ActEU - Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Guidelines for the Open Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Implemented by: People in Need (PIN) Moldova, A.O. National Rural Development Network LEADER (NRDLN) and AO EcoVisio

With financial support from: European Union

1. Brief Description of PIN’s Support

People in Need (PIN), the National Rural Development Network LEADER (NRDLN), and EcoVisio form a consortium implementing the ActEU for Moldova – Activating Communities for EU Integration project (2026–2028), with financial support from the European Union. The project aims to strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs) and Local Action Groups (LAGs) as key contributors to Moldova’s EU integration process.

Targeted activities under Outcome 1 – Diverse civil society organisations play a critical role to encourage active participation of local communities and citizens in achieving societal transformation - aim specifically to improve CSOs’ organisational practices, technical skills and access to resources, enabling them to play a stronger role in mobilising communities, implementing local development initiatives and representing community interests in dialogue with public authorities.

2. Objective of the Call

The objective of this Call for Expression of Interest launched by PIN is to strengthen the capacity of ten (10) local civil society organisations (CSOs) through a structured organisational capacity development programme focused on improving management and governance systems, enhancing technical capacities, and promoting long-term resilience and environmental sustainability.

At a later stage, selected CSOs, which will first participate in a tailored capacity-strengthening programme, will be eligible to apply for two distinct grant schemes designed to support the implementation of local initiatives and community mobilisation activities.

The first grant scheme will aim to consolidate internal systems, strengthen accountability and organisational resilience, mobilise communities, diversify funding sources, and enhance CSOs’ contribution to Moldova’s EU integration agenda. The findings and priorities identified in each organisation’s Strategic Development and Action Plan will serve as the basis for accessing this support.

The second grant scheme will support CSO-led sustainable local development initiatives, enabling the implementation of innovative community-based projects that respond to local needs and advance EU-related reforms at grassroots level.

The selected CSOs will be identified through a competitive and transparent selection process, prioritising organisations based in Gagauzia, the Southern, South-Eastern and Northern regions of Moldova, without excluding eligible CSOs from other regions of the country.

Note: In parallel to this Call for Expression of Interest for CSOs, the National Rural Development Network LEADER will launch a separate and dedicated call targeting ten (10) Local Action Groups (LAGs). Organisations are advised to apply under the call that corresponds to their legal status and operational profile.

3. Focus Areas

Through PIN organisational capacity assessment tool (OCAT), which includes greening audits, and the subsequent development of a Strategic Development Action Plan (SDAP), the Call will support 10 selected CSOs to identify organisational strengths and gaps. These gaps will be addressed through tailored capacity development measures, which can vary from strategic communication and social media to fundraising or partnership policies and aproaches, In addition, selected CSOs will benefit from dedicated mentorship and access to two distinct grant schemes: (1) support for organisational development and institutional strengthening, and (2) support for CSO-led sustainable local development initiatives.

The OCAT assessment will analyse capacity domains covering key stages of the organisational life cycle:

• Organisational Purpose and Strategic Direction

• External Relations and Partnerships

• Projects and Resource Management

• Governance and Internal Administration

• Environmental Responsibility and Greening Practices

Based on the results of the OCAT assessment and the greening audit conducted by EcoVisio experts, each selected organisation will develop a Strategic Development Action Plan (SDAP). The SDAP will outline priority capacity-building actions, timelines, required resources, risks and mitigation measures, and monitoring tools. It will guide organisational improvements and the implementation of local development initiatives. Each organisation will receive tailored training, mentoring, and ongoing technical support aligned with the priorities identified in its SDAP. The plans will also include organisational and environmental improvement priorities and will serve as the basis for participation in the subsequent grant scheme.

NOTE: Where a CSO has completed a comparable assessment within the past 18 months, it will be updated rather than repeated. Findings will be fed into a tailored Strategic Development Action Plan (SDAP).

4. Civil Society Now (CSN) Platform

All participating CSOs will benefit from a structured organisational capacity strengthening process complementing assessment, planning, mentoring, training, and access to digital knowledge resources.

As part of the programme, PIN will localise its proven multi-language Civil Society Now (CSN) platform for Moldova. A dedicated national webpage area will be created, with relevant global content adapted and translated into Romanian and Russian, alongside newly developed, context-specific materials tailored to Moldovan CSOs. Through the CSN platform, participating organisations will receive unlimited access to PIN’s in-house technical expertise, practical tools, templates, and guidance materials across key areas such as: Strategy and Governance; Systems and Operations; Resource Mobilisation; Programme Implementation; Safeguarding; Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning; Partnership and Stakeholder Engagement; Communication and Advocacy. The CSN platform and its resources will be integrated across all capacity strengthening activities of the project.

5. Expectation Management

Participation in this Call implies a solid institutional commitment to the full capacity development process. Selected organisations are required to:

• Participate in the OCAT assessment process, starting in April 2026;

• Develop and formally finalise the Strategic Development and Action Plan, starting in May 2026;

• Attend all the mandatory trainings, starting in June 2026;

• Actively engage in the mentorship process and implement agreed follow-up actions, starting in June 2026;

• Ensure active and consistent engagement with the Civil Society Network (CSN) platform as a programme’s knowledge-sharing and collaboration mechanism, contributing to organisational capacity development and institutional growth.

Non-compliance with these requirements may result in withdrawal of eligibility for further grants schemes, including:

1. Grant Scheme 1 – Organisational Capacity Development and Institutional Strengthening (August-October 2026) - up to 5000 EUR

2. Grant Scheme 2 – CSO-Led Sustainable Local Development Initiatives (8-12 months, starting as of November 2026). - from 20.000 EUR to 31.000 EUR

Note: Eventual implementation timeline might be adapted based on the objective context developments and unforeseen circumstances.

5. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

a) Be a legal entity officially registered in the Republic of Moldova (applicable for all applicants, including grassroots or volunteer groups, who must still present a registration certificate);

b) Be non-profit making (in accordance with Moldovan legislation, including AOs, private or public institutions, and associations);

c) Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the corresponding FSTP, not acting as an intermediary;

d) Have no record of illegal or unethical activity (e.g., corruption, fraud);

e) Have no political affiliation;

6. Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed by the Consortium Evaluation Committee using the criteria outlined in the full announcement published on civic.md:

• The CSOs with the highest score will be invited for an interview, and 10 CSOs will be selected for participation in the project, ensuring geographic balance and strategic coherence with the project’s objectives.

Questions for clarifications have to be sent to [concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net] no later than 23 of March. The answers will be shared in a centralised manner with all inquirers.

7. Submission Guidelines

Interested NGOs should submit the following documents:

• Expression of Interest (EOI) Form as per Annex A, submitted in English, Romanian, or Russian in Word (editable) and signed PDF versions. All applicant CSOs will be notified of the results of the application process, regardless of the outcome.

• Certificate of Registration

• Signed Sworn Statement as per Annex B

EOIs containing full package of Annexes mentioned in the section 7. Submission Guidelines should be sent by email to [concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net] no later than 01 April 2026.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. The applications sent via external links or file-sharing services might be disconsidered due to PIN’s digital security rules.

8. Timeline

Activity Timeline

Launch of the EOI 11 March 2026

Info session 16 March 2026, 14:00 (find the link below)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81023004659?pwd=lkCQPKSHlys3veeaV7DXZaqV4klsJR.1

Meeting ID: 810 2300 4659

Passcode: 158589

Deadline for questions 23 March 2026

Deadline for submission 01 April 2026

Evaluation and selection Starting with 2 April 2026

Notification of selected NGOs 13 April 2026