At the beginning of March we delivered a specialised training session to the monitoring team of Fundación ARU, aimed at enhancing their ability to track and analyse traditional media during the subnational electoral period. The workshop formed part of the technical assistance provided under the PRO‑Election Bolivia project, which focuses on equipping civil society organisations with the skills and tools needed for rigorous, evidence‑based electoral observation.
The training introduced ARU monitors to advanced analytical platforms, including SentiOne, iMAS and Stirlitz, enabling more precise collection, categorisation and interpretation of broadcast, print and digital media content. These instruments play a crucial role in helping observers assess neutrality, detect emerging tensions and identify narratives with potential impact on electoral integrity. Their use builds on ECES’ broad support to media‑monitoring structures throughout the 2025–2026 cycle, including the establishment of fully equipped Media Monitoring Units (MMUs) and subscriptions to specialised monitoring software for partner organisations.
Throughout the electoral cycle, PRO‑Election Bolivia has helped consolidate two core methodologies for civil society: conflict mapping and systematic monitoring of both digital and traditional media. These tools, developed with our technical and financial support, allow observer networks to better understand the dynamics shaping the information environment and to anticipate risks that could affect citizen trust and electoral tranquillity. While online spaces have shown heightened polarisation, analysis of traditional media revealed a comparatively balanced and informative tone, offering a stabilising counterweight within the public sphere.
The MMU set up with ECES assistance has become a shared resource for partner organisations. It has supported La Coordinadora de la Mujer in documenting political harassment and violence against women, while Fundación ARU has applied it to track conflict and election‑related incidents. ECES’ support includes staff training, the design of specialised monitoring forms and databases, and guidance on generating analyses and visual outputs to inform public reporting. These efforts contribute directly to the project’s strategic objective: mitigating electoral tensions and reinforcing confidence in democratic institutions.
The training marks another step in our support for ensuring that Bolivia’s civil‑society observers are equipped with robust tools to produce accurate assessments and contribute constructively to the integrity of the 2026 subnational elections.
