USAID grants $500,000 to INCE

A framework agreement between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support the Mauritania Electoral Cycle Project (PACEM) was initialled Tuesday in Nouakchott.

Under this agreement, USAID will grant $500,000 to the Independent National Electoral Commission to organize the upcoming presidential elections.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the program by its resident representative in Mauritania, Mr. Mansour Ndiaye, and on behalf of the United States, the US Ambassador to Mauritania, HE. Ms. Cynthia Kierscht, in the presence of the Vice-President of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Mohamed Lemine Ould Dahi.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mansour Ndiaye welcomed the grant from the U.S. government, noting that USAID has become the fifth partner to join efforts to fund the project, along with the United Nations, the European Union, Spain and the United Nations Development Program.
This contribution from the United States will focus on building the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission and electoral management bodies, and on raising awareness of the importance of registering as many citizens as possible on the electoral rolls.
The UNDP Resident Representative noted that this contribution comes at a time when the electoral process is at a critical juncture, stressing the need for continued efforts to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to organize fair and transparent elections, in line with international standards.
For her part, the Ambassador of the United States of America said that she is pleased to sign this agreement, stressing that the support provided by her government will contribute to the organization of the upcoming elections and strengthen the technical capabilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The deputy chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the agreement represents an important step in supporting the electoral support project.
In this context, he recalled that many projects are under way in order to organize transparent elections, which requires strengthening the capacities of all regional branches of the Commission, as well as a great effort at the level of the central administration of the Independent National Electoral Commission to announce the provisional results on Monday at 8 p.m. at the latest, as stipulated by law.
The project aimed to continue strengthening the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission after the elections scheduled for this year. He pointed out that the current team’s mandate will continue until 2027.