Advocacy Capacity-Building Programme launched under the ActEU Project

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)

ACT EU for Moldova – Activating Communities for EU Integration

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

Implemented by: People in Need Moldova, A.O. National Rural Development Network LEADER and A.O. Ecovisio

With financial support from: European Commission

1. Brief Description of PIN’s Support

People in Need (PIN) Moldova, 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 Commission. The project aims to strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs) and Local Action Groups (LAGs) as key contributors to Moldova’s EU integration process.

Activities under Output 2: Civil Society Organisations and Networks foster inclusive civic participation in public policy processes and improve civil society-government dialogue will support CSOs and CSO Networks through an integrated advocacy and policy dialogue programme combining capacity development training sessions, mentorship, peer learning and financial support for CSO-led initiatives.

Across these interventions, the project will promote evidence-based, inclusive and participatory policy engagement, aligned with EU principles and standards, including good governance, transparency, meaningful participation, accessibility and environmental sustainability.

Note: CSO Network Secretariats, individual CSOs that are members of CSO Networks, as well as CSOs that are not members of any network, are all eligible to apply under this Call.

2. Objective of the Call

The objective of this Call for Expression of Interest is to select 15 CSOs, including at least 3 CSO Networks, each having implemented at least one civic or policy action with measurable results, to participate in a 6–9-month capacity-strengthening programme (October 2026–June 2027) aimed at strengthening their capacity to conduct sector-specific research and analysis, develop evidence-based advocacy, contribute to policy development, and engage in structured policy dialogue in support of inclusive civic participation, Moldova’s EU integration agenda and alignment with EU standards.

The programme will include, but will not be limited to, the following training sessions: understanding official statistics; evidence-based advocacy and stakeholder engagement (from problem identification and evidence building to advocacy strategies and partnerships); public policy analysis and policy dialogue (including policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), participatory approaches and translating evidence into policy recommendations); campaign design. A separate block of tailored sessions will be organised specifically for CSO networks, addressing their particular capacity needs and role in advocacy and policy dialogue. The programme will also be complemented by mentoring sessions and study/peer-exchange country visits.

The visits will provide practical exposure to effective advocacy and policy engagement models, enabling participants to exchange experiences, discuss challenges and identify approaches applicable to their organisations. They will also foster peer learning and collaboration among participating CSOs and networks.

Participation in the programme requires a strong institutional commitment to the full capacity-development process, including attendance at mandatory training sessions and activities, active engagement in mentoring and country study visits, implementation of agreed follow-up actions, and application of acquired knowledge and skills to a concrete advocacy or policy engagement issue relevant to the organisation and/or its communities.

Following the capacity-building programme, selected CSOs will be supported to apply their skills through structured policy engagement, including participation in policy forums and Joint Civil Society Working Groups, as well as recurring multi-stakeholder dialogue with public authorities.

Successful completion of the training and mentorship track and demonstrated readiness to implement an advocacy initiative will be conditions for participation in the selection process for FSTP support. Five grants will be awarded to CSOs and CSO Networks through a separate competitive selection process: two grants of up to EUR 20,000 and three grants of up to EUR 35,000, for advocacy initiatives implemented during April 2027–April 2028. This support will enable CSOs to move from capacity development to concrete and measurable advocacy results.

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.

The implementation timeline may be adapted based on contextual developments and unforeseen circumstances.

3. Civil Society Now (CSN) Platform

As part of the programme, PIN is localizing its proven Civil Society Now (CSN) platform for Moldova — a dedicated national webpage providing relevant global content adapted and translated into Romanian and Russian, alongside newly developed, context-specific materials tailored to the needs of Moldovan CSOs.

Through the CSN platform, participating organisations will have ongoing access to PIN-developed technical resources, practical tools, templates and guidance materials covering key areas such as Strategy and Governance, Systems and Operations, Resource Mobilisation, Programme Implementation, Safeguarding, MEAL, Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement, Communication and Advocacy.

The CSN platform and its resources will be integrated across the project’s capacity-strengthening activities, providing participants with practical resources to reinforce and apply the knowledge and skills developed throughout the programme.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

a) Be a legal entity officially registered in the Republic of Moldova (this requirement applies to all applicants, including initiative or volunteer groups, which must also be officially registered and provide a registration certificate);

b) Be a non-profit civil society organisation in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Moldova;

c) Be directly responsible for the preparation and submission of the application, without acting as an intermediary;

d) Have no record of involvement in illegal or unethical activities, including corruption or fraud;

e) Have no political affiliation.

5. Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed by the Consortium Evaluation Committee using the criteria below:

Criterion Points Sub-categories / What is assessed

1. Organisational Capacity 20 This criterion assesses whether the organisation has the legal status, institutional profile, experience and operational capacity required to effectively participate in the programme and manage FSTP support, including:

Organisational Profile

• Clear organisational mission and objectives relevant to the organisation’s area of work and advocacy/policy engagement.

