Melanesian Spearhead Group Members' election management bodies Inaugural Conference

The Conference is co-hosted by Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat, the Fijian Elections Office and International IDEA. 

The idea came about when the heads of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Members' election management bodies (EMBs) present at the MSG/International IDEA joint partnership launch in Honiara, Solomon Islands, agreed on 12 September 2019 to come together to discuss common challenges, successes and experiences with each other as representatives of EMBs in the Melanesian Sub-region.

The EMBs recognized that the MSG Secretariat is the premier subregional body in Melanesia and is well placed to support the EMBs on various areas of institutional strengthening based on the MSG Leaders Mandate and that such an opportunity would also support the EMBs in their quest to establish a forum for cross learning and enhanced cooperation among themselves. In this regard the EMBs also noted that the MSG Secretariat has in the past provided observer support to their respective elections. 

The EMBs also recognized the significance of the partnership between the MSG Secretariat and the International IDEA, and noting International IDEA’s global footprint in the areas of elections and democracy. In this regard, EMBs felt that the MSG/International IDEA partnership would be beneficial for them given the technical support and resources that is available and accessible through this strategic partnership.

The subregional conference would reinforce the vision of EMBs in creating a space for dialogue, learning, and strengthening the management and governance of elections offices within Melanesia.