After decades of war, Afghanistan is gearing up for presidential elections on 20 August 2009. This will be the second democratic cycle the country has seen – and just as in 2004, UNV volunteers are heavily involved with the electoral process.

This time, however, it is Afghans themselves who are in charge of the elections. The primary vehicle through which the international community is supporting them is UNDP/ELECT, the ‘Enhancing Legal and Electoral Capacity for Tomorrow’ project. It is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A significant part of ELECT’s work involves assisting and advising the principal electoral bodies, namely, the Afghanistan Independent Election Commission (IEC), the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), and the Electoral Media Commission. UNV volunteers are at the forefront of these efforts.

At the time of writing, there were 55 UNV volunteers assigned to UNDP/ELECT, half of whom are working as Electoral Outreach and Training Advisers in the regions and provinces. With an average age of 45, the majority are from Africa and Asia, and many themselves come from countries that have experienced conflict.

The UNV Programme Manager with UNDP/ELECT says: "the UNV volunteers "maintain professionalism and a spirit of volunteerism as they work to empower their Afghan colleagues amidst an environment laden with stressful and, at times, frightening security concerns."

"These people have left behind loved ones and the comfort of their homes and are here sharing skills and exchanging culture with their Afghan colleagues - empowering them to register voters and carry out the polling process," he adds.

"When I see the calm focus of our volunteers building capacity in electoral staff, when I see female UNV volunteers huddled with burqua-covered Afghan mothers, when I see our Afghan friends in the office eager to share their food and customs with us, it is obvious to me that these are concrete steps towards lasting and sustainable peace. These UNV volunteers are really amazing."

UNDP/ELECT is guided by UN Security Council Resolution 1806 of February

2008, which calls for UNAMA to lead international civilian efforts on the Afghan elections. At the time of writing, in addition to the 55 with UNDP/ELECT there are about 50 UNV volunteers assigned to UNAMA and another 22 working with other UNDP projects, the World Food Programme (WFP) and other UN agencies.