Electoral Security Threat Assessment (ESTA)

The Electoral Security Threat Assessment (ESTA) is a stakeholder mapping activity within a project that has the potential to monitor localized latent conflicts or external threats from border areas and beyond, within the electoral and political landscape of a given country. ESTA is a continuous security mapping exercise that seeks to engage, without direct involvement, with the "supply side" of the security sector, including various institutional actors.

As part of ESTA, monthly reports will be produced and shared with project beneficiaries, incorporating heat maps and interrelation diagrams to provide detailed insights into identified threats, along with frequent tracking of shifts in positions and trends. ESTA is conducted on a monthly basis, and the reports are made available to project beneficiaries, other relevant electoral stakeholders, implementing organizations, and the contracting authority.

ESTA is used to inform targeted project activities and generates a hotspot map that also allows for the mapping of conflicts not tied to a specific geographic area. Additionally, it monitors triggers within the electoral and political process, taking into account potential escalation points.