On Wednesday, the UN Development Program in Libya (UNDP) provided $883,503.00 dollars to the ‘Promoting Elections for the People of Libya’ (PEPOL) project, according to a statement by the organisation.
This came during a meeting attended by the Head of the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Din Al-Sayeh and the UNDP Resident Representative, Marc-André Franche in Tripoli.
The contribution will increase funding available for the procurement of electoral materials, in preparation for the country’s upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The project supports the capacity and readiness of HNEC to prepare and conduct the elections. It is implemented by the United Nations Electoral Support Team (UNEST), comprising of experts from UNDP Libya, and the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), who provide technical advice and support.
“We signed today the cost-sharing agreement with UNDP Libya that provides support to HNEC through local and international partners. This agreement is to cover the procurement of electoral materials to be used in the upcoming 24 December elections,” Al-Sayeh said.
In turn, Franche stated that “by contributing to efforts led by UNDP and UNSMIL, HNEC is supporting the rights of the Libyan people to determine their leadership through elections. Along with other partners, UNDP is standing by Libya to further advance the country’s progress on free, inclusive, and fair elections.”
Libya has been struggling to move past the violence that has wracked the oil-rich nation since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
A ceasefire between eastern and western factions last year led to a fragile unity government taking office in March, with a mandate to lead the country to elections.