ABOUT US
European Dialogue and Democracy Association (EDDA) is a non-partisan, non-governmental organisation working to increase young people’s knowledge of and interest in democracy, elections and civil society, primarily in Eastern Europe, by using election monitoring as a tool.
EDDA’s HISTORY
EDDA was founded by students in Bergen August 12th, 2016. The organisation’s first election observation mission was deployed to Georgia. In the following decade since, EDDA has deployed election observation missions to Albania, Norway, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Poland, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
During the past two years, EDDA has seen a great increase in both membership and activity. Local branches were established in Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim in 2024.
Additionally, 2025 will be the first year in EDDA’s history where we are set to deploy three election observation missions within the same calendar year – to Kosovo, Norway and Moldova.
EDDA’s PURPOSE
Our purpose can be described by our three main pillars –
- Democracy: EDDA recognises elections as a fundamental aspect of democracy. We aim to increase young people’s knowledge, interest and participation in democratic processes, through international election monitoring and local events.
- Monitoring: EDDA’s main tool for democracy promotion is election monitoring. Through such work, EDDA contributes to international efforts of encouraging free and fair elections, as well as making election observation accessible to young people on a voluntary basis.
- Education: EDDA gives its participants a unique opportunity to take part in practical, real-world democracy education. Through election-day monitoring, meetings with local, national and international actors and organisations, and cultural exchange, participants gain valuable and outstanding insights and experiences with democracy, elections and civil society, customarily in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Org. Nr. 917 649 618,
Vibes gate 10,
0356 Oslo, Norway
CONTACT
Please do not hesitate contacting us with any questions or inquiries you might have.
NATIONAL BOARD
(OFFICE)
ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSIONS
(EOM)
LOCAL BRANCHES
EOM REPORTS
For each election observation mission deployed by EDDA, a final report synthesising our election day findings is published.
All election reports published by EDDA since 2016 are available below. Final reports are also shared with collaborators and contributors, and in EDDAs own social media platforms.
EOM REPORTS
EDDA EOM-METHODOLOGY
A
EDDA seeks to measure and promote international standards for free and fair elections.
All EDDA observers are trained through the OSCE/ODIHR comprehensive e-learning course for election observers, and internal courses on EDDA practices, and electoral customs in deployment countries.
B
Election observation missions are deployed some days before election day with the intent to orient our election observers about the political context in which the elections are held.
EDDA’s delegations meet with a range of local, national and international organisations and actors to discuss the country context.
C
On election day, EDDA’s observers monitor the opening procedures, general voting and closing and counting procedures in pairs, normally accompanied by a local interpreter.
Observers actively report their findings back to the mission’s coordinators throughout election day, who synthesise the general findings in the final report, published after the election.
EDDA NATIONAL BOARD
– SINCE 02.2025 –
The national board of EDDA is the organisation’s highest authority between the annual meetings. It works to create for a vibrant and active organisation which can successfully promote EDDA’s work and purpose. The current national board was elected at EDDA’s annual meeting on the 23rd of February 2025, and will serve until the first quarter of 2026.
| Elisa Parnfalt Størksen President Elisa (f. 2000) is from Bergen. She has a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Politics, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges at the University of Bergen. Here, she writes about the EU’s influence on election quality in the Western Balkans. |  | |
| Nora Didriksen Vice President Nora (born 1996) is from Bodø. She is a master’s student in political science at the University of Oslo. She also works part-time as a journalist for Alltinget. |  | |
| Isabel Ivarsøy Financial manager Isabel (b. 1998) is from Bergen. She has a bachelor’s degree in literature and international studies, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public International Law at the University of Oslo. |  | |
| Trym Reinsnes Lind Board member Trym (b. 2000) is from Bærum and holds a bachelor’s degree in comparative politics from the University of Bergen. He is currently a teaching intern at the Rafto Foundation. |  | |
| Lisa Shoshi Board member Lisa (b. 1999) is completing a bachelor’s degree in comparative politics, and has previously studied climate and philosophy, as well as Japanese. Lisa has 10 years of experience in organizational work within youth organizations. Currently she holds a student internship at Om i Morgen and Bergen Municipalitys Department of Planning and Construction. |  | |
| Hedda Bjørnskau Board member Hedda (b. 2002) is from Bærum, and is in her final year of a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Politics in Bergen. She will be on exchange to Grenoble in France this fall. She has previously studied in Austria, Uganda and Paris. |  | |
| Kaia Andrea Sølverød Board member Kaia (b. 1994) comes from Bærum. She has a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Politics from the University in Bergen, and a master’s degree in Political Science from the University in Oslo. Kaia has held various positions in EDDA since 2017, has worked with management auditing and holds experience from various civil society organizations and student politics. |  | |
| David Huseinovic Waade Board member David (b. 1991) has been a member of EDDA since 2018. David holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & International Relations from the Sarajevo School of Science & Technology, and is currently writing his master’s thesis in political science at the University of Oslo. |  | |
Martine Høstland Deputy Martine (b. 1999) is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Oslo. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from NTNU, and has previously worked in Switzerland and Brussels. |  | |
| Tea Vucic Deputy Tea (born 1999) is from Trondheim. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Russian language and area studies from the University of Oslo. She is currently in London, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Politics and Economics at King’s College. |  | |