PAFFREL was established in 1987 by representatives of several national-level civil society organizations. It has been registered as a non-profit organization under the Companies Act No.17 of 1982 and re-registered under Companies Act. No. 7 of 2007. It was formed at a time when the need had arisen for the civil society to intervene to ensure the democratic nature of elections as the contests were being affected by violence and violation of election laws.

One of the main aims of setting up PAFFREL was to promote a people’s effort to prevent violence and malpractices before, during, and after elections. Since, its formation, PAFFREL has monitored all the elections held in the country – local authority, Provincial Council, Parliamentary and Presidential – in collaboration with a large number of civil society organizations. It has, throughout the years, conducted advocacy and awareness programmes in areas such as voters’ rights, democracy, human rights, and good governance, in different parts of the country. In all its activities PAFFREL has maintained absolute neutrality.

Vision

Nurturing a democratic nation with a politically literate and empowered citizenry that cherishes democratic values and promotes accountability and transparency in governance.

Mission

Building a people’s movement towards creating a democratic political culture through the active participation of a conscientious citizenry and a dynamic civil society conducive to promoting and ensuring all-inclusive free and fair elections and upholding good governance.

Objectives

I.  To mobilize people led uninterrupted election observation to ensure flawless electoral processes from local government to the provincial council and parliament to presidential elections

II. To promote collective community initiatives to prevent violence and malpractices before, during, and after elections 

III.To record and document incidents relating to all forms of violence during elections and violations of election laws 

IV. To review existing laws, regulations, procedures, and processes relating to elections and make proposals to effect changes to law and practice 

V. To assert women’s political participation through advocacy and activism at all levels 

VI. To help nurture a new generation of politicians with integrity who emulate democratic values and good governance principles 

VII. To contribute to safeguarding the prestige and dignity of the public assemblies by promoting meaningful and analytical debates

VIII.To enhance the political literacy of voters by empowering them to exercise their democratic right to vote responsibly and conscientiously

IX. To peoplise democratic values through the transformation of people’s political consciousness from the community to party political and national levels

X.To inspire political parties to nurture a democratic culture and promote and guarantee democratic values and good governance principles at the political party level 

XI. To collaborate and network with civil society organizations, groups, and networks from village to divisional, district to provincial and national levels 

XII. To liaise with government institutions to achieve the objectives of the organization 

XIlI. To build a multi-purpose volunteer resource base to ensure the sustenance of the organizational