Civil Society & Inclusive Governance
People in Need Moldova aims to promote democratic values, inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes and transparency in the democratic process. We support local initiatives and encourage action groups to contribute to improving people's lives across the country. It is important to us that everyone knows their rights and freedoms and how they can contribute to the development of their communities.
Our projects include numerous disadvantaged people as beneficiaries, and we aim to include them in the active life of the country. We want them to be employed, to be part of local initiative groups and to have their voices heard by the authorities.
Transparency in decision-making is a fundamental pillar of democracy. Our projects aim to educate citizens about the media, combat misinformation and develop critical thinking. In this way, citizens can play an increasingly important role in local decision-making, as well as in monitoring budgets and projects implemented in their localities.
Young people play an important role in the life of every country. Moldova is facing an advanced braindrain phenomenon, defined as a massive migration of young and skilled people to more developed countries, where they can benefit from more opportunities for professional growth. On the other hand, many young people remaining in the Republic of Moldova prefer not to be involved in political processes and the proportion of those aged 18-25 participating in electoral exercises is relatively low. PIN Moldova aims to involve these young people as much as possible in the social life of the country, to encourage them to be active, to know their rights and to have as many opportunities for personal and professional development as possible.
Ongoing ActivitiesORPast Activities

Resilient Civil Society and Media Respond to War
The project is funded by the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) of European Commission. It is a regional project, implemented by the consortium led by Czech NGO People in Need (PIN) in partnership with Prague Civil Society Center and Netherlands Helsinki Committee.
It concerns a 24-month intervention to provide civil society and independent media in the EaP + region with the skills and financial resources to effectively respond to the needs of the conflict-affected population. It aims to contribute to a resilient civil society and independent media in and from Ukraine and EaP+ region empowered to respond to the evolving needs of those affected by the Ukraine war.
In Moldova, 8 selected CSOs (emerging and well established CSOs currently working to support conflict-affected population in Ukraine) will receive capacity development support, Operational Grants to be further eligible for Service Provision Grants to develop skills and capacities to respond to the needs of the war-affected populations, as well as for delivering an increased and more inclusive range of services.
Civil society and independent media will have the skills, operational capacities and financial resources to safely respond to the needs of the affected population. To insure that, a set of trainings ranging from the basics in Humanitarian Response and Service Provision Standards, including CHS and adherence to Do No Harm principles to Stress management/Psychological First Aid will be provided to the selected CSOs.
In addition to the required trainings, target CSOs will have the option to receive further organizational capacity development to support their strategic goals. Based on the specific capacity building needs identified by the target CSOs, PIN will organize activities tailored to cover the identified gaps. Depending on the needs, context and available budget, the capacity development activities could include trainings, individual coaching and mentoring and on-site consultation.
Community-based Media Literacy – One World in Schools component: Building on its extensive experience in the region, PIN will implement community-based media literacy activities in Moldova. By working directly with CSOs and their constituencies, PIN’s well-established One World in Schools (OWIS) documentary films methodology will take a community-driven approach to counter disinformation and support the development of critical media literacy skills in dominant and non-dominant communities in both countries. CSOs will then be invited to apply to the OWIS Media Literacy Program via an open call for participation in Moldova. 4 CSOs selected within OWIS component have been selected in Moldova.
One World in Schools (OWIS) is PIN’s human rights and civic education methodology that uses documentary films to initiate critical reflection exercises within schools and the community. To date, OWIS has been implemented in 13 countries worldwide and since 2016, OWIS has extended its methodology to include an extensive media literacy package focused on supporting young people and communities critically analyze media and counter disinformation.

EU4Accountability - Empowered Civil Society for Increased Social Accountability in Moldova
“EU4Accountability - Empowered Civil Society for Increased Social Accountability in Moldova” is a 30-months project implemented by a consortium of three organisations: European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy and the Czech non-governmental organisation People in Need. It is financed by the European Union. The project runs from January 2022 to June 2024.
EU4Accountability seeks to empower Moldovan civil society organisations’ (CSOs) to better perform their role as actors of governance, so that they can improve social accountability of the local and central government of Moldova. It does so by strengthening the capacity of more than 60 grassroot organisations from 10 districts to participate in, monitor and advocate for greater public accountability and to take part in policy dialogue with the Local Public Authorities (LPAs) and the central government.
Through a series of capacity building activities, joint monitoring, advocacy actions, and networking workshops, civil society and public authorities are empowered to co-design local public policies in the wide social sphere through consultations throughout the budget cycle. A learning-by-doing approach allow the capacitated CSOs to establish meaningful local partnerships and alliances with LPAs that will result in change-making coalitions to close the accountability gap and respond to the needs of communities.
One of the key aims of EU4Accountability is to raise the capacities of local actors to better serve their communities by contributing to the budgetary process and local public policies, notably social policies, in a participatory and inclusive approach. To achieve that, capacity development support is provided throughout the project to both local authorities and CSOs from the following 10 districts: Cahul, Comrat, Cimișlia, Fălești, Florești, Glodeni, Rîșcani, Strășeni, Ștefan Vodă, Telenești.
The 50 CSOs selected to be partners of the project in the target districts are running projects on social accountability. They are implementing the project proposals in regard to CSO development strategies, monitoring public policies, strengthening social accountability mechanisms and promoting an open exchange of ideas by organising exchanges of experience between CSOs participating in project.

