SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct electoral observation and monitoring to enhance the practice and assessment of free and fair elections 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
119621  Conduct electoral observation and monitoring to enhance the practice and assessment of free and fair elections 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Democracy, Human Rights, Peace and Elections 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
PSETA - Public Service Sector Education and Training Authority 
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful for representatives of observer bodies and political parties, or contestants/candidates, election practitioners observing other elections.

People credited with this unit standard are capable of:
  • Preparing for observation and monitoring of elections.
  • Observing and monitoring elections.
  • Making an assessment on the extent of elections being free and fair.
  • Reporting on the extent that elections are free and fair. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Report writing at NQF level 4.
  • Human Rights principles and values.
  • Principles of free and fair elections.
  • Knowledge of essential elements of electoral processes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • This unit standard applies to elections at national, provincial, local or organisational levels that demand formal specified requirements and procedures, including secret ballots and voters' lists or rolls, within the context of established legislation and/or a constitution or documented rules and guidelines of some other form.
  • Assessment of this unit standard will be within the context of given standards and practices, working under management, to a given plan.
  • Observation is a passive process of witnessing events and gathering information without getting involved in what is happening. Observers would typically report serious transgressions to the highest level of the electoral body.
  • Monitoring is a more active process. This occurs mostly at a specific voting station where the monitor is empowered by law to intervene by way of formal or informal objections to the presiding officer and/or higher levels. It also involves lodging criminal charges with law enforcement agencies.
  • Observation covers the phases of pre-elections, during elections and post-elections. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Prepare for observation and monitoring of elections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The scope of performance is confirmed with the election management body allowing adequate time to prepare for the observation and monitoring processes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Standards and practices are confirmed for the specific observation and monitoring process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The election observation and monitoring processes are described in terms of key roles and responsibilities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Relevant resources needed for observation and monitoring are ready and available at the agreed time. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The election process is described in terms of sequence of events and specific context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specific context relates to one of the following: socio-political history of elections; legal framework; cultural aspects.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Observe and/or monitor elections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Communication with election officials and voters is clear and concise, and at a language level and format appropriate to the recipient. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Interventions are in accordance with the principles of human rights and agreed standards and practices. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Interventions include objections, complaints and criminal charges.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Interventions are timely and consistent within the defined role and responsibility of election observers. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Actions are in line with relevant codes of conduct and agreed standards and practices.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Interventions have the potential to address perceived transgressions. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Make an assessment on the elections being free and fair. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Limited to the scope of voting stations observed, feeding into the overall assessment of the elections. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The assessment is analysed according to given criteria. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Evidence is documented and/or recorded for later verification. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Evidence may include newspaper clippings, observation sheets, photographs or video.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Interpretation of unclear assessment results is confirmed with other stakeholders. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The assessment takes all relevant factors into consideration and is supported by evidence. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Report on the extent that elections are free and fair. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Reports and records reflect the electoral process accurately and concisely. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Key areas covered include sites of observation, aspects of what was observed, problems, transgressions, actions/interventions, results of interventions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Information is presented in a clear and structured manner and meets the observer or monitoring management body's format requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Language is consistent with electoral terminology and is pitched at the level required by the electoral management body. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Reports are compiled in line with the observation or monitoring management plan. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Assessors for this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA by SAQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines and the agreed ETQA procedures.
  • Moderators must be registered as assessors with the relevant ETQA, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Legislation and/or specified requirements regarding elections.
  • Principles and values of democracy.
  • Assessment of evidence against criteria.
  • Resources required for observation and monitoring of elections.
  • Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems: This will be demonstrated generally throughout the standard, but particularly when solving observation or monitoring related problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively: This standard demands high levels of self-management. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information: This will be displayed when monitoring election processes and reporting on activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills: Communication will be demonstrated through interactions with all role-players, as well as in the form of reporting. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically: This will be demonstrated to a limited extent, mainly in related to election-related technology and audio-visual conferencing technology. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system: This will be demonstrated in a limited sense, but mainly through a consideration of the impact that specific problems could have on the electoral process and result. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  67460   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.