Research and advocacy
Goal 3 of our Strategic Plan: improve the electoral legal framework through research and advocacy. We turn observation evidence into research, policy briefs and dialogue, and work with NEBE, parliament, political parties and civil society to reform Ethiopia’s electoral laws and practice.
Why it matters
From evidence to reform
Every observation mission produces evidence on what works and what needs to change in Ethiopia’s electoral laws and practice. CECOE turns that evidence into studies, policy briefs and commentaries.
Findings only make a difference when they reach the people who can act on them, so we validate our research with institutions and members and take it to NEBE, parliament, political parties and the public.
How we work
- 1Research from the field
Studies on the electoral system, constituency delimitation, special voting, NEBE directives, the grievance hearing mechanism and women’s participation.
- 2Validate with stakeholders
Findings are validated with NEBE, statistics and human rights institutions, parliament committees and members.
- 3Convene dialogue
Post-election reform dialogues, public debates and findings workshops with parties, CSOs and the media.
- 4Advocate for change
Policy briefs, commentaries and a technical reference group on inclusive voting, party registration and polling arrangements.
Programmes under goal 3
Objectives 3.1 and 3.2 of our Strategic Plan, and the projects that deliver them.
Increase advocacy research to influence policy makers on election-related issues.
Engage and collaborate with NEBE and other stakeholders on electoral issues.
Since 2021Objective 3.1
Electoral reform research programme
Studies drawn from our observation findings, including Ethiopia’s electoral system and parliamentary representation, the special voting scheme, NEBE’s observer accreditation directive, CSO voter education and the electoral grievance hearing mechanism.
Irish Aid · 2024–2025Objective 3.1 · 3.2
Constituency delimitation and vote-to-seat assessment
An assessment of how parliamentary seats are allocated, validated in May 2025 with the Ethiopian Statistics Service, NEBE, the Human Rights Commission, the Political Parties Joint Council and minority rights groups, and published as a policy brief in Amharic and English.
Irish Aid · 2026–2028Objective 3.1 · 3.2
Evidence-based electoral reform advocacy
An Electoral Reform Technical Reference Group will steer research and advocacy on inclusive voting access, party registration, polling station allocation, constituency delimitation and the electoral outcomes of the National Dialogue, with reform text submitted to the institutions that can act on it.
NDI · 2022Objective 3.2
Post-election reform dialogues
Findings workshops with members in Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Hawassa and Adama and public dialogues with NEBE, parties, academics and media on the electoral system, boundaries, voter registration, grievance hearing, special voting and party finance.
EU with NIMD · 2023–2025Objective 3.1
Gender research and quota debates
A synthesis report on barriers to women’s political participation, a gender analysis of the 6th General Election, two media monitoring reports on how Ethiopian news and entertainment portray women (August 2023 to November 2024) and moderated public debates on electoral gender quotas.
Embassy of France via CFEE · 2026Objective 3.2
Findings dissemination to parties, CSOs and media
October 2026 workshops in Adama, Hawassa and Addis Ababa present the 7th General Election findings and recommendations to political parties, government bodies, CSOs and 60 media representatives.