Bissau-UNIOGBIS, 10 JAN-2014 - In the context of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) to Guinea Bissau working visit to Cacheu region (North) , on January 7^th and 8^th, to monitor the ongoing voter registration process, Jose Ramos-Horta stated a fact on the ongoing phase of the electoral process, that is, the voter registration process.

As far as the information compiled by UNIOGBIS for the entire electoral process, including the voters’ registration and the phase of the election itself, to be held on March 16^th, the following countries and institutions have made these contributions:

ECOWAS total pledged US$ 19M, with US$ 14.6M realized so far, including from Nigeria US$ 6M cash through ECOWAS and US$ 2M logistics in bilateral assistance: 25 vehicles, 25 computers and 300 registration kits, plus technical support;

CÔTE D’IVOIRE paid up US$ 2M;

ECOWAS COMMISSION paid up US$ 2M;

WAEMU/UEMOA paid up US$ 2M;

TIMOR-LESTE has paid up US$ 6M, including 2 vehicles and 150 registration kits, among other logistics disbursements;

GUINEA and NIGER pledged US$ 1M;

TOGO and BURKINA FASO pledged US$ 500.000.

The EUROPEAN UNION-EU has generously pledged and already made EUR 1.9M out of EUR 2M available through UNDP.

It is expected that very soon the UN PEACEBUILDING FUND will also make available USD 800 000, as well as the UK, with 200 000 Pounds. EUR 500,000 is expected from a 2012 pledge from SOUTH AFRICA, with BRAZIL possibly using a remaining balance of US$ 106,250 leftover from 2012, for the deployment of Brazilian IT specialist (s), as technical support for the elections.

The total pledges by partners to the electoral budget of Guinea Bissau general election on March 16^th is more than US$ 31M, of which about US$ 16.7M are being disbursed, or have been disbursed namely in numerous purchases abroad (kits, toners, generators, laptops, PC’s, vehicles, etc.) and in-country, in payments to GTAPE, CNE and assorted personnel. More disbursements will be activated, pending strict observation of donors’ rules.

             UNIOGBIS/PIU