The five young researchers, beneficiaries of the Small Grants Program for the development of individual electoral research projects, launched by the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (CICDE) under the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), have defined their research topics and the key aspects they want to explore.

The research projects address various topics specific to the electoral field, such as the regulation of the right to vote and to be elected, political party funding, electoral strategies to ensure gender balance in political life, electioneering and transformation of the electoral system.

The research project program aims to support young researchers in achieving remarkable results in the realm of electoral research. These projects will be developed in the coming months and will both increase the quality of electoral research, and stimulate the development of research skills of the young grant beneficiaries.

‘I’ve always been interested in the electoral field, not only during election. That is because the right to vote and to be elected is a fundamental one. The Grant Program, launched by CICDE, is a very suitable platform for me – to develop my research skills and to help raise the interest of young people and women to get involved in politics’, said Catalin Moroi, one of the grant beneficiaries, master’s degree student at Moldova State University and ‘Dunarea de Jos’ University in Galati, Romania.

Valeria Bejenari, another grant beneficiary, master’s degree student at ‘Stefan cel Mare’ Academy under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, told us that she was very excited from the very beginning about the research program launched by CICDE, since it was an opportunity for young researchers who are eager and able to absorb new knowledge. The practical use of skills is the reason why this research program becomes a means of promoting one’s personality. Due to such projects, young people feel more confident in their ability to analyse, interpret and develop intellectually.

In February 2020, CICDE launched the second edition of the small grants contest for the development of individual electoral research projects. The Program is intended for young researchers interested in such topics as democracy, election, electoral law, etc.

The initiative aims to motivate young talents to explore the world of elections, increase the expert review skills of master’s and PhD degree students and strengthen the community of young researchers interested in the electoral field.