Within the framework of the Bolivia project, we participated as speaker in a training session addressed to more than 40 students of the School of Electoral Pedagogy and Social Innovation led by Fundación CONSTRUIR, as part of the Observa Bolivia (https://www.observabolivia.org/) initiative.
The activity was part of the National Meeting of the School of Electoral Pedagogy and Social Innovation: “Building Democracy and a Culture of Peace”, an intensive training space that brought together civil society organizations and youth organizations committed to strengthening democracy ahead of the 2026 Subnational Elections.
On behalf of ECES, Carolina Floru, Senior Expert in Electoral Observation and Civil Society, delivered the following modules:
- “Approaches to Electoral Pedagogy for an Informed Vote”
- “Prevention of Electoral Conflict: Milestones and Strategies Towards a Comprehensive Approach”
During her intervention, it was emphasized that electoral pedagogy is not merely the transmission of information, but the construction of civic capacities. The approach highlighted that an informed vote requires understanding not only electoral procedures, but also the political context, citizens’ rights, and the implications of each decision.
The session also addressed electoral processes as phenomena subject to VUCA dynamics (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous), emphasizing that conflict prevention is not limited to Election Day, but rather cuts across all phases of the electoral cycle: pre-electoral, electoral and post-electoral.
The methodology applied was highly participatory, encouraging students’ critical analysis of risk scenarios within the Bolivian subnational context. Group work focused on identifying factors of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, as well as defining concrete mitigation measures, reinforcing the idea that prevention requires leadership, information and inter-institutional coordination.
The module on electoral pedagogy further underscored the need to build public trust, civic competencies, and a comprehensive understanding of the electoral cycle as an integrated process. It was stressed that an election does not fail solely because of operational shortcomings, but when citizens lose the capacity to understand and trust the process.
The School of Electoral Pedagogy and Social Innovation represents a strategic platform for training young democratic facilitators capable of promoting a culture of peace, dialogue and informed participation within their communities.
This activity was made possible thanks to the support of the European Union, through the Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI), reaffirming ECES’ commitment to strengthening local capacities, preventing electoral conflict, and consolidating inclusive and sustainable democratic processes in Bolivia.
Through initiatives such as this, we continue to accompany Bolivian civil society in building trust, transparency and active participation ahead of the 2026 Subnational Elections.
