Two grants programmes for local development launched in Moldova

Chisinau, 15 February /MOLDPRES/ - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova and the government of Switzerland today launched the grants programmes Incubator and Accelerator 1+1. The projects will support initiatives of community development of natives, in partnership with local authorities, during 2021.  

These two programmes contribute to the development of communities in Moldova, hit by migration, through the improvement of local public services and stimulating economic activities which generate incomes. At the same time, the programmes encourage the social and economic involvement of the Diaspora in the process of revitalizing native settlements, according to UNDP Moldova.   

Associations of natives at the beginning of activity or initiative groups, who are set to create an efficient association, can submit their files for the Incubator grants programme. The initiatives selected will receive financing worth up to 1,000 dollars.

The registered associations of natives, with proved experience of local project’s implementation, can submit their files to the Accelerator 1+1 grants programme. The association will benefit from a grant in form of co-financing worth up to 10,000 dollars, based on the formula 1+1 (the sum of the grant provided by UNDP and the Swiss government to the association of natives will be equivalent to the contributions collected from Diaspora, both online and offline).   

„A condition for the acceptance of the file on participation in the Accelerator 1+1 grants programme is the cooperation with the local public authority and natives’ involvement in the development of their native settlement. Also, the idea proposed must be chosen through consulting natives and migrants. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure the co-financing on behalf of the local public administration, community and Diaspora,’’ a coordinator in the Migration and Local Development UNDP programme, Victoria Ivancioglo, said.    

In 2020, the Incubator and Accelerator 1+1 programmes supported the associations of natives who cooperated with the mayoralties from 27 settlements, in order to carry out projects on improvement of infrastructure and public services. UNDP and the government of Switzerland provided grants worth 77,960 dollars in all. At the same time, natives collected and mobilized 121,939 dollars. The Incubator and Accelerator 1+1 grants programmes will be launched nationally till 2022.    

photo: PNUD Moldova