• Consistency between the organisation’s mandate, previous work and proposed advocacy priorities.

Financial and Administrative Capacity

• Basic financial management and reporting systems in place, with experience managing project budgets and donor funding.

Human Resources and Organisational Structure

• Availability of qualified technical and administrative staff.

• Clear roles and responsibilities within the organisation.

• Adequate internal structure to implement planned activities.

2. Experience in Civic Action, Advocacy and Policy Engagement 25 This criterion assesses the organisation’s relevant experience and demonstrated results in civic action, advocacy and policy engagement, including:

• Relevant experience – implementation of at least one civic or policy action with measurable results.

• Type and relevance of actions – advocacy campaigns, policy proposals, public consultations, civic initiatives, community mobilisation, participatory processes, etc.

• Role of the organisation – lead, co-implementer, facilitator or other meaningful role.

• Results and impact – concrete and measurable outcomes achieved.

3. Stakeholder Engagement, Inclusion and Cooperation

15 This criterion assesses the organisation’s demonstrated capacity to engage and cooperate with relevant stakeholders in an inclusive and participatory manner, including:

• Cooperation with Public Authorities, civil society organisations, networks, or other community stakeholders (formal partnerships, Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), joint initiatives, coordination platforms);

• Use of participatory approaches in planning, decision-making, budgeting, or implementation (e.g. community consultations, joint planning meetings, co-design processes);

• Measures taken to ensure equal access, non-discrimination, and gender-sensitive engagement, including inclusion of vulnerable or underrepresented groups.

4. Commitment to EU Integration and Democratic Governance Principles 15 This criterion assesses the organisation’s commitment to EU-related values and principles, as demonstrated through its institutional framework and practical activities, including:

• Explicit reference to EU-related values (democratic governance, rule of law, transparency, accountability, social inclusion, equal opportunities, environmental responsibility) in the organisation’s mission, statutes, or strategic documents;

• Concrete examples of activities promoting these principles, such as civic participation initiatives, advocacy for transparency, inclusion programmes, anti-discrimination actions, or environmental practices.

5. Motivation and Commitment to the Capacity Development Programme 20 This criterion assesses the organisation’s motivation, readiness and commitment to actively participate in the programme and apply the knowledge and skills gained, including:

• Motivation and learning needs – clear understanding of organisational/advocacy capacity gaps and relevant learning needs.

• Commitment to Programme Participation and Mentorship – availability to attend mandatory trainings, peer-exchange visits and other programme activities, actively engage in mentorship, address identified organisational/advocacy challenges, and implement agreed follow-up actions.

• Application of learning – clear intention to apply acquired knowledge and skills to a concrete advocacy or policy issue.

6. Geographical Relevance 5 This criterion assesses the organisation’s geographical relevance and contribution to reaching priority regions. Priority will be given to organisations based in or actively working in Gagauzia, Southern, South-Eastern, and Northern regions.

• Registered and actively operating in the prioritised regions – 5 points

• Not registered in the prioritised regions but implementing substantial activities there – 3 points

• Operating exclusively outside the prioritised regions – 0 points

Total 100

The maximum total score is 100 points per Evaluation Committee member.

The CSOs with the highest score will be invited for an interview, and 15 CSOs/networks will be selected for participation in the project, ensuring geographic balance and strategic coherence with the project’s objectives.

6. Submission Guidelines

Interested CSOs and CSO Networks should submit the following documents:

• Expression of Interest (EOI) Form as per Annex 1, submitted in English, Romanian, or Russian in Word (editable) and signed PDF versions. All applicants will be notified of the results of the application process, regardless of the outcome.

• Certificate of Registration;

• Signed Sworn Statement as per Annex 2.

The full application package must be submitted via the link: ActEU for Moldova – Open Call for CSO Capacity Strengthening in Advocacy and Policy Dialogue no later than September 27th 2026, at 23:59. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. The applications sent via email, external links or file-sharing services will be disqualified from the competition.

Important notes:

• After following the link, you will be able to select the preferred language in the top right corner of the page;

• Please follow the steps mentioned in the link; you will be able to submit the application only if you fill all the required fields; you will see the notification of the system in case you have missed any important information;

• We recommend checking the form carefully prior to submission and preparing the necessary information and requested annexes in advance; you will not be able to save the form and get back to it later

• If you need assistance with digital submission of your application, please email us at concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net at least 1 day before the submission deadline, during working hours (09:00 – 17:30).

7. Timeline

Activity Calendar

Launch of the Call September 8th 2026

Info Session September 16th 2026, at 14:00

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89236007994?pwd=h0EPFMayNY16xknsHejGKaEk8vVbUk.1

Meeting ID: 892 3600 7994

Passcode: 144968

Deadline for questions September 25th 2026

Deadline for applications September 27th 2026

Evaluation and selection From October 5th to October 9th 2026

Interviews and Contracting From October 12th to October 16th 2026