On 18-19 May 2026, members and senior staff of the Central Election Commission took part in the BRIDGE Showcase on Building Institutional Excellence in Elections. The workshop aimed to introduce key concepts related to institutional excellence, leadership, resilience, ethics, and organisational culture within Election Management Bodies, while also showcasing the participatory BRIDGE methodology and learning approach. Through a condensed adaptation of the Building Institutional Excellence module, participants explored practical institutional challenges, and leadership approaches, while gaining first-hand experience with BRIDGE facilitation methods. The workshop also supported the future expansion of BRIDGE implementation and the development of a local pool of facilitators in Albania.

The BRIDGE Introduction to Election Administration workshop provided Central Election Commission staff with a practical introduction to electoral administration through the interactive BRIDGE methodology. Topics included the role of elections in democratic governance, principles of free and fair elections, electoral systems, Election Management Bodies models, project management, stakeholder engagement, inclusion and accessibility, voter and civic education, and institutional excellence in electoral management. Mentored national co-facilitators contributed to building local capacity for BRIDGE methodology in Albania.

At the end of the workshops, two representatives of the Central Election Commission were certified as BRIDGE facilitators.

The activities were organised within the framework of the Strengthening Elections’ Integrity in Albania project, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany, in cooperation with the OSCE Presence in Albania and implemented by the Academy of Political Studies.