Application for the Social Media Analyst training in European Union Election Observation Missions

Brussels, 30 September-3 October 2025

Call for applications

Election Observation and Democracy Support (EODS III), a project funded by the European Commission, will organise a training for the position of Social Media Analyst in European Union Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) from Tuesday 30 September until Friday 3 October 2025. The training will take place at the EODS office (first floor, rue de la Loi 82, Brussels). It aims at providing participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to work as a Social Media Analyst in EU EOMs.

Training information

The training will last four days and is designed for a maximum of 10 participants from EU Member States. The EODS project covers travel and living expenses for training participants from EU Member States, in line with EU regulations. Interested individuals fulfilling the required criteria in Section II of this notification should directly apply online through this link:  https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/eom/roster

For a successful application, please fill-in the online form 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 link above. The list of Focal Points can be found here: https://www.eods.eu/focal-points

The deadline for receiving applications is 14 July (Brussels time).

Candidates will be informed of their selection/non-selection by email shortly after the closing of the application period.

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 aAll applicants for EODS trainings should ensure 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-selection-criteria_en.pdf

2) Specific requirements for candidates to the EODS training for Social Media Analyst (SMA) in EU EOMs

1. University degree in political science, journalism, media studies, digital communications, open-source intelligence techniques (OSINT) or other relevant field. A combined academic background of data analysis and social science is 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 or more of the three languages is an asset.

3. Computer literacy is necessary, including experience with Excel files, google spreadsheets and working with CSV files.
4. User knowledge of social media platforms

Additional experience that would be an asset:

1. Relevant professional experiences in European Union election observation missions, preferably as Long-Term Observer or as Core Team members (except for the position of social media analyst);
2. Relevant professional experience with other International Election Observation Organisations;
3. Relevant experience with other International Organisations;
4. Relevant experience as researcher/data analyst with universities, media institutes and other entities.

Other considerations:

1. Willingness and readiness to apply as a core team member for EU Election Observation Missions in the near future.
2. Availability to join EU Election Observation Missions at short notice for a 2-3 month period.
3. In addition to experience relating to the selection criteria, the selection committee takes into consideration nationality and gender balance among candidates.
4. Candidates must be available to attend the whole course.

3) Technical specifications for IT equipment: 

All selected candidates must bring their own computer, ready to use web-based tools (provided during the training).

Technical specifications for laptops:

•     i5 cpu and over (or AMD Ryzen 5 and over)
•     SSD (rather than HDD)
•     from 4Gb ram (8Gb ram is the optimum)
•     Web browser installed (Chrome, Firefox, Safari or similar)

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 experiences; language skills and performance in previous assignments; and 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 per their skills and knowledge acquired as necessary for the participation in EU EOM. EODS evaluates according to criteria which include:

• Understanding of the social media methodology and tools,
• Comprehension of election processes and EU EOM role,
• Comprehension of the role of Social Media Analyst (SMA) in the context of EU EOMs,
• Understanding of team dynamics and leading a team of local staff,
• Ability to set up a consistent framework for monitoring online platforms in the electoral context,
• Ability in writing and editing quantitative and qualitative social media reports,
• Communication skills, and readiness to cooperate with all other CT positions,
• 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 along three scores:

• Recommended: 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 to be mentioned. 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: 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 project director. Upon reception of the appeal, the EODS Team Leader has five working days to send her/his final decision to the observer, with a copy to the European Commission 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’.

By applying I confirm that I dispose of the required IT equipment and that I am ready to bring it and use it during the training.