From April 14-16, 2025, the Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (ISIG) conducted an intensive workshop on the URSO (Useful, Relevant, Sustainable, Owned) methodology in Verona, Italy, at the San Marco Hotel. The initiative is part of the Council of Europe’s Improving Electoral Practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028 project, aimed at strengthening electoral governance in Moldova.
The workshop was a pivotal moment in the capacity-building journey for the annual evaluation of the implementation of the 2024-2027 strategic program of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) and the Center for Continuous Electoral Training (CICDE). Following two preparatory online training sessions held on April 2 and 4, 2025, ISIG organized three days of intensive training aimed at local experts.
During the meeting, the operational application of the URSO methodology, a guiding tool for strategic planning and priority setting in electoral cooperation, was explored in depth. ISIG facilitated joint work on the adaptation of URSO tools to the current strategic framework and guided the planning of operational steps in the assessment process, promoting a participatory and effectiveness-oriented approach.
What is the URSO methodology?
URSO is a methodological approach developed by ISIG to analyze election contexts and strengthen strategic cooperation processes. It is based on four basic principles: Useful (useful), Relevant (relevant), Sustainable (sustainable) and Owned (shared). The URSO toolkit provides practical tools to facilitate understanding of spatial dynamics, improve the decision-making capacity of stakeholders, and support effective planning of electoral actions.
Read more about the URSO project:
URSO Project – For a methodology of the electoral context
