[{"bbox": [93, 164, 1163, 271], "category": "Text", "text": "The project contributed to efficient, transparent and credible elections in March 2019, as stated by international observers. All political parties that contested the elections have finally accepted the results. Civic education activities contributed to a participatory electoral process. Approximately 84.7% of registered voters cast their ballots in the elections. Despite the positive outcome, a number of lessons have been learned."}, {"bbox": [93, 282, 1163, 364], "category": "Text", "text": "**A more appropriate timeline for resource mobilisation is necessary** to ensure donor commitment and accountability in financing the elections, in order to avoid logistical and operational risks due to late availability of resources and delays in payments to electoral institutions."}, {"bbox": [93, 375, 1163, 667], "category": "Text", "text": "**The voter registration process itself faced significant challenges**, including political conflicts, shortages of voter registration kits, inadequate planning and insufficient public awareness. The technological capacity installed with the provision of 400 biometric kits to the government of Guinea-Bissau improved the *voter registration system*, however its *link to the civil registry* and other functional identity registries such as passports, driver's licences, and a comprehensive register of civil servants, should be further developed to ensure data harmonisation and avoid repeated costs at each election. The government's planning and implementation of the voter correction exercise prior to the presidential elections suffered from a lack of inclusiveness, and for this reason its outcome was rejected by the majority of political actors. There is therefore a **strong need for early, inclusive, and consistent decision-making and planning** for any future updating of the voter rolls. Trust among national actors remains elusive and threatens the fragility of the political environment. The need for a confidence-building framework/mechanism to support elections remains an important consideration."}, {"bbox": [93, 678, 1163, 786], "category": "Text", "text": "The fact that GTAPE had very few permanent staff was also a concern. For the 2018 voter registration, staff from other government ministries were seconded to form a multi-sectoral committee that would coordinate voter registration activities. **GTAPE needs to be better funded** by the government between voter registration exercises and its resources need to be better managed."}, {"bbox": [93, 797, 1163, 932], "category": "Text", "text": "**Civic education on democracy and citizenship needs to be strengthened**, focusing on increasing both the breadth of participation by all elements of society [women, men, youth, elders, urban, rural, PWD, other marginalised populations] and the depth of understanding of and commitment to democratic values and practices. Past efforts have focused on voter information, the elements required in order for individuals to be able to register and vote, rather than on the broader rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society typically considered civic education."}, {"bbox": [93, 943, 1163, 1131], "category": "Text", "text": "**The media has used inflammatory and inciting language**, sometimes amounting to hate speech and calls for divisive religious sentiments, certainly a concern during the election period. The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) advocacy efforts, in collaboration with the National Council for Social Communication and through the signing of the Code of Conduct for Media Coverage of Elections by Major Media outlets, have helped to reduce this trend. However, inflammatory language on social media continued and future efforts could attempt to include social media in a code of conduct. In addition, advocacy should be undertaken to pass the bill regulating online communications."}, {"bbox": [1027, 1680, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 11 of 19"}]