GUINEA-BISSAU

AT A GLANCE
Head of Government: Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior
Next election: 2014
Capital: Bissau
Population: 1.5 million
Independence:  1974 (from Portugal)
Human Development Index (HDI): 171st out of 179 countries
Gender Gap Index (GGI):  N/A, but gender-related development index is 150th out of 157 countries
Gross National Index (GNI) per capita:  $US200

 

Strengthening the Electoral Process

Status: Complete, 2009
Local Partners: National Electoral Commission (NEC), United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS)
Canadian Experts: Alain Gauthier, Jean-Marc Baudot

Guinea Bissau’s November 16, 2008 legislative elections were heralded as a turning point in the country’s democratic progress.  CIDA’s Deployment for Democratic Development (DDD) was asked by Guinea Bissau’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) to assist with the conduct of these free and fair elections.  Two Canadian experts, an Elections Coordinator (Alain Gauthier) and Logistician (Jean-Marc Baudot), provided support to some 200 international electoral observers by assisting in the recruitment of support staff and by organizing briefings to give observers a better understanding of the country and the political/legal context for the elections.  They also assisted the NEC with the accreditation of international observers, and proposed country-wide deployment plans in order to avoid duplication and to increase the density of observation coverage.  These activities were aimed at strengthening the coordination of international observation of legislative elections and contributing to more credible and transparent elections in the long run, paving the way for the 2010 presidential election. 

“I was proud to be able to contribute to the road to democracy in Guinea-Bissau as part of the International Observation Mission for the Legislative Elections in 2008 with UNOGBIS. Electoral observation is a key factor for the transparency of the process.” - Jean-Marc Baudot

 

Supporting the International Observation of Guinea Bissau’s Presidential Elections

Status: Complete, 2009

Local Partners: National Electoral Commission (NEC), United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS)

Canadian Experts: Claude Parent, Christian Gohel

 

After the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira on March 2, 2009, plans for presidential elections were moved up to June 28, 2009. DDD provided technical support to help coordinate the international observation of Guinea Bissau’s presidential elections and contributed to more peaceful, credible and transparent process, hence strengthening democracy in Guinea Bissau and the region. In coordination with the National Electoral Commission (NEC), two Canadian experts—Elections Coordinator Claude Parent and Logistician Christian Gohel— provided logistical support to some 200 international electoral observers, including assistance with recruitment of support staff, renting vehicles, and organizing briefings for observers (political and legal context, electoral process, polling procedures, logistical arrangements and timetable for observation efforts). The Canadian experts assisted NEC in the accreditation of international observers and proposed country-wide deployment plans in order to avoid duplication, reduce costs and increase the density of observation coverage.