Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP)

Moldovan NGOs Strive to Make a Difference in 2007 Elections

Photo : Vasile Rusnac

Volunteers from the Institute for
Democratic Initiatives provide
guidance on how to vote in the
upcoming election

Activists from nine local NGOs operate at the grassroots level to increase voting participation in upcoming local elections

It has been observed that Moldovans have become reluctant to express their constitutional right to vote. Despite new opportunities for citizens to participate in the democratic process, the voter participation rate, particularly among those most adversely effected by the transition to a free market economy, remains low. Whether this results from a shortage of information, apathy or distrust, is unclear. What is clear is that Moldovans do not think that their vote will make a difference. The Citizen Participation Program (CPP), a Program implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) through funds from USAID, recognized an opportunity to reverse this trend by engaging underserved populations by giving them the knowledge and skills necessary to have an impact in the upcoming 2007 local elections. The solution identified involved issuing a Request for Voter Education Proposals which received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Moldovan Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) community.

“I call young people, who care about the future of the country to vote and, who knows, maybe all of our “united” votes will help us to build the prosperous Moldova that we deserve.”

“Eli”, one of thousands of visitors to the Institute for Democratic Initiatives website.

Nine NGOs operating in regions throughout Moldova, initiated information campaigns aimed at reaching out to women, minorities, and youth. NGO activists found that the best way to energize target groups was to operate at the grassroots level, encouraging peer-to-peer activities, and involving beneficiaries in the design of their campaigns. One of these, the NGO “Ograda noastra”, trained six representatives of Roma, Bulgarian, German, Jewish, Ukrainian and Czech ethnic minorities to facilitate voter education meetings. The NGO “Eva”, made up of 27 female volunteers, carried out trainings in their villages to encourage women voters to get involved in voting. In the south of Moldova, anNGO by the name of “Muza”, held a contest for the city’s young artists to identify a design and slogan for their voter education campaign. Other NGOs conducted debates, voting simulations and opinion polls; published voting guides, developed websites and facilitated forums about important community issues.

The Voter Education projects reached approximately twenty-one thousand young people, women and ethnic minorities of voting age in 69 municipalities throughout Moldova. Many of those who participated in voter education activities gained practical skills in community facilitation, advocacy and social change campaigns. Even more participants, it is hoped, left these activities with an understanding that participation in elections is both a privilege and an obligation that should not be taken lightly. To borrow from “Eli”, a visitor on the Institute for Democratic Initiatives CPP funded website, Moldova is reliant on elections to “build the prosperous Moldova that (Moldovans) deserve”.

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