In 2001, as a part of an extensive professional development program, AEOBiH members attended annual conferences of the UK Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA), the Institute for Democracy and Elections Assistance (IDEA) Democracy Forum, and the Association of Central and East European Election Officials (ACEEEO).

AEA annual conferences and accompanying workshops and exhibitions provide an excellent opportunity for AEOBiH members to exchange ideas and good practices with their colleagues in the UK. The AEA has supported AEOBiH since its inception, playing an important advisory role in the establishment of AEOBiH and drafting its statute. The AEA has continued to assist with membership drives, fundraising efforts, and election observation exchanges.

The IDEA Forum enabled AEOBiH members to discuss a number of topics, such as the impact of the information revolution on democracy and elections, from the perspective of both stable and emerging democracies. Each topic was thus examined from different angles, and this prompted very fruitful discussions in which AEOBiH members participated actively.

The focus of the 2001 ACEEEO conference was campaign finance reform. AEOBiH members were able to create or renew relationships with professional counterparts throughout Central and Eastern Europe. AEOBiH joined the ACEEEO in 2000.

IFES plans to continue sending selected AEOBiH members to these conferences in the future. AEOBiH members gain a broader perspective on elections and other topics related to democracy in a way that cannot be duplicated in BiH. Members also gain practical knowledge in such areas as voter registration, voter education and training, thereby improving the BiH election process by drawing on the best practices of their European colleagues.