The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) has introduced a comprehensive framework for an Independent Management and Functional Review (IMFR) of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).

The review, which fulfills key recommendations from the Unity Agreement signed between the government and opposition All Peoples Congress, aims to strengthen the ECSL’s capacity to oversee future elections effectively.

During a presentation at ECSL headquarters on Tuesday, PSRU Director Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa outlined the framework as part of ongoing engagements with ECSL and relevant bodies. The review is in line with Recommendations 6, 10, 21, 76, and 77 from the Tripartite Report, which mandates improvements in the structure and functionality of the ECSL and related agencies. Mr. Phoray-Musa emphasized that PSRU, directed by the Chief Minister’s office, will lead the review, supported financially by the Government of Sierra Leone and USAID, with technical expertise provided by IFES.

The primary objective of the IMFR is to evaluate the ECSL’s organizational structure, governance systems, and regulatory compliance to determine if they are adequate for present and future operational needs. This diagnostic approach, which combines PSRU’s existing tools with IFES’s Electoral Process Diagnostic (EPD) tool, will also assess the ECSL’s readiness to implement proposed legal reforms. The EPD tool, used previously in Nigeria and Kenya, enables performance benchmarking and strategic comparisons over time.

“The review is essential to ensure that ECSL has the necessary institutional structure, resources, and capacity to uphold its mandate and deliver fair elections,” Mr. Phoray-Musa stated. The assessment will focus on identifying organizational gaps and optimizing digital tools and technology to improve election transparency and efficiency.

Expected to culminate in a detailed report, the IMFR findings will include recommendations for enhancing ECSL’s governance framework, capacity-building needs, and a budgeted implementation strategy. The review underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering electoral systems and enhancing the ECSL’s ability to deliver credible elections across Sierra Leone.