Call for Proposals: Grants for European Good Practices Exchanges in Local Cooperation and Consultation Mechanisms for Sustainable Community Engagement
Description:
This grant program aims to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in exchanging good practices and developing partnerships with organizations and local public authorities in other countries. It is managed by the Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) within the INSPIRĂ Moldova project, funded by the European Union.
Overall Objective:
The general objective of this call is to facilitate study visits that inform and inspire initiatives for good governance and local reforms, strengthen consultation and cooperation mechanisms with public authorities, and promote civic engagement in social dialogue.
Expected Results:
- Increased knowledge and capacity of local CSOs regarding European good practices and international cooperation relevant to EU integration.
- Strengthened role of CSOs in political dialogue through active and informed participation in consultations and experience sharing.
- Enhanced mechanisms of cooperation between CSOs and local public authorities at local and national levels.
- Leveraging expertise and networks of European partners to build CSO capacities and create sustainable partnerships.
1. Objectives of the Call for Proposals
The call aims to provide financial support to civil society organizations to organize study visits for experience exchange and adoption of good practices in cooperation between Moldovan and European communities. The initiative focuses on strengthening civil society participation in political dialogue and developing multi-stakeholder cooperation mechanisms between CSOs and local public authorities in Moldova and their European partners, with the support of ALDA.
The proposals will also facilitate and promote CSO–LPA partnerships and adoption of European good practices in participatory public consultations.
Through these grants, ALDA seeks to support initiatives that foster civil society cooperation with authorities, enhance capacities and opportunities for engagement, advocacy, and participation in public consultations with decision-makers. The call encourages initiatives that foster alliances and twinning with peers in other European countries.
CSOs from Moldova will implement cooperation projects aimed at promoting the exchange of good practices regarding structured political dialogue, consultation mechanisms, local democracy, civic engagement, and other relevant topics. Through a “twinning” approach, these knowledge exchanges and collaborative initiatives will contribute to strengthening the participatory consultation framework at the local level.
The call aligns with the country program for European integration and aims to strengthen the abilities of social actors to establish effective partnerships with local public authorities by adopting best practices from European organizations. By connecting with communities in Europe, including countries that have undergone EU integration processes, Moldovan CSOs will disseminate common models of cooperation in communities.
Interested organizations will propose the direction and theme of the study visit, based on existing or planned external partnerships, selecting local CSOs with similar profiles or interests to form empowered regional clusters for social dialogue and good governance.
2. Eligible Activities and Priorities of the Call
Below are examples of eligible activities for guidance. The list is not exhaustive or cumulative; other innovative initiatives aligned with the objectives and priorities of this call may be considered:
- Study visits to partner organizations abroad for experience exchange and adoption of good practices.
- Establishing partnerships and creating networks of cooperation with relevant organizations in Moldova and EU countries.
- Facilitating joint cooperation initiatives to leverage expertise, networks, and connections at the local level for more inclusive and participatory decision-making processes.
- Mutual learning workshops for the exchange of good practices regarding social dialogue strengthening, network building, public consultation mechanisms in decision-making, cooperation with local public authorities, advocacy activities, including exchanges on citizen, youth, and underrepresented community engagement.
- Encouraging partnerships with local and foreign public authorities.
- Facilitating consultations with external partners on the creation of consultative mechanisms.
- Supporting CSOs to participate in public consultations, decision-making, and implementation of civic initiatives in collaboration with decision-makers.
Proposals should reflect substantial involvement in the associative sector, and participants are encouraged to design activities that include organizations active in rural areas, where access to experience exchange programs and national/international networks is limited.
3. Non-eligible Activities
- Activities primarily focused on individual sponsorships for workshops, conferences, or congresses.
- Activities exclusively or primarily related to individual scholarships for studies or training courses.
- Activities supporting political parties or candidates during elections.
- Retrospective funding for projects already ongoing or completed.
- Projects providing exclusive benefits to individuals or small groups.
- Projects harmful to the environment.
- Equipment purchases only if directly related to project implementation.
