[{"bbox": [87, 106, 384, 136], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 3.5. The Intervention Logic"}, {"bbox": [83, 150, 1169, 362], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU will apply an electoral cycle approach which builds upon the track record of past EU cooperation in this area. This approach recognises that electoral support is most effective when provided across electoral cycle phases. It takes the view that the post-electoral period is most conducive to strengthening institutions, consolidating democratisation efforts and fostering trust and resilience. Engagement with relevant institutions (e.g. the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Parliament), political parties, CSOs (notably those representing women, youth and PWDs), and media will be required continuously throughout the electoral cycle to build trust and confidence in the electoral process and to prevent electoral malpractices and violence in a sustained manner. The EU will assess its support to the electoral cycle on a regular basis and adapt it accordingly."}, {"bbox": [83, 388, 1169, 545], "category": "Text", "text": "An electoral cycle approach also provides an opportunity for recommendations by the EU EOM to be taken into account in the next cycle. The key recommendations targeted include the need for greater transparency on electoral preparations and making electoral information easily accessible, enhancement of the voter registration in 'under registered' districts, support to a credible boundary delimitation process, access to the media by all political parties, more coherent and fully explained results management, follow up to complaints, alignment of the electoral act as well as making multi party liaison committees a continuous feature."}, {"bbox": [83, 574, 1169, 840], "category": "Text", "text": "The **underlying intervention logic** for this action is that peaceful and inclusive societies require effective and accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. A key condition for government institutions to be effective, accountable and inclusive is for every citizen to have the right and opportunity to take part in the conduct of public affairs, including through freely chosen representatives, and to vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections. Genuine elections, in turn, require election management bodies to be independent, impartial, transparent, professional and sustainable, and for election processes to be implemented in a manner that ensures accountability, inclusive participation and that furthers justice and peace. Furthermore, an accountable, inclusive, just and peaceful electoral process requires a conducive environment for civil society and independent media to hold the government and ZEC to account while strengthening the different stakeholders to fulfil their respective roles. The action is contributing to the TEI on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and will thus reinforce the intervention logic of the TEI."}, {"bbox": [83, 865, 1130, 892], "category": "Text", "text": "More specifically, the action focusses on effectiveness, accountability, gender and inclusion and peace and justice:"}, {"bbox": [83, 918, 1169, 999], "category": "Text", "text": "It seeks to enhance the **effectiveness** of ZEC by strengthening its capacity to run electoral processes effectively and, in a credible manner, through capacity-building and technical assistance to the processes of voter registration, boundary delimitation and results management."}, {"bbox": [83, 1025, 1169, 1104], "category": "Text", "text": "Enhanced **accountability** and transparency in the electoral process through continued ZEC voter education and stakeholder engagement and strengthened capacity of the media, the Chapter 12 Commissions, CSOs, political parties and ZEC to provide and monitor equitable coverage of the electoral process."}, {"bbox": [83, 1130, 1169, 1236], "category": "Text", "text": "Improved participation and representation of women, youth and persons with disabilities through ZEC implementation of its **gender equality and inclusion** policy, further improved sensitivity and capacities of ZEC and other electoral stakeholders to inclusion issues and making the electoral processes more accessible and inclusive and preventing violence against women in elections."}, {"bbox": [83, 1263, 1169, 1343], "category": "Text", "text": "Increased election stakeholder access to **justice** and reduced election-related violence through strengthening the different mechanisms that identify potential sources of conflict, mitigate against the risks, allow for dialogue and mediation and resolve disputes if they arise."}, {"bbox": [83, 1369, 1169, 1423], "category": "Text", "text": "Bearing in mind the Covid-19 pandemic, the action will also support ZEC and other electoral stakeholders to adjust to the new context. Taken together, these outcomes will enhance trust in the electoral process and confidence in the results."}, {"bbox": [1041, 1691, 1158, 1714], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 12 of 20"}]