EU, UNDP to support 16 development projects on both banks of Dniester River

Chisinau, Nov. 16 /MOLDPRES/- Sixteen civil society development projects on both banks of the Dniester River that will benefit over 30 thousand people will be supported by the European Union, within the Confidence-Building Measures program, financed by the European Union and implemented by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The grant certificates were handed out today, in a festive atmosphere.

The total value of the grants is over 290 thousand euros. The initiatives were selected through an open competition, where 90 proposals were submitted. "Supported projects include communication campaigns to promote international mobility opportunities for young people, community initiatives to act on environmental issues such as poaching on the Dniester, activities to support active aging, festivals and events to promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage . In the last four years alone, from 2019 to 2022, the EU and UNDP have supported over 80 partnerships between civil society organizations to implement activities to improve cross-river collaboration", said the head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova at the event , Jānis Mažeiks.

The supported projects address specific needs and local problems through collaboration between the two banks of the Dniester in the following fields: environment, education, health, culture and sports. "Civil society organizations are essential for promoting peace and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Your role for democratization, the defense of human rights, social cohesion and environmental protection is now more important than ever", said Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP resident representative in the Republic of Moldova.

Through its activity, the Confidence building measures program, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP, contributes to the strengthening of trust between the inhabitants of the two banks of the Dniester River, by involving them in joint development projects. The program was launched in 2009, and in 2017 the sectoral platforms were also created, as a result of good cooperation between NGOs on both banks.

Photo: UNDP