Women entrepreneurs from communities located in Moldova’s protected areas trained to develop sustainable businesses

A total of 25 women entrepreneurs have taken part in two training sessions dedicated to the economic empowerment of women from rural communities located in the area of the Codrii (Forests) Nature Reserve, Orhei National Park and Lower Dniester National Park. The two sessions were organized by NGO EcoContact and were hosted by the Orhei District Council and the Stefan Voda  District Council.

The sessions addressed the regulatory framework of protected areas and business models compatible with it, environmental compliance requirements, including impact assessment and the necessary permits, as well as the legal steps for establishing an economic activity.

The workshop covered basic concepts of visual identity, creating a promotional message and choosing the right channels for a small business.

The participants in Orhei learned about the funding programmes they can access and under what conditions. They were presented by Alexandru Ciobanu, Head of the Information and Consulting Service at the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA).

At the same time, in Stefan Voda, Adelina Barbaneagra, Manager of the Stefan Voda Business Incubator, presented the types of funding available to women in rural areas, including grants, microcredits and national programs. The sessions ended with a Q&A segment, where participants could discuss their specific situations and the next steps for accessing funding.

Ana Plamadeala, an entrepreneur from Orhei National Park, and Dorina Onici, who runs a guesthouse in the Lower Dniester National Park, proved that the status of protected area bought a constant flow of tourists, a market with clear interest in local products and services and access to funding programmes dedicated to communities in these areas.

The trainings were organized in the project, Improving the Management of Protected Areas of Moldova through Institutional Development, Capacity Building and Habitat Rehabilitation, financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) as part of Austrian Development Cooperation, and implemented by the Ecological Society Biotica NGO and EcoContact NGO.