Representatives of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), youth networks, civil society organizations, and regional partners from across the Arab region gathered in Tunisia to explore practical approaches to institutionalise and sustain youth volunteering in electoral processes. 

Organized by the Arab Organization for Electoral Management Bodies (ArabEMBs) and the Arab Network for Youth in Elections, in collaboration with Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) and the Arab States Partnership for Inclusive Rights and Elections (ASPIRE), UNDP’s Regional Electoral Support Project, the forum provided a regional platform for exchanging experiences, sharing good practices and identifying practical approaches to strengthening youth participation through volunteer engagement. 

A key outcome of the forum was the recommendation to develop a regional reference paper on electoral volunteerism, bringing together principles, models, lessons learned, and promising practices from across the Arab region. The document will serve as a practical resource for Electoral Management Bodies and partners seeking to design sustainable and institutionalised volunteer programmes and strengthen youth engagement in electoral processes.  

Representatives of Electoral Management Bodies and youth networks from Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia, Somalia, and other Arab countries participated in discussions on how Electoral Management Bodies can move beyond temporary volunteer initiatives toward sustainable models that contribute to civic engagement, build trust between electoral institutions and communities, and create meaningful opportunities for participation. 

The forum highlighted the diversity of national contexts across the region. Participants noted that electoral volunteerism remains a flexible approach that can be adapted to stable environments as well as contexts facing political, social, or security challenges. Discussions emphasized the importance of developing locally adapted volunteer programmes that respond to national realities while maintaining common principles of inclusion, participation, and public service. 

Sessions explored the role of youth networks, civil society organizations, and community-based actors in supporting electoral processes, as well as the use of digital tools and platforms to improve volunteer management, outreach, and civic education. Particular attention was given to promoting inclusive and equitable volunteer engagement, ensuring that women, young people, and persons with disabilities have opportunities to participate and contribute to electoral and civic processes.