Four international organisations will observe Nepal’s House of Representatives Elections scheduled for March 5, according to the Election Commission.
The foreign observer groups authorised by the commission are the Carter Centre, based in Atlanta, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), the International Republican Institute (IRI), and the Multidisciplinary Institute of Training and Learning, based in Massachusetts.
According to the Carter Centre’s website, the organisation has observed 128 elections in 40 countries worldwide. In Nepal, it monitored the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, the second Constituent Assembly election in 2013, and the House of Representatives election in 2017. The centre also conducted a study of Nepal’s voter registration process in 2010.
During the 2017 election, the Carter Centre observed more than 282 polling stations and vote-counting centres, covering the process from voting through ballot counting. It is once again observing Nepal’s electoral environment and procedures for the current election.
The Carter Centre was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter. Working in partnership with Emory University, it promotes peace, democratic governance, human rights, the rule of law, transparency, and the administration of justice worldwide. Its headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia.
Another organisation observing the election is the Asian Network for Free Elections, a regional non-governmental organisation that promotes free and fair elections across Asia. Founded in 1997, ANFREL is regarded as the oldest and largest election-related network in the region, with its headquarters in Bangkok.
The network includes more than 27 member organisations from countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Its primary mission is to strengthen electoral processes by promoting independence, fairness, and transparency.
ANFREL deploys international observer missions during national elections and conducts training programs and workshops for local citizens, voter groups, journalists, and other stakeholders on democratic processes and election monitoring.
In Nepal, ANFREL has previously observed the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, the 2017 parliamentary and provincial elections, and the 2022 federal and provincial elections. The organisation has consistently emphasised inclusivity, participation and representation of women and minority groups, and the broader electoral environment. It has also received permission to observe the ongoing election.
Another international organisation authorised to observe the election is the International Republican Institute, an American nonprofit organisation that works globally to promote democracy, civic participation, and open governance.
Founded in 1983, the institute was established under U.S. policy initiatives during the presidency of Ronald Reagan to support democratic development worldwide. It has observed elections in more than 50 countries.
In Nepal, the institute has conducted public opinion surveys to analyse public trust and perceptions of democracy. This marks the first time it will directly observe a Nepali election, after receiving approval from the Election Commission for the March 5 vote.
Also observing Nepal’s election is the Multidisciplinary Institute of Training and Learning, a Massachusetts-based American organisation. The donor-supported institution has previously been involved in humanitarian work in Nepal, including relief efforts for flood victims. It is participating as an election observer for the current polls.
