Online Training for International Electoral Observers
13 – 17 October 2025
19th edition
Date & Place
13 – 17 October 2025
online
Fees and Scholarships
€ 475 (VAT included)
Scholarship opportunities
Application Deadlines
10 September 2025 for scholarship applicants
30 September 2025 for self-funded applicants
Entry Requirements
Fluency in English
Experience of/interest in political processes, voting and elections
Promote peace and security, prevent conflict, and protect democracy by becoming an expert in election observation
Overview
The Online Training for International Electoral Observers is designed to equip passionate individuals with the knowledge and skills required to become experts in election observation missions and effectively contribute to democratic processes.
This programme employs a multi-disciplinary approach, combining asynchronous and synchronous methodologies to deliver a dynamic and interactive learning experience.
Experts
Coming soon
Coordination
Alberta Rocca / Sara Brogliato / Elena Battaglia / Larisa Barbu
Training Details
By taking this course, you will:
- Gain a comprehensive overview of the history and legal standards of election observation
- Learn the roles of various actors, methodologies and instruments throughout the election cycle
- Explore the functioning of election observation missions and the role of media monitoring
- Engage with real-life simulations and case studies to experience the perspectives of both short-term and long-term observers, gaining insights into their priorities, duties and responsibilities
- Develop theoretical and practical skills that will enhance your qualifications as an electoral observer at both national and international level
- Examine emerging trends and challenges in election monitoring
- Receive personalised feedback from leading institutions and organisations.
Participants will experience an interactive learning approach, combining:
Asynchronous material via our LSM online platform
- Smart, interactive online tools for networking and peer collaboration
- 5 hours of thematic pre-recorded video lectures
- An estimated 10 hours of self-paced study with curated reading materials
- Ask-the-expert discussion forums for personalised feedback and guidance from course facilitators
- Intermediate quizzes to assess progress and understanding
- A final quiz to test your overall knowledge and skills acquired
Live sessions on Zoom
- A technical live session introducing the course structure and objectives
- 15 hours of thematic live sessions over 5 days, with a focus on practical group work
- Real time feedback and discussions with experts to deepen understanding.
From 13 to 17 October 2025: 3 hours daily thematic live sessions
From 6 to 26 October 2025: access to the LMS platform for self-paced asynchronous contents
Target audience: individuals who are passionate about the protection of democratic processes, interested in deepening their understanding of election observation missions, and motivated to start a career as trained civilian staff.
Language: fluency in English (both written and spoken), as the training will be conducted entirely in English.
Self-funded applicants (deadline: 30 September 2025): applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis; elegible candidates will be notified by email with an acceptance letter and fee payment instructions.
Scholarship applicants (deadline: 10 September 2025): applications will be reviewed after the deadline. Submissions must include a personal statement demonstrating experience of or interest in political processes, voting and elections.
Young applicants: we strongly encourage talented young women and men aged 18 to 25 to apply.
Class size: is limited to 25 participants to foster peer networking and maximise opportunities for direct interaction and personalised feedback from the experts.
€ 475 (VAT included) and it includes:
- Tuition fee
- Reading material and access to the LMS platform
- Personalised feedback from experts
- Certificate of attendance upon completion of the programme
We offer a limited number of scholarships (subject to external funding approval) in the form of tuition waivers for individuals aged 18-25 with experience or interest in political processes, voting and elections.
Our Community at a Glance
The training for international electoral observers was developed by Global Campus in collaboration with election observation expert Demetrio Lazagna and was first held as an in-person programme in 2012. Since then, it has been regularly offered at our headquarters, typically twice-per-year, and has fostered a large and strong community of around 450 short-term observers and election mission experts.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the course was redesigned as an online training programme to adhere social distancing guidelines while ensuring the continuity of our educational offerings. As the health emergency subsided, the new online format proved to be a valuable alternative, addressing challenges such as travel restrictions, visa issues and financial barriers. This shift has made the course accessible to a wider audience, including those who are most vulnerable. The course has successfully delivered 4 online editions, expanding the alumni community by approximately 130 participants, and will mark its 5th edition in 2025.
The training is organised with the patronage of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Italy, the Czech Republic and Spain, and is supported by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the African Union and The Carter Center. This backing further strengthens its well-established international recognition and affirms its value for real-world fieldwork.
Satisfaction Rate
LMS Online Platform
The programme is hosted on our EdX / Canvas LMS platform.
Log in
Credentials and instructions to logging into the platform will be provided via email upon confirmation of enrolment.
Navigation
Asynchronous coursework will be available within a three-week timeframe (6 – 26 October 2025). To make the most of the course, we recommend following the course in the suggested order. Content related to the daily live sessions, including instructions and follow ups for group work as well as any additional information, will also be available on the platform.
Community
The platform is designed to facilitate interaction among peers, even in an online format. We encourage participants to network by chatting, sharing their interests and passions, and supporting one another with technical or content-related queries. Do not miss the opportunity to actively engage with the interactive tools provided for this purpose!
Requirements
To obtain the certificate of attendance, participants are required to:
– watch all pre-recorded videos
– complete all intermediate and final quizzes (you will have unlimited attempts to pass)
– attend at least 3 out of 5 daily sessions.
Please note that participation in the training and obtaining the certificate of attendance do not guarantee direct access to any recruiting procedures undertaken by international, national or regional entities.
Apply
10 September 2025 for scholarship applicants
30 September 2025 for self-funded applicants
Contact us
Drop an email to our secretariat or call us:
Email: training.ieo@gchumanrights.org
Telephone: +39 041 2720 930
https://gchumanrights.org/training-and-courses/ieo