Open Call: Empowering minority engagement and fostering inclusion

The project will foster inclusive and participatory processes to improve public participation, particularly by promoting the involvement of underrepresented groups and women in Moldova. The registrations in the grants call are open until 22 December 2025.

Objectives of the call for proposals

In recognition of the unique challenges and perspectives of minority communities (including ethnic/national minorities, people with disabilities, Roma, LGBTIQ and other marginalised groups), the INSPIRED Moldova project, funded by the European Union, seeks to strengthen their active, meaningful involvement in consultation mechanisms at local, regional, and national levels. The subgrants will enable CSOs representing minority groups and pilot initiatives that strengthen existing communities, support participation in consultation processes, and empower engagement in decision-making.

The overall objective of this call for proposals is to enhance the participation of minority communities and their representative Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in consultation and decision-making processes at local, regional, and national levels.

The specific objective is to facilitate accessible consultations and public hearings, develop evidence-based policy inputs, and build sustainable partnerships with public authorities and other stakeholders, thereby advancing inclusive policymaking and the political participation of minorities.

Scope of the support programme

Selected organisations will receive financial support in the form of grants managed by People in Need Moldova. This funding will enable them to cover the costs of their project activities.

Selected organisations will be able to receive tailored, on-demand consultancy support in organisational development and other relevant areas through the CONTACT Centre.

Grants’ modalities

The funding amount for each proposal is up to EUR 25,000.

The projects should last between 7 and 11 months and be implemented starting February 2026. The grant recipients will sign a contribution agreement (grant contract) with PIN. As selected organisations will be exempted from VAT from the costs incurred within this grant, the budget proposal should contain the planned costs excluding VAT.

Eligible activities and priorities of the call

Below please find the example of types of activities that are eligible for funding. The list is neither exhaustive nor cumulative. Additional types of activities may be considered, provided they align with the objectives of this call for proposals. These examples are offered as suggestions to inspire potential applicants and guide their project design.

Priority 1: Inclusive and intersectional participation in policy development or revision

• Organising consultations, public hearings, and community forums with minority representatives and decision-makers.
• Establishing or strengthening dialogue platforms such as consultative councils or transparency councils at local, district, or national levels.
• Designing consultation mechanisms that ensure meaningful participation of women, persons with disabilities, Roma, LGBTIQ individuals, and other marginalised groups, with appropriate accessibility measures (e.g., sign language, easy-to-read materials, transport, childcare).
• Peer-learning, exchange visits between communities and authorities, and joint problem-solving labs.
• Capacity-building for minority community leaders on advocacy, safe participation, media/communications, and accessibility.
• Safeguarding and do-no-harm measures, including conflict-sensitive facilitation.
• Promoting gender equality and empowering young women and girls.

Priority 2: Evidence-based policy inputs and advocacy for inclusive governance

• Identifying targeted policies for development or revision, outlining formal consultation mechanisms (e.g., public hearings, working groups), and defining a pathway with milestones (problem analysis, stakeholder mapping, drafting, validation, submission, follow-up).
• Using disaggregated data, community needs assessments, and documented good practices to generate concrete, actionable recommendations.
• Drafting policy briefs, draft regulations, amendments, or guidelines with a clear structure (problem statement, options, impact, costs, legal references) and a plan for advocacy and endorsement.
• Prioritising inclusion of marginalised groups within minority communities, including young people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth from rural areas.
• Integrating environmental and climate-sensitive considerations, including how policies disproportionately impact minority and marginalised communities.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to address both priorities of the call and to focus on clearly defined policy areas when designing their project proposals. Each selected CSO is expected to contribute to the development or revision of a concrete government policy through evidence-based and participatory approaches, clearly demonstrating a well-defined and feasible policy outcome.

The following types of activities are ineligible for funding:

• Actions that focus primarily on individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, or congresses;
• Actions which relate solely or mainly to individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
• Actions that support political parties or candidates during elections;
• Retroactive financing for projects that are already in progress or have been completed;
• Projects that provide exclusive benefits to individuals or restricted groups of individuals will not qualify for funding.
• Environmentally harmful projects will not receive funding, and the purchase of equipment is only permissible if it is directly linked to the implementation of the project.

Application and selection process

The following provides an overview of the application and selection process from the publication of the guidelines to the start of implementation.

5.1 Indicative timeline

*Questions related to the Call for Proposals can be sent to the email within the deadline: concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net

Full application submission

The application period is open immediately and will close on Monday, 22nd December 2024; (23:59, GMT+3, Chișinău time). The full application package is composed of:

• Annex B – Application Form Eng – Ro / Application Form Eng – Ru  Attention! The application forms were updated on 03.12.2025
• Annex C – Budget Form;
• Confirmation of the organization’s registration;
• Sworn Statement available in Romanian, Russian and English versions.

Applications should be sent to concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net

Background information

INSPIRED Moldova is an EU-funded project running from 2024 to 2027 which aims to contribute to creating an enabling environment for civil society in Moldova by empowering civil society organisations (CSOs) to actively engage in policy discussions at all levels. Building on the momentum generated by the EU accession process, the project facilitates policy dialogue processes on the enabling environment for civil society and relevant plans and programmes stemming from the accession negotiations. Recognising the importance of prioritising democracy building in the EU’s new methodology on the fundamentals first accession criteria, the initiative will strengthen the capacities of CSOs to act as catalysts for democracy both at national and local level and in the digital sphere.

The project will foster inclusive and participatory processes to improve public participation, particularly by promoting the involvement of underrepresented groups and women in Moldova. By empowering Moldovan civil society through technical and financial support, the project aims to strengthen their influence on national policies and accelerate the country’s EU integration. This involves engaging CSOs in policy-making processes at the national, local, and digital levels. The project encourages dialogue and collaboration with public authorities to ensure that civil society becomes a key actor in promoting democracy in Moldova.

The Call for Proposal relates to Project Output 2, which seeks to ensure that multi stakeholder consultation mechanisms at the local level function and deliver on policy’s implementation through the engagement of CSOs in monitoring, community mobilisation and cooperation with authorities.

People in Need (PIN) will complement this support with core induction training focused on grant implementation, compliance, and reporting standards. PIN is a non-profit organisation committed to building a world where people are not restricted by poverty, discrimination, or lack of opportunity. Guided by its mission to promote inclusive and sustainable development, PIN works to ensure that individuals and communities can participate fully in decision-making and enjoy their rights in practice. More information about PIN Moldova is available at https://moldova.peopleinneed.net