adoption of electoral norms and standards in the West African region. This can prove all the more realizable if it is known that elsewhere in the continent there are conclusive experiences of harmonization of electoral norms and practices. 4.1.2 Experiences of standardization in Africa It is certainly the states of Southern Africa united within the framework of the SADC which have the most interesting experience in the field of harmonization of electoral standards and practices aiming at making elections democratic, transparent and non­contestable. The experience is the result of a process of research, brainstorming and consultation which can be source of inspiration for Member States of ECOWAS. The will of the SADC member states to put together the conditions to hold fair elections has been at the origin of the conference of Windhoek from 11th to 14th June, 2000 entitled “In search of electoral norms and standards”(see principles of supervision of elections in the SADC, Electoral Handbook n° 13, EISA, Electoral Commissions Forum) which gathered representatives of governments, electoral commissions, political parties, civil society, research institutes and experts in electoral politics of the SADC region. The conference aimed at defining a set of criteria which can be used as main principles for the electoral practice and which contribute to setting up a healthy and favourable environment for elections. The forum emphasized the need to work out regional standards and norms which serve as a basis and reference for discussions at the national level and as a guide for better electoral management. Thereafter, a process of intense researches and broad consultations in the whole Southern Africa has led to the development and the adoption of a document entitled“Principles of management, monitoring and observation of elections in the SADC countries” on November 6, 2003 in Johannesburg. The document stresses the need to have a political, constitutional and healthy legal order to ensure the 217