EU COVID-19 Solidarity Programme for the Eastern Partnership
PIN recognises the critical role local civil society organisations (CSOs) and independent media play in service delivery, community mobilisation, awareness raising, policy engagement, and advocacy for the protection of human rights and civic freedoms during and after the pandemic. We will support the CSOs and other civic actors to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations by empowering them with services and access to accurate information.
PIN will capitalise on its in-depth field-level knowledge to support CSOs that focus on community-level initiatives, watchdog programmes, and local independent journalism. Our partners NHC and AFEW are specialised in activities to improve human rights protection for responsible persons in closed institutions and key populations at risk for public health concerns like HIV, TB, and viral hepatitis. We will provide grant support to NGOs working with these beneficiaries and assist them in developing strengthened monitoring, reporting, advisory, agenda-setting, and advocacy work.

Civil Society Actors as Drivers of Change in the South Caucasus and Moldova
With support from the project team and skilled facilitators, each selected organisation will develop strategies to strengthen its role in society and encourage the systemic change it is working to influence. Participants will have a chance to assess their own capacities and access tailored trainings, coaching, mentoring, consultations, study visits, and fellowships. They will also be able to strengthen connections with their communities, supporters, and volunteers, as well as to network with peers and partners in Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and other countries.
Moreover, the selected organisations will have access to resources for research, building of thematic expertise, and participation in policy dialogues at the local, national, and international levels. They will explore if, why, and how to engage with the private sector, and how to self-organise and manage resources in an effective, transparent, and accountable way. Finally, project participants will be able to apply for flexible funding to support their organisational development and public campaigns.

Community planning of social services through public dialogue

“Community planning of social services through public dialogue” Project

Support and Assistance to the Social Sector of Moldova

New Impulse for Business Development in the Northern Region of Moldova
The project's beneficiaries included SMEs in the North region, Business Associations, Business Incubators in Soroca, Singerei, and Edinet, Regional Development Agencies (RDA), local public authorities, and students from Balti University.
Key outcomes and results of the project include the establishment of 44 new SMEs, generating 217 job positions between 2017 and 2019. Additionally, 43 supported SMEs experienced a minimum 20% increase in turnover during the same period. The project successfully established a new information center at RDA North by the end of 2018, serving over 150 individuals and 468 clients throughout its duration. Furthermore, two employees at the Business Info Centre enhanced their knowledge and skills in business development.
The project's impact on beneficiaries was substantial, as it facilitated the establishment of new SMEs, generated employment opportunities, and increased the turnover of supported SMEs.
It also provided access to financial services and capacity-building initiatives, strengthening the business skills and knowledge of local entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the project aimed to enhance the institutional framework for local business development by empowering local public authorities and establishing sustainable institutions like the Business Info Centre. The project's efforts extended beyond economic aspects, emphasizing environmental protection and promoting healthy lifestyles among the beneficiaries.

Enhancing civil society and local democratic development in rural Moldova

Strengthening of civil society -Support of Small CSOs& initiative groups in Moldova/Transnistria
This project was dedicated to foster a functioning civil society in Moldova and Transnistria while expediting their journey towards democratization. By strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and raising awareness among the public, the project helped to drive positive change and promote civic participation in addressing societal challenges.
More specifically, the project focused on bolstering the capabilities of CSOs and initiative groups in Transnistria and Moldova to identify and tackle pressing societal issues. Through targeted training programs and knowledge sharing, these organizations gained the necessary expertise to make a meaningful impact. The project supported the implementation of 20 projects through small grants, facilitating the consolidation of the non-state civil sector. Additionally, representatives from the civil sector participated in training seminars, English language courses, study trips to the Czech Republic, and long-term internships, empowering them to provide guidance and assistance to other organizations and initiatives.
In addition to that, local civic initiatives in Moldova were equipped with the skills needed to engage citizens and implement projects aimed at solving local problems. Training program focused on societal transformation, project design, and implementation, enabling CSOs and local initiatives to collaborate effectively with local authorities. By actively involving 20 civic initiatives from selected regions in solving local challenges, the project fostered citizen participation and enhanced the impact of these initiatives.
The project also raised awareness about the situation in Moldova and Transnistria among international stakeholders and the general public. Through engagement with European policymakers, decision-makers, and the Czech public, the project strenghten understanding and support for the ongoing challenges in these regions.

Supporting the development of civil society in selected regions of Moldova
One of the project's focus was to enhance the civic competencies of secondary school students. Through interactive workshops and debates, students developed vital communication skills and gained practical experience engaging with representatives from local administrations and civil society. This enabled them to actively contribute to public discourse and shape their communities' development.
Another important outcome of the project was the strengthened skills of local non-governmental organizations (CSOs) in involving citizens in decision-making processes regarding public affairs. By fostered collaboration between CSOs, citizens, and local authorities, the project created an inclusive platform for diverse voices to participate in shaping community development.