The capacity building program for local NGOs and civic groups in the Republic of Moldova, initiated by A.O. Center for Research and Advocacy in European Affairs (CRPE branch in the Republic of Moldova), continued in March in Chișinău.
Over 50 participants from 32 small and medium-sized organizations from different districts of the Republic of Moldova took part in an intensive program: training sessions, exchange of good practices, lessons from civic activism, challenges for civil society, and solutions for organizational sustainability.
Capacity-Building Program for NGOs
Our goal is to support active and diverse organizations across the country to better leverage local resources, access new funding opportunities, and benefit from partnerships and support. This is a support program for small and medium-sized NGOs and civic groups with various objectives and themes: youth, environment, support for vulnerable groups or persons with disabilities, including those working in communities where civic space is very limited. Ultimately, every community and every topic requires a vibrant and engaged civil society.
Our program, supported by the Black Sea Trust and the European Union, will run for six months (February – August 2025) and will include tailored learning sessions, guides, mentoring, and useful connections to strengthen the work of NGOs.
Why this program is important
Many of the participating organizations operate in communities where civic space is limited and access to resources is scarce. That is why they play an essential role in keeping civic engagement alive, supporting vulnerable groups, and enabling communities to strengthen democratic processes, promote values, and carry out relevant local actions.
On March 22, 2025, in Chișinău, guests, trainers, and participants discussed:
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The relevance and importance of civil society for the democratic future of the Republic of Moldova and the EU accession process.
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How NGOs can better understand communities and become relevant actors in the local ecosystem.
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Success stories in mobilizing resources and building partnerships.
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New opportunities opened with the start of EU accession negotiations.
We are glad to help build a network of local organizations capable of driving change where it is most needed.
What will follow? Online capacity building programs
The selected organizations will benefit from a support program for 6 months, structured around 5 thematic modules and an ongoing mentoring program. The online modules will cover topics such as financial management, human resources and legal status, networking and examples of good practices from Romania, national and European funding opportunities, as well as communication and advocacy.
The mentoring program will provide individualized support, allowing each organization to develop its capacities according to its own needs and priorities. An orgazational capacity asessment tool will be used to evaluate the capacities of the selected organisations before and after the project.
Read more about CRPE’s assessments regarding NGO sustainability in the Black Sea region: Striving to thrive in turbulent times. Assessing the sustainability of CSOs and the growing impact of external threats
Read more about the program: Striving to thrive: capacity building programs for CSOs in Moldova
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The project is implemented by The Center for Research and Advocacy in European Affairs (CAREP).
This program is funded by the Black Sea Trust and the European Union and aims to support small and medium-sized NGOs and civic groups in the Republic of Moldova by providing them with resources to strengthen organizational capacity, access new funding and collaboration opportunities, and develop tools for long-term sustainability.
