New Delhi [India], January 23 (ANI): India and Namibia on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on election management on the sidelines of the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, reinforcing cooperation among global election management bodies.
The MoU was signed by Gyanesh Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of India, and Elsie T. Nghikembua, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia, at the conference in New Delhi.
Speaking on the agreement, Nghikembua highlighted the benefits of collaboration with the world’s largest democracy. She said the partnership would benefit Namibia in several ways, particularly in capacity building for election officials.
“One of the areas in the MoU concerns capacity building for our officials and the commission. Training will be conducted either virtually or with our officials attached here to the Election Commission of India. It is a bilateral agreement that will benefit both countries,” she said.
On the broader objective of IICDEM 2026, Nghikembua said the conference covers several thematic areas aimed at improving service delivery by election management bodies worldwide.
“The outcome is improved service delivery for all our election management bodies. Each country would give its perspective and, based on the recommendations, each country, within its own context, would see what is applicable so that it can strengthen its own areas of operation,” she added.
Election officials from several countries underscored the importance of the conference as a platform for sharing experiences and best practices.
Portugal’s Election Commissioner, Andre João Mauricio Leitão do Valle Wemans, said the exchange of information among election management bodies was critical.
“We share information and experiences from several election management bodies. We learn from each other, as we are all facing similar challenges. This exchange of information and the leadership of the Election Commission of India are very important,” he said.
He also praised India’s outreach to voters, noting that the Election Commission of India has managed to reach voters more extensively than many other countries.
Mosotho Moepya, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa, highlighted long-standing cooperation with India, calling IICDEM a major training institution that benefits election management bodies worldwide.
He said one of the key themes of the conference was reimagining the future of election management and beginning preparations today for challenges expected by 2050.
Indonesia’s Election Commissioner Idham Holik expressed appreciation for the invitation, saying the conference would provide valuable insights to help advance election management in Indonesia.
Echoing similar sentiments, Norma Irene De La Cruz Magana, Electoral Councillor of Mexico, said the event showcased India’s leadership in organizing elections and integrating technology and inclusion into democratic processes.
The IICDEM 2026 has brought together election management bodies from across the world, positioning India as a key hub for global dialogue on democratic processes, innovation, and inclusive election management. (ANI)
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