ODIHR has developed a web-based learning course designed to assist OSCE participating States in training short-term election observers. Available free of charge and open to everyone, the course can be accessed at www.stoelearning.org.

The course consists of four modules that cover all aspects of the work of short-term observers, including the OSCE commitments and other international standards related to elections, the principles and purpose of election observation, the structure of election observation missions, the day-to-day activities of the short-term observer and the Code of Conduct for observers.

Participants take a short quiz at the end of each module and receive a certificate after completing the course.

The aim of the course is to enhance the professionalism of election observers and further improve the quality of election observation, while contributing to greater transparency and understanding of ODIHR’s election observation methodology.

The course is available in English and Russian. Since English is the working language of ODIHR election observation missions, the Russian-language course is available primarily for the purpose of familiarization with ODIHR methodology.

The course was developed under an extra-budgetary programme made possible by the contributions of OSCE participating States and in line with ODIHR’s mandate to support the national training efforts of the OSCE participating States in the field of election observation.

Further details about the course and technical information can be found here, and users can log in to the course here.