An Interview-Based Case Study Analysis of UNEAD Electoral Assistance in Liberia and Nigeria

Client
United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services
Faculty
Dennis Smith
Team
Martha Isabel Casey, Azadeh Fartache, Lori Mizuno, Daniel Saccardi, Jyoti Venketraman

The United Nations Office for Internal Oversight (UN-OIOS) assists the Secretary-General in internal oversight activities including audits, monitoring, inspections, evaluations, consulting, and investigation activities. The UN-OIOS mandate for the evaluation of UN Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) was to determine the relevancy, efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of EAD activities in relation to its objectives; to enable the Secretariat and Member States to engage in systematic reflection, with a view to increasing EAD’s effective and efficient collaboration with UN and non-UN parties; and, if necessary, improve and/or alter its efficiency and objectives. The focus of this Capstone project was to examine the role and performance of EAD in the 2005 Liberian and upcoming 2007 Nigerian elections, in particular the interactions between EAD and various stakeholders on the ground. With an interview-based case study approach, the evaluation also highlighted some issues and brought forth recommendations that would impact how EAD interacts and conducts its assistance missions in future elections.