Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa

Democracy & Civil societyHuman rightsPeace & ConflictGender equality

NGOFounded 1996International reach

Profile last updated: May 3, 2026

About

Founded in 1996, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa is a non-governmental organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa working on democracy & civil society, human rights, peace & conflict +2 more.

The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) is a registered not-for-profit organisation established in South Africa in 1996. It promotes credible elections, citizen participation and strong political institutions for sustainable democracy across Africa. Its work includes election observation and electoral assistance, technical support to electoral management bodies, civil society, parliaments and political parties, governance programmes, research and publishing, and the development of tools such as the Popola data system and the Online Integrity Tool. EISA is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a regional office in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and field offices across the continent.

Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Founded

1996

Organisation type

NGO

Legal name

Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa

Languages

ENFR

Causes & programmes

Causes

Democracy & Civil societyHuman rightsPeace & ConflictGender equalityJustice & Legal aid

Works for

CommunitiesWomen & Girls

How they work

ResearchCapacity buildingAwareness & educationDirect services

Programmes

Elections and Political Processes programme

Democracy & Civil society · South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Sudan, Mozambique, Liberia, Madagascar, Somalia

Supports regional, sub-regional and national stakeholders to foster inclusive, peaceful and credible elections through election assessment and electoral assistance, including election observation missions.

Governance Institutions and Political Processes programme

Democracy & Civil society

Supports political parties, parliaments, civil society and government institutions through applied research, capacity building, training, academic research and publishing.

Election Dispute Resolution programme

Justice & Legal aid · Kenya

Works with the Kenyan judiciary to contribute to electoral justice.

Online Integrity Tool

Democracy & Civil society · Zambia

Enables observer groups to conduct qualitative assessments of the electoral cycle as a basis for balanced electoral process assessment.

Popola

Democracy & Civil society

Open-source data collection and management system for real-time collection, collation and analysis of data, used by election observers, political parties and researchers.

Project ObSERVE

Democracy & Civil society

Project implemented with UM and Wits in partnership with EISA to support election observation work.

Countries of operation

South AfricaCôte d'IvoireDemocratic Republic of the CongoChadCentral African RepublicKenyaZimbabweEgyptSudanMozambiqueLiberiaMadagascarSomalia

Credentials & affiliations

Industry memberships

Association of World Electoral Bodies

Partnerships

African Union, Pan African Parliament, East African Community, Economic Community of Central African States, ECOWAS, ICGLR, SADC, Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC, APRM Secretariat