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01.

Observation Today

With generous support from Global Affairs Canada, CANADEM’s two-year plan starting in 2022 was to deploy both Short Term Observers (STOs) and Long Term Observers (LTO) to multilateral electoral observation missions organized by partner agencies such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the European Union (EU), the Organization of American States (OAS), and others. 

02.

Support for Democracy

Democracy has been facing challenges worldwide in the recent decade, with the resurgence of populism and the increase in popularity of leaders with autocratic tendencies.

 

The international community has an important role to play in supporting transparent, equal and genuine electoral processes around the world, in which all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to choose their governments, irrespective of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and political affiliation.

 

International electoral observation missions are internationally recognized as an important aspect of the process of establishing open and accountable political systems. They contribute by observing, reporting and making recommendations on all aspects of electoral processes, including the participation and rights of minorities, Indigenous peoples and women; disinformation and cybersecurity; electoral fraud and electoral justice; the role of civil society and the media (traditional and online); and electoral violence and repression of democratic expressions by authorities.

 

These electoral observation missions also contribute to Canada’s efforts to strengthen the ability of multilateral institutions to assess elections against national and international commitments and to increase the awareness/engagement of Canadians in these efforts. By ensuring that eminently qualified and experienced observers are deployed to international observation missions, the credibility of the mission and of the election, along with the effectiveness of the aid associated with deploying these experts to the field, are greatly enhanced. Free and fair elections are one of the pillars upon which democracy is based, and electoral observation is an essential component to ensuring the fairness of the democratic election process. 

03.

How are Canadians observing elections?

International election observation is conducted by a range of multilateral organizations. Canada is a member of many – UN, OAS, OSCE, Commonwealth, OIF; others we support, – EU, AU, etc. These organizations depend on member states and supporters to mobilize their citizens to act in an impartial and professional manner as international observers dedicated to the goals of democracy promotion.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional stress and a shortage of available international election observers due to the risk of infection and travel restrictions. As some of these challenges are starting to alleviate and Canadians are increasingly vaccinated, Canada is well placed to respond to the immediate demand and provide qualified and dedicated observers to election observation missions (EOMs) around the world.

2025

Ecuador General Election

CANADEM deployed one STO and one LTO to the EU mission to observe both rounds of the Ecuador General Election on February 9th and April 13th, 2025. The LTO participated in observing the political environment leading up to the election and both the STO and LTO observed voting, counting and tabulation of results.

A group wearing identification badges poses inside a building. / Un groupe portant des badges d’identification pose à l’intérieur d’un bâtiment.

Kosovo Parliamentary Election

CANADEM deployed one STO to the EU mission to observe the Kosovo Parliamentary Election on February 9th, 2025. The STO participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

A person in a blue observer vest stands beside a person wearing a dark uniform. / Une personne en gilet bleu d’observation se tient à côté d’une personne en uniforme foncé.

Philippines General Election

CANADEM deployed two STOs to the EU mission to observe the Philippines General Election on May 12th, 2025. The STOs were not permitted to observe voting, counting or tabulation of results due to a decision by the COMELEC.

People stand outside a low building with green window shutters. / Des personnes se tiennent devant un bâtiment bas aux volets verts.

Albania Parliamentary Election

CANADEM deployed two STOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Albania Parliamentary Election on May 11th, 2025. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

Three people with identification badges stand in front of an OSCE/ODIHR display. / Trois personnes portant des badges d’identification se tiennent devant un panneau de l’OSCE/BIDDH.

Malawi General Election

CANADEM deployed one STO to the EU mission to observe the Malawi General Election on September 16th, 2025. The STO participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

A white vehicle is parked beside a tree and a building on bare ground. / Un véhicule blanc est garé près d’un arbre et d’un bâtiment sur un terrain en terre.

Moldova Parliamentary Election

CANADEM deployed two STOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Moldova Parliamentary Election on September 28th, 2025. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

A grey bag bearing an electoral commission emblem rests on a patterned surface. / Un sac gris portant l’emblème d’une commission électorale repose sur une surface à motifs.

From the missions

A flag hangs beside a building entrance with notices on its doors. / Un drapeau est suspendu près de l’entrée d’un bâtiment dont les portes portent des avis.
A person in a dark jacket approaches a gated entrance beside a painted sign. / Une personne en veste foncée s’approche d’un portail situé près d’un panneau peint.
Stacked grey ballot boxes bear an electoral commission emblem. / Des urnes électorales grises empilées portent l’emblème d’une commission électorale.

Mission countries

Albania
Ecuador
Kosovo
Malawi
Moldova
the Philippines

2024

Senegal Presidential Election

CANADEM deployed one STO and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Senegal Presidential Election on March 24th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results. ​

CANADEM deployed five STOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Azerbaijan Presidential Election on February 7th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed five STOs to the OAS mission to observe the El Salvador General Election on February 4th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed ten STOs and one LTO to the OSCE mission to observe both rounds of the North Macedonia Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on April 25th and May 15th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs to the OAS mission to observe the Panama General on May 5th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Mozambique General Election on October 9th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed five STOs and two LTO to the OSCE mission to observe the Georgia Parliamentary Election on October 26th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed five STOs and two LTO to the OSCE mission to observe the Moldova Presidential Election on October 20th, 2024. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

2023

Bulgaria Parliamentary Elections

CANADEM deployed ten STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Bulgarian Parliamentary Elections on April 2nd, 2023. This election followed the Parliamentary election in 2022 as no government was approved. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed one LTO and five STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Albanian Local Elections on May 14th, 2023. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results. The LTOs observed the political environment before the STOs arrived, then coordinated a team of STOs in their assigned region.

