Gabon

This technical assistance project will strengthen the partnership between the European Union and Gabonese civil society and support implementation of the EU Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society. It aims to improve opportunities for dialogue, increase civil society involvement in public policies and Global Gateway projects, and strengthen the organisational and operational capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs), particularly those working on human rights, governance and environmental protection.

The project is organised around four expected outputs:

1. **Initial stakeholder assessment and updated work plan:** Assess CSOs’ capacities, readiness and needs; identify active organisations for dialogue and training; and prepare an inception report incorporating a detailed methodology, work plan and implementation schedule.

2. **Stronger dialogue and a framework for structured engagement:** Organise four thematic dialogue sessions between civil society, the EU and its Member States, alongside at least two meetings on Global Gateway projects. Develop a strategy for establishing a formal, structured dialogue mechanism, involving national authorities and the private sector where relevant.

3. **Strengthened civil society capacities:** Deliver two five-day training sessions, each accommodating 20–30 participants. Training will address project proposal development, budgeting, funding opportunities, calls for proposals, event organisation, advocacy, participation in public policies, legal recognition and fundamental rights. Content will reflect assessed needs, with priority given to less experienced CSOs.

4. **Support for the annual Civil Society Forum:** Provide technical, logistical and financial support for the second “Forum citoyen”, planned during the Europe Fortnight in May 2027. The event will combine a public exhibition of CSO activities with two or three roundtables, promoting visibility, networking and dialogue with public authorities.

Gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusion will be integrated throughout, while building where possible on the achievements of the EU-funded IMPACT project.

The European Union sent an exploratory mission to assess the usefulness, advisability and feasibility of an EU EOM for the upcoming presidential election in Gabon.

The purpose of the Exploratory Mission was to collect factual information concerning this election process, in line with the criteria contained in the Commission Communication on Electoral Assistance and Observation [COM(2000)191]

The experts did in particular:

• Assess the pre-election situation in the light of international standards for democratic elections and national legislation. The assessment will cover: (i) Political situation, (ii) legal and electoral framework, (iii) election administration, (iv) voter registration, (v) party and candidate registration, (vi) human rights and fundamental freedoms, (vii) potential for electoral violence, (viii) traditional and online media, as well as social media, (ix) security aspects, (x) logistics and operational matters, (xi) use of electoral ICT and (xii) any other relevant issues relating to the elections and possible deployment of an EU EOM.
• Assess, when relevant, the state of implementation of recommendations of previous EU election missions (both EU EOMs and EEMs).
• Make necessary preliminary logistics related enquiries and provide advice on how to organise the operational component of a possible EU EOM.
• Assess the security situation in the country, in particular in connection with the possible deployment of an EU EOM.
• Advise on the composition, number and length of stay of the Core Team members and long and short-term observers of the EU EOM.
• Draft tentative specifications and Terms of Reference of a possible EU EOM and related estimated costs and budget breakdown.
• Assess the relevance of providing support to domestic observer organisations.
• Acquire updated information on EU election support (both EU and Member States) and other major partners (Canada, Norway and Switzerland) and possible other major actors plans in this field, including in the area of electoral assistance.
• Liaise closely with domestic and international election observation organisations that may be present on the ground regarding the preparation of elections.
• Prepare a number of specific reports as outlined in section 'VI. Output' of these ToR.

The project "PASSMAR Outcome 2: National maritime legislative and regulatory frameworks are adopted and law enforcement is strengthened" was co-financed by the EU under the 11th European Development Fund. It aimed to enable ECCAS coastal states to prosecute cases of piracy and other maritime crimes in accordance with the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and to increase response and cooperation in Zones A and D.

To achieve this, UNODC has built on existing legal reform initiatives, training and advice for prosecutors, judges and law enforcement officials in three ECCAS pilot countries, namely Cameroon, Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe. In addition, some new countries were subject to a legal assessment, including Angola, Congo and the DRC.

UNODC also supported legal cooperation, developing memoranda of understanding to improve the quality and quantity of prosecutions. Actions have included: strengthening prosecutorial capacity, improving regional investigative and prosecutorial cooperation, legal reforms where necessary in the Gulf of Guinea countries, and legal support for existing cases on an ad hoc / request basis.