Republic of Moldova

Description:

This project aims to contribute to achieving regional and global environmental benefits through developmental interventions for environment protection and sustainable use of natural resources in the Republic of Moldova.

Objectives:

• To support the efforts of the Moldovan central public authorities to take action for environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources.  The project will strengthen the Ministry of Ecology’s institutional capacity to develop and implement policies and measures of main concern, including those related to the implementation of Moldova’s international environmental commitments.
• To support, through an environmental Small Grants Scheme (SGS), the initiatives and projects of local communities, formulated by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aimed at preserving the environment and achieving sustainable livelihoods.

Benefits expected:

• Increased capacity of Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) for good environmental governance;
• Empowerment of local communities, involving them in all project stages, from establishing the project idea, to project proposal design, implementation, self-monitoring and evaluation of project results;
• Under the Small Grants Scheme, the project will contribute to poverty reduction through income-generation from environmentally-friendly activities based on sustainable use of natural resources.

Public
awareness:

The project will strive to enhance communication both ways: top-down, from the MENR to NGOs/local communities, and bottom-up, from the local level/general public/NGOs to the central public authorities.  A special effort will be made for the dissemination of information on SGS-related activities.

Partners:

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, environmental non-government organizations, local public authorities and private businesses.

Noteworthy:

The Small Grants Scheme component was designed according to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) philosophy, principles and focal areas, as it is hoped that, at some time in the future, a GEF SGP can be established in Moldova.  Project grants will be made available to NGOs throughout Moldova, including Transnistria regions. Transnistrian NGOs could be direct grant beneficiaries or they could be partners to NGOs situated on the right bank of the Nistru River. As such, the Small Grants Scheme will contribute to strengthening the capacity of the civil society acting in environmental protection in Transnistria, and will foster trust-building and effective partnerships.