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TLDR:
- International IDEA facilitated a study tour to South Africa on political finance for the PPRC of Sierra Leone.
- The visit aimed to foster shared learning and explore best practices in political and campaign financing.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) recently facilitated a 4-day peer learning visit to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in South Africa for members of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) of Sierra Leone. The visit was funded by the European Union and aimed at exploring best practices in political and campaign financing, particularly in response to the Political Parties Act of 2022 and the recommendations from election observation groups.
The IEC of South Africa, known for its effective political finance regulatory framework, provided valuable insights and expertise to the delegation from Sierra Leone. The visit included meetings with experts and regulators at the IEC to discuss topics such as legal frameworks, enforcement strategies, financial reporting procedures, and more. Additionally, the team interacted with civil society organizations in South Africa working on political party funding and campaign financing.
Dr. Idrissa Mamoud Tarawallie, Head of International IDEA, emphasized the importance of understanding how political parties and candidates raise and spend money in maintaining electoral integrity. The initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of the PPRC to regulate money in politics and enhance democratic governance in Sierra Leone.
The outgoing Chairman of the PPRC, Hon. Justice Abdulai M. Bangurah, highlighted the positive impact of the visit and the support from International IDEA in capacitating the PPRC with regulations on political campaign financing.
Overall, the study tour to South Africa reflects International IDEA’s commitment to promoting democratic governance and electoral integrity through peer-to-peer learning and capacity-building initiatives.
