Togo and the European Union (EU) have concluded an agreement on the funding of the "support program for the 2007/2008 electoral process,".
The agreement, which was signed Monday by Togolese cooperation minister Gilbert Bawara and Filberto Ceriani Sebregondi, leader of EU delegation in Togo, will see the EU give 9 billion CFA francs (about 18.2 million U.S. dollars) to Togo.According to Sebregondi, the funds will go towards securing the environment and general conduct of the elections, reinforcing the capacity of civil society organizations and media in the domains of electoral observation, as well as strengthening the surveillance of media utilization.
The funds will "also be used to support the continued development of the capacities of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) and civil society organizations working in the electoral sector," Sebregondi said.
Moreover, he clarified that the project will be implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).