I. Context

In March 1996, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding which stresses the commitment of these organizations to cooperate through joint projects. The MOU states, "These projects are part of a long term-strategy based on a mutual interest in strengthening sustainable democratic institutions and helping to ensure broad participation in electoral processes." It states also that the Electoral Assistance Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (UNEAD) and International IDEA "share interest in a range of electoral issues" and lists projects on which they have worked cooperatively." Subsequently, a project was proposed under the title of Collecting and Sharing Election-Related Information Project (Information Sharing Project), with the UNEAD, UNDP and International-IDEA participating.

In March 1998, the participants in this proposed project requested that the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) comment on the project document, suggesting how IFES might participate and assist in enhancing this effort. A document entitled Solicited Recommendations on Collecting and Sharing Election-Related Information Project was generated, recommending a number of approaches aimed an at enhancing the project's efficiency, at augmenting the potential of its success, and at ensuring the project does not duplicate the efforts of current projects currently underway in the electoral field.

Subsequently, it was determined that this information sharing project, known as Election Process Information Collection (EPIC) would be revised to include IFES as a full partner, based on this institutions background in surveys, data collection, and resource center activities. With this in mind, representatives from International IDEA and IFES met in Stockholm in August 1998 to discuss a strategy for revising the project plan. Changes were made and presented to the EPIC partners during a meeting held at the United Nations in New York in October 1998. The current Project Plan is based on input from all partners.