Training judges and equipping them with appropriate adjudicatory resources is key to the effectiveness of the EDR mechanism. This will include development of a reference manual for adjudicators and holding briefing sessions. To accomplish this, SEDROBZ will work closely with the judiciary.

The justification for providing capacity building to adjudicators, especially at local government level, in electoral dispute resolution stems from critical deficiencies identified in Zambia's 2021 electoral cycle, where many disputes failed on procedural rather than substantive grounds, indicating insufficient judicial familiarity with specialized electoral law requirements and elevated standards of proof that distinguish electoral matters from general civil litigation. This intervention addresses the specialized knowledge gap where electoral disputes require distinct expertise beyond general judicial training, including complex procedural requirements, understanding of electoral processes, and application of precedents that many judges currently lack without targeted training. Capacity building is essential for maintaining public confidence in electoral justice, as judicial competency directly impacts democratic legitimacy - when judges appear unfamiliar with electoral procedures or make technically flawed decisions, this undermines trust in both the judiciary and electoral processes.

Furthermore, the intervention ensures consistency in adjudication across different courts handling similar electoral matters, preventing arbitrary or contradictory decisions that create legal uncertainty for political parties and stakeholders. By developing reference manuals and conducting briefing sessions in collaboration with the judiciary, this intervention leverages regional best practices through networks like the Africa Electoral Justice Network and aligns with continental priorities for judicial training in electoral dispute resolution, ultimately ensuring that enhanced judicial capacity matches the improved party capacity being developed through complementary program components.