IFES Moldova Newsletter, March 2012, No. 2

The CEC completed and adopted its first-ever strategic plan, which included a new and improved organizational structure. This plan was developed through a strategic planning committee, which was formed after IFES introduced the concept of strategic planning to the CEC in late 2009. The committee conducted an initial organizational assessment and provided training for CEC leadership on strategic planning. The CEC also reached out to assist local public authorities to improve their voter lists. A Voter List Working Group (VLWG) was established, comprising CEC leadership, apparatus staff, representatives of the State Chancellery, State Enterprises Registru and Cadastru, and development partners. The VLWG facilitated dialogue between agencies involved in compiling, using, and updating voter lists. The group pursued a wide range of activities to improve voter lists in Moldova, including analysis of the quality of voter lists and legal framework, collaboration with local and central public authorities, and training and civic education of election officials and other stakeholders. In November 2011, the CEC, IFES, and the UNDP conducted a five-day BRIDGE course on voter registration for CEC staff, key stakeholders from local public authorities, the State Enterprise "Registru," and other central governmental institutions. The workshop was facilitated by a team of local and international experts and was categorized as "interesting," "intensive," "active," "relevant," "important," and "useful" by participants. The workshop helped establish better cooperation between representatives of different departments and government agencies and provided participants with knowledge that will help them in their daily activities and contribute to improving voter lists in Moldova. The CEC's new strategic plan and efforts to improve voter lists demonstrate its commitment to effectively managing the electoral system and increasing citizen understanding and participation. IFES continues to support the CEC in its efforts to improve voter registration procedures, strengthen mechanisms for voter registration, build capacity of elections officials, develop the training capacity of the CEC, and provide targeted voter education initiatives. The CEC's organizational structure and strategic plan were finalized in December 2011, after a two-day strategic planning workshop was held at the Codru Hotel in September 2011. The workshop provided an opportunity for CEC members, apparatus staff, and key partners to provide input and definition to the strategic plan. Agreements were reached on draft statements of mission, vision, and values, and a set of activities was generated for each objective, along with a tentative timeline for implementation. The CEC's efforts to improve voter lists in Moldova are ongoing, with a focus on analysis of the quality of voter lists and legal framework, collaboration with local and central public authorities, and training and civic education of election officials and other stakeholders. The Voter List Working Group continues to facilitate dialogue between agencies involved in compiling, using, and updating voter lists, and a significant number of planned activities have been implemented in a short period of time.