About ESP

Project data

Budget

US$ 27,820,000

Team

Duration

2012/01 - 2022/06

Sources of funding

European Union: 11.77M$
UKAID: 8.75M$
Norway: 4.06M$
UNDP: 2.5M$
Denmark: 0.74M$

Partners

Election Commission of Nepal
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

Focus

Support for capacity strengthening of the election commission
Support to conducting elections
Support to increase inclusive participation

In a nutshell

The Electoral Support Project (ESP) provides long-term institutional capacity development of the Election Commission, Nepal (ECN) and other stakeholders for conducting credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

The project is aligned with the Strategic Plan of the ECN (2015- 2019) and contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), 5 (Gender Equality) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). ESP has been working toward this end since 2008.

The background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiated the Electoral Support Project (ESP) following the Constituent Assembly elections of 2008, which were supported by the United Nations.

In the context of Nepal, ESP facilitates the institutional strengthening and professional development endeavors of the ECN to build the capacity of human resources, to contribute to organizing credible elections. It focuses on providing technical assistance as well as operational support, primarily to the ECN. This includes advice focusing on strengthening the electoral institutions, operational support to the election authority, materials support and mobilization of resources.

The project supported the 2013 Constituent Assembly Elections and the 2017 elections at the three levels that were held to implement the 2015 Constitution: the local level, the provincial level and the federal level.

What we do

The Electoral Support Project provides technical assistance for electoral processes in Nepal, primarily to the Election Commission of Nepal.

This includes advice focusing on strengthening the electoral institutions, operational support to the election authority, materials support and mobilization of resources.

The core outputs of ESP include:

The ECN capacity-building: the project provides sustained institutional strengthening and professional development assistance for ECN to function as a permanent, professional and independent electoral management body.
Credible and sustainable elections: ESP provides technical assistance and critical operational support to ECN during elections.
Increased democratic participation of voters: the project increases the awareness of democracy, the electoral system and processes, especially of vulnerable groups (women, people living with disabilities and ethnic minorities), for them to meaningfully participate in the different stages of the electoral cycle.

Who we are

Contact

UNDP and Project focal point

tek.temata@undp.org

For any inquiries please contact
Mr. Tek Temata
Portfolio Manager, UNDP
UN House, Pulchowk
Kathmandu, Nepal

EU delegation to Nepal

761 Neel Saraswati Marg
Lazimpat
P.O. Box 6754
Kathmandu, Nepal

EC-UNDP JTF