ELECTIONS    9 ACTIVITIES The findings and recommendations of election observation reports are often a basis for the Office’s other programmes, as well as for the activities of other OSCE institutions and field operations. In 2016, ODIHR’s election-related activities focused on observing elections, following-up on observation missions and their recommendations, strengthening the Office’s election observation methodology, and training observers. ELECTION OBSERVATION ODIHR has assessed electoral processes in all but one of the OSCE participating States for their compliance with OSCE commitments, international obligations and other standards for democratic elections. In 2016, ODIHR deployed missions to, among others, two of the largest OSCE participating States the Russian Federation and the United States of America. ODIHR also responded to a growing number of early or unanticipated elections, including in Kazkahstan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova and Uzbekistan. In line with the Office’s well-established methodology, an election observation process begins with the deployment of a needs assessment mission (NAM) several months before an election, to assess the pre-election environment. Based on this assessment, the NAM recommends — whether to carry out an observation activity and, if so, what type of activity would best meet the needs identified. In 2016, ODIHR conducted 20 NAMs. In line with the recommendations of NAMs, the Office deployed 15 election-related activities to 14 OSCE participating States. This included 11 full-scale election observation missions (EOMs), comprising long- and short-term observers that are seconded by participating States; one limited election observation mission (LEOM), which included long- but not short-term observers; two election assessment missions (EAMs) comprising a core team of experts but no long- or short-term observers; and one Election Expert Team (EET), which included a limited number of experts to focus on specific issues. Some 3,500 observers from 52 participating States took part in ODIHR observation activities in 2016. To support the participation of observers from countries that do not generally second observers and to redress shortfalls in secondments, ODIHR uses the extra-budgetary Diversification and Sustainability Fund. In 2016, the fund enabled the deployment of 30 long- and 33 short-term observers, 52.38 per cent of whom were women. The continued support of OSCE participating States for these extra-budgetary programmes is instrumental in ensuring full and diverse representation in election observation missions. The purpose of election observation is to offer constructive feedback and provide concrete recommendations to remedy identified shortcomings. Over the course of 2016, ODIHR published some 60 election-related reports, including NAM and interim reports, statements of preliminary findings and conclusions, and final reports. Reports were translated into the official languages of the states observed. The 17 final reports published this year included a total of some 370 recommendations. A delegation from ODIHR, including Director Link (c), observe voting on during the general elections in Washington D.C., 8 November, 2016. (OSCE/Thomas Rymer)