Thirty five civil society organizations of Moldova to receive financial support to implement initiatives promoting responsible energy consumption

Civil society organizations will receive financial support, in order to implement, in partnership with local public authorities, initiatives promoting responsible energy consumption and energy efficiency solutions in buildings where social services are provided.

The grants, worth about 87,000 euros each, are awarded under the project, Local Partnerships for Energy Efficiency in Social Services, funded by the European Union and co-financed and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova, in partnership with IP Keystone Moldova and the Social Innovation Fund of Moldova.

Through these grants, buildings where social services are provided will be transformed into energy-efficient spaces, thus contributing to reducing maintenance costs and reinvesting the saved resources. Thus, thermal insulation for walls and roofs will be applied, heating systems will be modernized, windows and doors will be replaced, photovoltaic systems and energy-efficient LED lights will be set, in order to optimize resource consumption.

Centers for women and children at risk, centers for the elderly, institutions providing services for people with disabilities and other institutions providing social services for vulnerable groups across the country will benefit from these improvements.

At the grant certificate awarding event, Secretary General of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection Dumitru Pislaru said that, through this initiative, supported by the European Union and local partners, Moldova's commitment to promoting energy efficiency and sustainable development was supported.

“Investments in modernizing the infrastructure of social centers are essential, in order to create optimal conditions for the well-being of vulnerable groups and to make sure that resources are used efficiently. Thus, energy savings will be directed to support the diversification and expansion of these essential services for communities across the country,” said Dumitru Pislaru.

For his part, European Union Ambassador to Moldova Jānis Mažeiks said that the EU backed Moldova's efforts in achieving energy efficiency and sustainable development goals.

“Through this program, we make sure that resources are used intelligently and the savings made can be reinvested in the development and diversification of social services. This project not only optimizes energy consumption, but also contributes to improving the quality of life for beneficiaries – people in vulnerable situations who need constant support,” the official noted.

Besides investments in building modernization, grant recipients will mobilize their communities. The organizations will conduct information and awareness campaigns to promote responsible energy consumption, involving social service beneficiaries, local communities and authorities. In this way, the project will contribute to changing behaviors regarding the efficient use of resources.

“The Soros Foundation Moldova believes that an open society cannot exist without an active civil society capable of meeting people's needs and contributing to inclusive public policies. This initiative, supported by the European Union, proves the power of local partnerships – civil society, public authorities and donors – to contribute to the transition to a sustainable development model, based on solidarity, efficiency and responsibility towards resources. By investing in civil society's capacity to act locally, we contribute to systemic changes with national impact,” said Daniela Vidaicu, Executive Director of the Soros Foundation Moldova.

The overall budget of the project is over 4.8 million euros, of which approximately 4.2 million euros is allocated by the European Union and 600,000 euros is co-financed by the Soros Foundation Moldova.

The project will last 36 months, starting from February 2024, and aims to support civil society organizations in developing energy efficiency solutions, improving social services and promoting the sustainable use of resources in communities.