CANADEM deployed three STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Montenegro Early Parliamentary Elections on June 11th, 2023. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Uzbekistan Early Presidential Election on July 9th, 2023. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs and one LTO to the EU mission and six STOs to observe the Guatemala General Elections on June 25th, 2023 with a second round on August 20th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Paraguay General Elections on April 30th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Sierra Leone General Elections on June 24th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two STOs and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Zimbabwe General Elections on August 23rd, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM will deploy one STO and one LTO to the EU mission to observe the Liberia General Elections on October 10th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed five STOs to the OAS mission to observe the Ecuador General Elections on August 20th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed three LTOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Poland Parliamentary Elections on October 15th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed two LTOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Moldova Local Elections on November 5th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed ten STOs to the OSCE mission to observe the Serbia Parliamentary Elections on December 17th, 2023. The observers participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

2022 & 2021

Hungarian Parliamentary Election and Referendum

CANADEM deployed six STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Hungarian Parliamentary Elections and Referendum on 03 April 2022. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed fourteen STOs and two LTOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Bosnia and Herzegovina General Election on October 2nd, 2022. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results. The LTOs observed the political environment before the STOs arrived, then coordinated a team of STOs in their assigned region.

CANADEM deployed twenty-five STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Bulgarian early Parliamentary Elections on October 2nd, 2022. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed fifteen STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Kazakhstan Early Presidential Election on November 20th, 2022. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed four STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Montenegro Presidential Election on March 19th, 2022. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

CANADEM deployed nineteen STOs to the OSCE ODIHR mission to observe the Kazakhstan Parliamentary Elections on March 19th, 2023. The STOs participated in observing voting, counting and tabulation of results.

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CANADEM is an international not-for-profit NGO dedicated to advancing international peace and security through the rostering, rapid mobilization, and mission.

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An ever-increasing awareness that caring for the environment is the responsibility of us all, regardless of our area of expertise or profession, has propelled CANADEM to place more focus on our own global footprint as well as that of our sector. During this Period, we have embarked on a challenge to enhance our learning regarding the environment and how we interact with it – including efforts to create a baseline and targets for improving how we deal with our natural environment. We are therefore making a conscious and transparent effort to measure and manage the way we affect the natural world around us, hopefully becoming better caretakers along the way.
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CANADEM has always valued the positive impact we make in the world as a foundation of our work. It is this guiding principle that has led us to form lasting partnerships, in support of other entities, if we feel they can add greater value than we can at CANADEM. Searching for our comparative advantage, while avoiding falling into a simple race to find funding opportunities, is therefore essential to CANADEM. As we see an increasing number of individuals suffering from the consequences of conflict in the world, and prepare for even greater numbers of environmental disasters, the need to prioritise the areas where we can make a real difference and combine our efforts with like-minded entities, is vital to achieving success.
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The objective of CANADEM’s leadership has always been to find the most innovative and cost-effective ways to contribute to communities in need, and not to place the growth of numbers and our budgets at the centre of our efforts. As a result, we have adopted a light footprint in terms of our human resources complement and infrastructure, making use of the latest technology, and empowering our small team to be as innovative and flexible in solving problems as our procedures allow. Our structures allow us to scale up and down as required, and for staff to work in different teams, according to the needs of the moment. Our 30 years of experience has taught us what our core capacities are and how to allocate precious resources.
Accountability & Transparency Values
From CANADEM’s earliest beginnings as a Government of Canada project, and during its rapid evolution into an independent NGO with its roots in international service, the principles of accountability and transparency have been a component of CANADEM’s DNA. Accountability for the use of public funds has been incorporated into procedures that needed to respond to the high standards of government. Transparency has been the vehicle to ensure the vital accountability that CANADEM maintains. CANADEM’s headquarters team is a well-trained group of committed individuals who believe in the important work they do – including the conviction that providing the best value possible to the communities and donors we serve is a primary component of our job. CANADEM’s rules and procedures are therefore established to ensure that every step of the way we are confident of our work, and can demonstrate its efficiency and effectiveness.
People-Centered Values
Our work is about deploying people to help people. It is therefore of paramount importance to us that we are all relating to individuals in our chain of service delivery in a way that is respectful, understanding, considerate, and that brings out the best in us. Our internal working context is designed to foster humanity, fairness and support among our staff, which in turn aims to foster those same qualities among the experts we deploy. We have invested in a team of individuals (our Duty of Care Team), who provide a safety net for those experts we deploy. By taking care of our staff members and our deployed experts, we ensure that we have an effective flow of communication between all aspects of our operation. Our experienced and motivated staff feel supported, and are in turn able to support our experts in times of stress and prevent any potential problems from occurring.
Diversity & Inclusion Values
Ensuring an inclusive workplace that integrates diversity in terms of gender, language, culture, ethnicity and religion, is of prime importance for CANADEM both internally and with regards to our work with partners. We have made significant progress in attracting experts from 178 countries around the world – including from countries that are recipients of international assistance – so that a diversity of perspectives, understanding and expertise may be integrated into all operations that CANADEM supports. From our fair and transparent selection process, to our supportive Duty of Care Team (which ensures that individuals deployed have the resources they need to feel comfortable and confident in their work), we have invested significant energy in fostering diversity and inclusion within our roster system, in our election monitoring deployments, and in our own direct implementation of programming, at headquarters and in the field.
Partnership Values
The majority of our experts work within the assistance operations of our partners. Partnership is therefore of primary importance and value to us, and is key to the way we operate. Our many long-term relationships with other actors have been forged by promoting trust and understanding. The ability to work together with other actors, and not in competition, has allowed CANADEM to enhance the work of governments or organizations by injecting vital expertise, and targeting it where it is needed most. We believe that we can create a greater impact, when we work in partnership.