Fiji civil society groups form first domestic election observation mission in decades

Seven civil society organizations in Fiji have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Citizens’ Observer Group (COG). This coalition marks the creation of Fiji’s first domestic election observation mission in over two decades.

The initiative aims to provide professional, non-partisan, and impartial monitoring of the electoral process to strengthen transparency, citizen participation, and public confidence in future general elections. The group intends to assess aspects of the electoral cycle that international missions might not capture, focusing on the integrity and fairness of the process.

The establishment of COG follows a formal request from the Government of Fiji to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for support in preparing local observers. International IDEA is assisting the participating organizations in developing the necessary skills and capacity for professional observation.

Founding members of the Citizens’ Observer Group include Caritas Fiji, the Centre for Democracy and Dialogue, femLINKpacific, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, the Pacific Centre for Peacebuilding, the Social Economic Empowerment Programme, and Transparency International Fiji.