Peter Erben
Chief of Party, Pakistan
Peter Erben is a senior electoral advisor specializing in management of electoral projects and assistance to strengthen democratic institutions in post-conflict, transitional and developing countries. Peter Erben is currently the Country Director for IFES Pakistan and senior advisor to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Erben held a similar position in Nepal in 2007-2008 and in Palestinian Territories in 2002-2003 and later again in 2006.
In 2005, Erben was Chief Electoral Officer of Afghanistan and member of the election commission. On behalf of the UN, seconded by IFES, Erben conducted the 2005 parliamentary and provincial council elections. Previously, he was director of two Out-of-Country-Voting programs; the 2004 Afghan Presidential election for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and Iran and the 2005 Iraqi National Assembly Elections for the Iraqi diasporas in 14 countries worldwide such as Australia, the US, Sweden, Syria, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2000 and 2001 Erben managed the first two post-conflict elections in Kosovo on behalf of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE); the first as Associate Director of Elections, the second as the Director of Elections (Chief Electoral Officer). In both Afghanistan and Kosovo he was Chief Electoral Officer and a member of the election commission. From 1996 until 2000 Erben was part of the management of the first four post-conflict elections, conducted by the OSCE Bosnia and Herzegovina, ending up as the mission’s Chief of Staff.
Since 1996 Erben also led missions to, and held senior advisory positions in, Lebanon, East Timor, Iraq, Bangladesh and the Philippines.