Six Civil Society Organizations Receive Financial Support to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls

Six civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on preventing and combating violence against women and girls have received financial support to strengthen their institutional capacities. The event where the small grant certificates were handed over reaffirmed UN Women Moldova’s commitment to equipping CSOs with the necessary tools and resources to effectively advocate for women’s rights at both local and national levels and to provide services centered on the needs of women and girls who have survived violence.

Svetlana Andrieș, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women, stated during the event: “Our commitment is to support organizations for and led by women. Developing the internal capabilities of these organizations is crucial for the success and sustainability of their efforts. It is an honor to provide this support and emphasize the importance of institutional strengthening. These resources will enable recipient organizations to improve their internal processes, develop new skills, and expand their impact in their communities. This event highlights the close collaboration between UN Women Moldova, the European Union, and civil society organizations. Together, we can create an environment where every woman and girl feels safe and respected, with their rights protected and promoted.”

The European Union recognizes the vital role of civil society organizations in policy-making, governance, and service delivery to achieve development and EU accession goals, especially in preventing and combating gender-based violence, said Evghenia Hiora, Program Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova. She emphasized: “Preventing and combating gender-based violence is a key priority of the EU Gender Equality Action Plan, launched in 2020, and is part of the community acquis that the Republic of Moldova must align with on its path to EU accession. The EU is the largest donor to civil society in Moldova. In 2023, the EU provided approximately EUR 9,000,000 for civil society funding in Moldova. We encourage small-grant organizations to invest in staff and internal policies, as these are the pillars of their resilience, their ability to raise funds, and deliver critical services, even in times of crisis. We strongly believe that the efforts of CSOs will contribute to a stronger democracy and a more equitable and just society in Moldova.”

The event also included an informative session on the technical aspects of project implementation, sharing good practices with the beneficiary organizations for implementing and reporting on activities under the Small Grants Program for Civil Society Organizations.

The small grant certificate awarding event was held under the slogan “Partnership for Change.” With financial support from the EU, UN Women Moldova awarded small grants, ranging from 88,000 to 177,000 MDL, to the following civil society organizations:

• AO “Everyone Contributes for Change” (Criuleni)
• JSC “Association of Intellectual Games from the Republic of Moldova” (Chisinau)
• AO National Institute of Women from Moldova “Equality” (Chisinau)
• JSC “Moldova Theater Center” (Chisinau)
• “AudiViz” Family Support Association for Early Recovery of Children with Hearing and Sight Impairments (Bălți)
• “BIAZ GUL” Public Association (Comrat)

Pendus Ivan, Project Manager at AO “Association of Intellectual Games from the Republic of Moldova” (Chisinau), said: “Our organization works with young people, empowering and educating them in the spirit of zero tolerance towards any type of discrimination. We’ve noticed that young people want to develop and need a boost. We asked ourselves: ‘How can we, as an organization, give them this impetus if we ourselves lack the necessary capabilities?’ This grant will allow us to improve our capacities and the quality of services offered to girls and women.”

Gheorghieva Svetlana, President of the Public Association “BIAZ GUL” (Comrat), remarked: “These grants are invaluable for CSOs, enabling sustainable activity, access to resources, and greater competitiveness. We plan to integrate gender equality into seven of our internal documents, including a communication strategy. Our association currently lacks a defined online presence, so we aim to develop an organizational website.”

The EVOLVE4GE – Gender Equality for Development project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UN Women Moldova, aims to eliminate barriers preventing women in the Republic of Moldova from reaching their potential and contributing to their communities’ development.

Savin Elena, President of the AO National Institute of Women from Moldova “Equality” (Chisinau), reported: “During previous projects, we faced issues with insufficient internal policies that did not meet European standards or reflect the diversity of our activities, necessitating constant updates. This grant provides the resources needed to develop our capabilities, including technical ones, allowing us to focus on often overlooked aspects due to time constraints.”