The project, which will last for two years a half, will adopt a two-phase approach: phase one will focus on the early presidential elections scheduled for 21 February, 2012; and phase two will focus on electoral reforms, the expected referendum on the new/revised constitution, and the post-referendum elections. The capacity of the SCER will be built during both phases at the institutional and individual levels. Support will be provided from a multi-partners basket fund to ensure both coordination and cost-effectiveness.
The United Nations is explicitly requested by the GCC initiative to provided required assistance to the respective Yemen institutions to conduct agreed elections and referendum within the transitional period of (2011-2014). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the lead agency among the UN system to undertake this task.
Some of the key donors have already shown interest to provide their financial contribution to this important elections project. So far, a working group on elections has been formed consisting of key donors and all witnesses of the mentioned GCC initiative.
The project Document was signed by, the Minister of Planning Mr. Mohammed Al-Sa’adi; Judge Mohammed Hussain Al-Hakimi, Chairman of Supreme Commission on Elections and Referendum (SCER); and Mr. Jens Toyberg-frandzen, Acting Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Yemen.
The signing ceremony was attended by key officials from the Supreme Commission of on Elections and Referendum, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and UNDP.