4. Grant Award Modalities
Selected organizations will sign a grant agreement with the Association for Local Democracy (ALDA). This funding will cover the costs of the project activities.
- Total budget: €80,000
- Maximum funding per proposal: €10,000
- Project implementation period: February – November 2026
As selected organizations will be VAT-exempt for costs covered under this grant, the budget proposal should include planned costs excluding VAT.
5. Application and Selection Process
| Activity | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Call launch | 15 December 2025 |
| Online information session | 05 January 2026, 15:00, Chisinau time (link for participation) |
| Deadline for questions* | 09 January 2026 |
| Proposal submission deadline | 11 January 2026, 23:59, Chisinau time |
| Proposal evaluation | 12 – 23 January 2026 |
| Grant implementation period | February – November 2026 |
*Questions related to the Call for Proposals can be sent by email until 09.01.2026: aldamoldova@alda-europe.eu
Application package includes:
- Project proposal – Annex 1
- Project budget – Annex 2
- Proof of organization registration
- Presentation of the organization profile and experience relevant to this call (PPT, PDF, Canva)
- Two recommendations from partners, organizations, or donors previously collaborating with the organization (Name and email or recommendation letters)
Applications must be sent to: aldamoldova@alda-europe.eu
Applications can be submitted in Romanian or Russian. The complete package must be submitted in the prescribed forms, including all requested information and respecting character limits. Applications must be legible and accessible; therefore, along with the signed/scanned/PDF version of Annex 1 and Annex 2, an editable MS Word/Excel version is recommended. Late or incomplete submissions will be excluded from evaluation.
6. Eligibility Criteria for Participating Organizations
All applications will undergo an administrative check to ensure required information is provided. Eligible applications must meet the following:
- Non-profit legal status, registered in Moldova.
- Complete application package.
- Has not received another grant under the INSPIRĂ Moldova project.
7. Evaluation Criteria
| Criterion | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Organizational capacity and experience (years of activity, team size and structure, experience in national and international partnerships) | 20 |
| Organization’s potential in establishing partnerships (civic participation, stakeholder engagement including local authorities, awareness activities, etc.) | 20 |
| Project relevance (alignment with call objectives, estimated number of participants/target groups, stakeholder involvement, multi-stakeholder dialogue, interactive and practical learning activities) | 20 |
| Financial component (cost-efficiency ratio) | 20 |
| Performance and sustainability (sustainability of proposed activities, production and dissemination of outputs, stakeholder dialogue, long-term partnership strengthening, gender perspective integration) | 20 |
Total: 100 points
Bonus points will be given to organizations that are members of civil platforms/alliances and have proven experience in establishing partnerships with local, district, or central authorities, inter-community cooperation, and international NGOs, as well as active partnerships with civil society organizations and municipalities domestically and abroad.
8. General Information
INSPIRĂ Moldova is an EU-funded project (2024–2027) aimed at creating an enabling environment for civil society in Moldova by empowering CSOs to actively participate in political discussions at all levels. Based on the momentum of EU accession, the project facilitates political dialogue processes concerning civil society and relevant plans and programs from accession negotiations.
Recognizing the EU’s emphasis on strengthening democracy as a key accession criterion, the initiative will enhance CSO capacities to act as democracy catalysts at national, local, and digital levels.
The project promotes inclusive and participatory processes to improve public participation, particularly for underrepresented groups and women in Moldova. By providing technical and financial support, the project strengthens CSO influence on national policies and accelerates EU integration. CSOs are encouraged to engage in policy development at national, local, and digital levels and collaborate with public authorities to become key actors in promoting democracy in Moldova.
9. Note
This Call for Proposals is made possible with financial support from the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of the INSPIRĂ Moldova project and belongs to ALDA; it does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
The project is implemented by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), Association for Local Democracy (ALDA), Center for Policies and Reforms (CPR Moldova), National Assistance Center for NGOs in Moldova (CONTACT), People in Need (PIN), and Democracy Reporting International (DRI).
