The European Union and the Soros Foundation Moldova Launch Grant Program for Energy Efficiency in Social Services

At least 35 grants, amounting to approximately 87,000 euros each, will be awarded under the new project. The grants will be provided to civil society organizations partnering with public authorities to transform spaces where social services are provided into “nearly zero-energy consumption buildings” and for community mobilization activities.

The project “Local Partnerships for Energy Efficiency in Social Services” is funded by the European Union, co-financed, and implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with IP Keystone Moldova and the Association of Social Innovation Fund of Moldova (FISM).

“The program launched today, with a budget of over 4 million euros, reaffirms the European Union’s commitment to supporting the Republic of Moldova in its aspiration to align with EU standards, especially regarding climate neutrality. Furthermore, I am delighted that the ultimate beneficiaries of this project will be the people who need our support the most today. Thanks to this project, the rooms where social services are provided will be modernized to ensure a high level of energy efficiency, and the funds saved can be reinvested in the broader development of social services,” said Jānis Mažeiks, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.

In implementing initiatives to enhance social resilience, the Soros Foundation Moldova pays particular attention to developing partnerships between the involved actors. “So far, thanks to the support of the European Union, we have managed to develop over 80 social services throughout the country. The sustainability of these services’ success depends on everyone involved: civil society, local public authorities, and the government. Adequate budget planning, continuous quality assurance, and maintaining a qualified, empathetic, and professional staff are necessary,” said Daniela Vidaicu, Executive Director of the Soros Foundation Moldova.

Throughout the project implementation, the Social Innovation Fund of Moldova will provide technical assistance to civil society organizations benefiting from grants. Keystone Moldova will advise organizations on community mobilization and the development of public awareness activities regarding responsible energy consumption and the promotion of energy efficiency.

Context Information

The project “Local Partnerships for Energy Efficiency in Social Services” has a total budget of over 4,8 million euro, of which the European Union allocated about 4,3 million euro, and more than 500,000 euro is the co-financed amount by the Soros Foundation Moldova. The project is implemented by the Soros Foundation Moldova in partnership with IP Keystone Moldova and the Association of Social Innovation Fund of Moldova (FISM), for 36 months starting from February 2024.

The overall objective of the project is to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) in the social domain to become strong pillars in social policy dialogue and in building inclusive communities for vulnerable groups.

For additional information, please contact Dmitri Gudumac, tel. 079753891, email: dgudumac@soros.md