Migration and Local Development Project provides new possibilities to 35 settlements of Moldova

Chisinau, 26 March /MOLDPRES/ - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova has informed about a contest of pre-selection of 35 settlements beneficiaries of  the Migration and Local Development Project (MiDL) (phase 2), financed by the government of Switzerland.   

According to UNDP Moldova, partner communities and associations of native residents, due to contribute to local development, will be selected. “Moldova will create a new model of migrants’ involvement in the economic development of native settlements,” UNDP sources have said.   

Twenty five out of those 35 settlements pre-selected will benefit from co-financing  worth up to 60,000 dollars for projects of communities’ economic development. “Each third citizen of Moldova is left abroad, which deprives communities from their contribution to the local development. Therefore, in the second phase, the project is focused on initiatives of local economic development, with the Diaspora’s involvement,” project manager of the Migration and Local Development Project, Oxana Maciuca, said.  

The government of Switzerland, through UNDP, is set to involve the Diaspora in local development. Decision-makers will back the creation and development of associations of native people locally, through two grants programmes: Accelerator of Associations of Natives (AdB) and Incubator of Associations of Natives. These programmes will be held annually during the project’s implementation.    

The associations of natives registered, with at least one year of proved work, can submit files for the AdB Accelerator. At least 15 initiatives of migrants, with up to 10,000 dollars each, will be annually supported, based on the 1+1 formula (the value of the grant will be equivalent to the contribution of natives), within the limit of the budget available.  

Initiative groups or newly created associations of natives or under foundation will be backed within the AdB Incubator programme. Up to 20 grants worth 1,000 dollars each will be annually provided for the implementation of the first local development initiatives.  

The deadline for submitting files is 25 April. To clear up eventual questions, UNDP will organize four regional informing meetings – in the zones North, Centre, South and the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia.