ECSL Staff Attend Specialized AI and Electoral Management Training in India
Sahid Bangura Four staff members of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) have commenced a week-long international capacity-building programme on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Elections in New Delhi, India, aimed at enhancing the Commission’s use of emerging technologies in electoral management.
The training, which runs from 6 to 10 July 2026, is organised by the India International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM), under the Election Commission of India, in collaboration with International IDEA.
Representing the ECSL are Engr. Samuel Kandeh, Engr. Nasiru Brima, Engr. Isaac Foday and Marilyn N. Dixon. The delegation includes specialists from the Commission’s ICT, Data Management and Inclusion Departments responsible for electoral technology, data systems and inclusive electoral services.
The programme focuses on the application of AI in key areas of election administration, including voter registration, voter education, election management systems, data analytics, cybersecurity, combating misinformation, and the ethical and regulatory frameworks governing the use of AI in electoral processes.
According to the ECSL, the training is expected to strengthen the Commission’s technical capacity to responsibly integrate AI into its operations, improve electoral integrity, expand voter inclusion and accessibility, and support evidence-based planning and decision-making.
Upon completion of the course, the participants are expected to return with practical skills, policy knowledge and international best practices that will contribute to the Commission’s ongoing digital transformation and modernization efforts.
The Commission also expects the participants to transfer the knowledge acquired during the training to other staff members, thereby strengthening institutional capacity in electoral technology, data management and the delivery of inclusive electoral services across Sierra Leone.