On July 23, 2025, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), on behalf of the SELDI, in partnership with the Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Pod Lupom Coalition from Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized an online training focused on elections integrity. The event was part of SELDI’s regional efforts to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations in promoting transparency and accountability. It was conducted within the framework of the SELDI Small Grants Programme, which supports grassroots organizations in developing tools and knowledge to combat corruption and strengthen democratic resilience.
The training, titled “Elections Irregularities Detection and Prevention: Leveraging Technology and Lessons from the Field,” was led by Hasan Kamenjaković, Public Relations Specialist at Pod lupom Coalition.
Drawing on practical experiences and long-standing observation practices, the training aimed to help participants understand how electoral irregularities occur and how civil society actors can identify and respond to them.
Participants were introduced to a wide range of electoral irregularities such as voter intimidation, misuse of public resources, early campaigning, irregularities in polling station committees, and media manipulation through real-life examples from past election cycles in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The session highlighted common patterns of abuse and offered practical strategies for monitoring, documenting, and reporting violations.
The training also reflected on insights gathered by the initiative Pod lupom Coalition, a civic platform that has worked for years to observe elections and advocate for improvements to the electoral process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Their experience informed discussions around best practices and policy recommendations, particularly in the areas of technology use, legal reform, and independent oversight.
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, during which attendees discussed mechanisms for citizen reporting, investigative techniques, and advocacy strategies for pushing reforms at the legislative and administrative levels.
The training is part of the project “Civil Society for Good Governance and Anti-Corruption in Southeast Europe: Capacity Building for Evidence-Based Advocacy, Policy Impact and Citizen Engagement (SELDI.net),” funded by the European Union.
