NGO Organizational Capacity Assessment Moldova

The Center for Research and Advocacy in European Affairs implemented between February and August 2025 a program aimed at strengthening the capacity of small and medium NGOs and civic groups in the Republic of Moldova. The initiative was supported by the Black Sea Trust and the European Union, with the main goal of enhancing sustainability and the active role of civil society in local communities.

Support program for NGOs

The program targeted NGOs and civic groups at the early stages of development, often with limited resources but an essential role in local communities. Its main objectives were to:

• strengthen organizational capacity;
• improve medium- and long-term sustainability;
• facilitate access to funding and partnerships;
• promote civic engagement on niche topics.

A total of 30 organizations took part in the program.

Training and tailored mentorship for NGOs

The program combined 8 thematic modules with a continuous mentorship scheme, blending theory with practical support.

In-person modules:

• The role of civil society in democratic processes;
• Organizational and community development;
• Networking and project management.

Online modules:

• Financial management and internal control;
• Human resources and legal status;
• Networking and best practices from Romania;
• National and EU funding opportunities;
• Communication and advocacy.

Mentorship program for NGOs

Each organization benefited from individualized mentoring, tailored to its needs and priorities, making the program highly relevant and practical.

Assessing organizational capacity

A key component was the use of an organizational capacity assessment tool, adapted by CRPE from an instrument developed by Black Sea Trust. It covered 7 core areas:

1. Governance and legal structure
2. Financial management and internal control
3. Administration and procurement procedures
4. Human resources management
5. Program management
6. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
7. Organizational sustainability

The tool included 58 questions, each scored from 1 to 5, allowing organizations to identify both strengths and areas needing improvement.

The assessment was conducted in two stages:

• February 2025 – initial self-assessment, used as a baseline.

• August 2025 – final self-assessment, after completing the training and mentoring sessions.

Program results

The analysis of the participating organizations shows an average increase of 24% in scores.

• Initial average score: 162 points
• Final average score: 201 points (out of 290 maximum)

Biggest improvements:

• Administration and procurement procedures: +44% (from 2.09 to 3.01)
• Human resources management: +31% (from 2.44 to 3.21)

Strongest initial areas:

• Governance and legal structure: +27% (from 3.29 to 4.18)
• Program management: +18% (from 2.93 to 3.47)

These results confirm that assessment combined with training and mentorship is an effective tool to strengthen civil society organizations.

Limitations and recommendations of evaluation programs

Since the assessment was based on self-evaluation, results may vary depending on how critically organizations assessed themselves. Some overestimated their performance, while others were more critical. The tool was also perceived as complex by some participants. To complement this process, CRPE recommends adding independent external evaluations, ensuring a more objective and comparable analysis of NGOs’ administrative capacity and sustainability. The program demonstrated that investment in training, mentorship, and evaluation can have a measurable impact on the development of small and medium NGOs in Moldova. Strengthening their capacity is key to building an active civil society, able to address community needs and contribute to Moldova’s democratic and European integration processes.

The full report is available here in Romanian language: NGO Organizational Capacity Assessment Moldova

More about the project:

Striving to thrive: capacity building programs for CSOs in Moldova

The initiative is implemented by The Center for Research and Advocacy in European Affairs (CAREP).