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The results of the Local Grants Programme of the European Union “Be the change: engaged citizens – sustainable communities”

The results of the 28 local grant projects implemented between August 2020 and September 2021 in the Centre Development Region of the country, were highlighted during the final conference of the local grants programme, that took place in Chisinau on 21 October 2021. Along with representatives of non-governmental organisations, the event was also attended by the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union and of the German Development Cooperation through GIZ.

“Since 2019, the German Development Cooperation through GIZ has taken over this great responsibility to initiate and implement a programme, which is the most difficult, but also the most sustainable, it is about empowering citizens, to involve citizens, to invest in citizens, so that they change their attitude and behaviour in relation with some major problems, which are not only local but also global: climate change, waste management, local services, etc.,” mentioned Valentina Plesca, Head of the Citizen empowerment and capacity development unit, GIZ.

The most important results of the programme were mentioned by Ala Revenco, Programme director within AGER:

“28 projects were implemented in 12 districts through which:

  • about 11,000 citizens were informed about environmental issues and local public services;
  • over 600 citizens participated in the planning of local public services;
  • about 90 representatives of the local public authorities were trained on the participatory approach of local public services;
  • more than 50,000 inhabitants from 13 localities gained access to an improved solid waste management infrastructure.”

During the conference, the grant beneficiary-organisations also shared good practices and innovative approaches with colleagues, explaining how these helped them to achieve outstanding results and ensure the sustainability of the implemented projects.

The Local Grants Programme was launched on the basis of the Single Support Framework of the European Union (EU), to the Republic of Moldova (2017-2020) under the European Neighbourhood Instrument, through the EU funded Action “Citizens’ Empowerment in the Republic of Moldova” (2019-2021), implemented by the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, in coordination with the project “Modernisation of Local Public Services in the Republic of Moldova.”