"Elections cannot be addressed through a piece-meal approach. There is a need to build continent-wide institutions that look at all matters related to elections, including the widening of democratic spaces and working with all interested parties. Such institutions should have the capacity to research, train, advise, render technical support, advocate, facilitate, deploy observer missions, manage disputes and conflict, etc. This is what the [African Elections Centre (AEC)] aims to achieve." (Quoted from paper)