Application for the Press Officer Training 2024 in European Union Election Observation Missions

Brussels, 25 - 28 June 2024

Election Observation and Democracy Support (EODS III), a project funded by the European Commission, will organise a training for the position of Press Officer (PO) in European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) from Tuesday 25 until Friday 28 June 2024. The training will take place at the EODS office (first floor, Rue de la Loi 82, Brussels). It aims at providing participants with knowledge and tools to work as PO in EU EOMs.

Training information
A maximum of 12 participants from EU Member States will be selected for the training. The EODS project covers travel and living expenses for training participants. Interested individuals fulfilling the required criteria in Section II of this notification should directly apply online through the EU roster: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/eom/roster 

For a successful application, please fill in the online form and include a CV and a motivation letter. Only online applications with the requested information and documents will be considered.

Candidates may wish to inform their national Focal Points about their application for the training but still need to apply through the above link. The list of Focal Points can be found here
https://www.eods.eu/focal-points

The deadline for receiving applications is 28 May at 23:59 (Brussels time).

Candidates will be informed of their selection/non-selection by email.

Application Requirements
1) General requirements for all training participants

1. Be a national of an EU Member State.
2. Be registered in the EU Roster of International Election Observers. It is recommended to all applicants for EODS trainings to make sure that their CV in the roster is up to date before applying.
3. Fulfil the minimum requirements to become an EU election observer as defined in the EU Guidelines on Common Criteria for the Selection of Electoral Observers. The Guidelines can be found here: https://eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/eueom/documents/elections-obs-selectioncriteria_en.pdf

2) Specific requirements for candidates to the EODS training for Election Analyst in EU EOMs

1. University degree preferably in Journalism or / and Communications, Internet Journalism or / and Creative Writing studies, or / and related field with a strong communications-oriented component. Studies or / and practical skills in producing visual contents for websites and social media would be an asset.
2. Language requirements:
   1. Fluency in English: Excellent written and spoken proficiency (level C).
   2. Fluency in French/Spanish/Portuguese: Excellent written and spoken proficiency (level C) in one of the three languages is an asset.

Additional experience that would be an asset:

1. Relevant professional experience in European Union election observation missions, preferably as Long-Term Observers or as Core Team members in positions other than Press Officers;
2. Long- and short-term observers with experience in communications and the use of social networks;
3. Experts with strong communication skills (including on the use of social networks and production of visuals, such as videos, photography or infographics) and previous experience as press officers in other international organisations;
4. Relevant professional experience in communications and media with election mission formats other than EOMs;
5. Relevant professional experience in journalism such as a full-time journalist, internships, freelance work or contributions to publications;
6. Availability to be deployed at short notice for upcoming EU election observation missions (generally a commitment of a minimum 8 - 10 weeks)

Criteria for selection

For the selection of the training participants, the Selection Committee will consider the extent to which applicants fulfil the requirements listed in section II (Application Requirements), namely: the educational background in the requested fields; previous professional experience; language skills; performance in previous assignments; and in addition, willingness and readiness to join EU Election Observation Missions at short notice.

The Selection Committee will endeavour to establish a balanced representation of gender and nationalities among participants.

If a selected training participant confirms attendance and then cancels participation for reasons other than force majeure, all costs incurred by EODS meanwhile will be invoiced to the participant.

Performance and Evaluation
Performance at the training will be evaluated. Participants will be assessed at the end of the training according to their skills and knowledge acquired, as necessary for the participation in an EU EOM. EODS evaluates according to criteria which include:

• Understanding of the course content and modules,
• Comprehension of election processes and EU EOM role,
• Comprehension of the role of an Election Analyst in the context of EU EOMs
• Understanding of team dynamics,
• Analysis, press releases and other communication tools production, writing and editing skills,
• Communication skills, and
• Language skills.

The EODS evaluation of the participants mirrors the Guidelines for EU EOM Observers Evaluation. The Guidelines can be downloaded here: ec.europa.eu/dpo-register/download?metaId=1452837

Therefore, trainees’ performance will be assessed according to three scores:

• Recommended: Very good performance. The participant demonstrates to fulfil all the criteria set above in a satisfactory manner and is ready to participate in EU EOMs in the position for which the training has been conducted.
• Recommended with qualifications: Good performance, but with some skills needing further strengthening. Considering the identified areas for enhancement, the participant is ready to participate in EU EOMs in the position for which the training has been conducted.
• Not Recommended: Candidate not suitable to be deployed to EU EOMs in the referred position. Also, unacceptable behaviour or misconduct during the training.

Evaluations will be posted on the trainee’s Roster CV after the training, to assist the Focal Points and the European Commission in the selection process for EU Election Observation Missions. EODS will inform participants when their evaluations are posted.

Once the evaluation is posted on the Roster, training participants have five calendar days to officially appeal their evaluation by email to the EODS Team Leader. Upon reception of the appeal, the EODS Team Leader has five working days to send her final decision to the observer, with a copy to the European Commission (EC) / FPI. The appellant can then appeal that decision within 10 calendar days to the European Commission / FPI. Upon   receipt of the observer's complaint, the FPI has 6 weeks to reply.

If the evaluated training participant refuses to accept the final decision of the EC/FPI on his/her evaluation, the evaluation will be uploaded to the roster with a comment ‘observer did not accept the evaluation’.