Staff Reporter
THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on Monday officially opened a training workshop on Risk Management and Electoral Resilience at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek.
The in-country support training is organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).
Opening the training, ECN Chairperson Gerson Sindano said the event was one of the greatest opportunities Namibia had had to foster electoral democracy.
“He who does not participate in democracy today shall thirst for democracy tomorrow,” Sindano said.
He thanked International IDEA and IIIDEM for their unwavering commitment to strengthening democratic processes and electoral integrity across the globe.
“Your dedication to enhancing democratic governance and supporting electoral management bodies demonstrates the vital role that international collaboration plays in promoting peace, stability and accountability,” he said.
Sindano said the ECN has an existing cooperation agreement with International IDEA through the Ministry of International Relations and Trade.
In June 2024, International IDEA Secretary General Kevin Zamora and a delegation visited the Commission as it prepared for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections. During the visit, Zamora held a public lecture on ‘The Global State of Democracy’, which was attended by key electoral stakeholders.
In June 2025, the Commission was also invited to a conference on Electoral Integrity in Stockholm, Sweden, organised in collaboration with the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Electoral Authority and the Australian Electoral Commission.
Sindano said that in January 2026, the Election Commission of India, as Chair of International IDEA, co-organised a three-day International Conference on Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi, India.
On the sidelines of that conference, the ECN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Election Commission of India to enhance cooperation between the two electoral management bodies.
Since the signing of the MoU, the Commission, its management and staff have benefited from five training sessions on capacity-building in democracy and election management through IIIDEM.
Sindano said Namibia must reflect on the challenges facing its electoral processes.
“The integrity of our elections is paramount, not only to ensure trust in the democratic system but also to promote active citizen participation and foster social cohesion. Given the rapidly evolving political landscape and growing global uncertainties, the need for robust risk management strategies and electoral resilience has never been more critical,” he said.
He said the training was an opportunity to deepen understanding of risk factors that can affect electoral processes and to develop actionable strategies to respond effectively to these challenges.
“It is our collective duty and responsibility to ensure that elections are conducted fairly, transparently and inclusively, and without fear or favour,” Sindano said.
He encouraged participants to engage actively, share experiences and learn from one another.
“Together, let us work to reinforce the foundations of democracy and ensure that every vote counts,” he said.
Photo: Electoral Commission of Namibia – ECN
