The Fijian Elections Office [FEO] is currently facilitating a two-day training workshop on the Electoral Risk Management (ERM) Tool to assist in enhancing election related risk management.

The ERM Tool is a programme developed by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an internationally recognised intergovernmental organisation supporting sustainable democracy worldwide.

It is used to collect, and analyse data to identify and create strategies to prevent and mitigate risk-factors during an election.

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said there was no such tool currently in Fiji or any other country in the Pacific.

“This tool will allow the FEO to carry out an in-depth analysis of risk factors at each polling venue also greatly increase our ability to manage risks for the next General Election,” Mr Saneem said.

According to International IDEA, the ERM tool is currently being used by electoral management bodies in Nigeria and Nepal and will soon be rolled out in six African countries over the next three years in partnership with the African Union (AU).

The training workshop is being attended by FEO staff, the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-discrimination Commission and members of the Fiji Police Force.

Senior programme officer Adhy Aman and electoral risk management assistant Diwan Pant from International IDEA are here to train participants on the usage of the programme.

In his opening remarks, Mr Saneem reminded participants of the need to learn and effectively use the ERM tool.

“Many such tools have been developed in the past, but end up being put in a toolbox instead of being fully utilised,” Mr Saneem said.

The two-day training workshop is being attended by FEO staff, the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption, the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-discrimination Commission and members of the Fiji Police Force.