptance of the EMB’s
timetables, processes and outputs
(Examples: Ghana, Lesotho, South Africa and DRC).
Primary Stakeholders
EMB Staff
 Determined effort to support its staff, to generate
loyalty and professionalism;
 Staff that are not loyal to EMB and its principles
may frustrate the EMB’s programmes and easily
compromise the EMB reputation.
Primary stakeholders
Government
 In many cases EMBs relies on government
ministries for different essential financial and
organizational needs;
 Cooperation and coordination through
establishment of permanent working groups or
liaison committees involving EMBs and government
agencies.
Primary stakeholders
Legislature
 Good communication facilitates, the development of
electoral legal frameworks and electoral resource
allocations.
 EMBs may play an important role in developing of
electoral legal framework in emerging democracies.
 Amendments to the electoral laws are being passed long
enough before the electoral event to allow EMBs to
make appropriate preparations.
Primary Stakeholders
Electoral Dispute Resolution Body
They can have power to deal with:
 challenges to EMB decisions;
 dispute between EMBs and other stakeholders;
 EMB regulations legality or election results
challenges.
Primary Stakeholders
Monitors, International and Domestic Observers
Primary Stakeholders
Media
Can be a key ally of the EMB in disseminating
information about its mandate and operations as well as
participate in voter education and information
activities.
Primary Stakeholders
The Electorate
EMB should make sure the electorate is well informed
about its activities and programmes
Primary Stakeholders
Civil Society Organizations
Possible partners to implement electoral activities, for
example, in training temporary electoral staff or Voter
and Civic Education activities.
Primary stakeholders
Donor Community and Electoral Assistance Agencies
 Establish donors meetings and roundtables to report on
its progress on electoral administration and use of donor
findings;
 Acknowledging donors assistance in its public relations
events, publications and media productions.
Secondary stakeholders
 EMB suppliers
 The regional and international networks
Maintain Relationships with
Stakeholders
An EMB needs to treat all stakeholders fairy and maintain
two-way communication and consultation with them.
Working with Stakeholders

Maintain two-way communication with stakeholders;

Taking into consideration stakeholders view when making
decisions;

Acting transparently with meetings open for follow-up;
Maintain Relationships with
Stakeholders
 Equitably resolving any conflicts between the needs of
EMB members and staff, and those of other
stakeholders;
 Regularly organizing information meetings for
stakeholders.
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal
with them???
 Depending on the circumstances the EMB may:
- Try a constructive dialogue with Stakeholder;
- Look for a mediation of a third part;
- When is a difference related to the interpretation of the
law, the EMB may approach the courts for a binding
determination.
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal
with them???
 EMB can decide to adopt a strategy to defend itself
when the differences between EMB and a stakeholder
are irreconcilable!
Difficult Stakeholders – how to deal
with them???
 Media release and EMB spokesperson may appear in the
news and other programmes;
 Clarification of the EMB position on the EMB website.
Thank you