DILI, 1 June 2021 (TATOLI) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) has virtually signed a Letter of Agreement initiating a partnership to support Timor-Leste’s Electoral Management Bodies (EMB) in preparing a manual and plan to conduct COVID-resilient elections under the project ‘COVID-Resilient Elections in Timor-Leste.
The agreement was signed by the Representative of the UNDP in Timor-Leste, Munkhtuya Altangerel, and Leena Rikkila Tamang, The Director for Asia and the Pacific, witnessed by the UN Resident Coordinator, The President of the National Commission on Election (CNE), and the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste.
According to the statement released from the UNDP, IDEA will provide technical expertise to the EMBs in developing and validating a Covid-19 resilient plan and manual to prepare hold elections and it must be under health and safety authorities to ensure the integrity of electoral.
it is added that The IDEA has been monitoring the impact of Covid-19 and collected some lessons comparable in the global situation and to facilitate best practice for electoral support.
“Today marks the start of a strong, fruitful, and timely partnership with International IDEA in pursuit of safeguarding representative democracy against COVID-19,” said Munkhtuya Altangerel, Resident Representative, UNDP Timor-Leste said in a statement.
The Director for Asia and Pacific Leena Rikkilä Tamang said the Global pandemic has been testing the resilience of democracies worldwide and as examples show many elections disrupted and derailed. At the same time, a crisis can be conducive to electoral innovation, and even increase operational effectiveness and participation.
“International IDEA, together with the UNDP, is keen to support STAE and CNE in their efforts to organize the 2022 elections safely and with integrity.” – Leena Rikkilä Tamang, Director for Asia and the Pacific said in a statement.
Likewise the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, H.E. KINEFUCHI Masami said, Japan has consistently supported the democratic election process of Timor-Leste in various ways and means since 1999, based upon their assistance in cooperation with UNDP for the last 10 years.
“We are now launching another project with UNDP and IDEA to reinforce the development of democracy in this country that is now facing enormous challenges caused by COVID-19 and recent natural disasters. I strongly hope this project will be another big success.” Ambassador Masami said in a statement.
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