A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 1 March between ANU’s College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

The MoU was concluded during an IFES delegation visit to ANU’s College of Arts & Social Sciences. The IFES delegation was led by IFES President and CEO William Sweeney. The delegation met with CASS Associate Dean (Research) Ann Evans and members of the School of Politics and International Relations.

The MoU is aimed at fostering research collaboration across a range of areas related to electoral integrity and election security.

IFES is based in Washington, DC and has projects focused on strengthening electoral systems and building local capacity in new and merging democracies. Since 1987 it has worked in over 145 countries.

Research on elections and democratic transitions is a focus of a number of SPIR scholars. At the ceremony Lecturer Richard Frank said, “This MoU will enable greater knowledge-sharing and opportunities to conduct research in an area of great policymaking importance. As the last few years have shown, establishing robust electoral institutions and the ability of citizens to participate in free and fair elections is an ongoing and difficult challenge. The MoU will help ANU scholars partner with IFES policymakers to better understand how to meet this challenge.”