Agenda for Change Grant Awards
On July 21 and 22, 2010, AED Moldova held the Grant Awarding Workshop for the selected civil society organizations under the Agenda for Change Grants Program. The scope of this workshop was to welcome the new organizations on the board of the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program 
(MCSSP) and to familiarize them with USAID and AED regulations, as well as to discuss the assistance which will be provided to grantees over the project implementation period. During the workshop, selected organizations were also introduced to the grant contract terms and provisions and Grantees had the chance to ask related questions.
Under the Agenda for Change Grants Program, AED selected 14 civil society organizations throughout the country, including from the Transnistrian region, which will engage citizens to elaborate an agenda in various areas to improve the decision-making process, and will benefit from an intensive and individualized organizational development. The Agenda for Change projects will be implemented within the period of June 1, 2010 – May 31, 2012.
The Agenda for Change call for proposals was published on March 1, 2010 with the deadline established for March 31, 2010. Out of 32 received proposals, 7 were determined as non-eligible and 14 were selected for funding, decision agreed by USAID Moldova representative. The selection was carried out by a Review Committee composed of representatives of various donor agencies, experienced or possessing knowledge in the civil society capacity building and in other areas relevant to the MCSSP. The selection criteria for the projects were: organizational capacity (40%) and proposed project concept (60%).
List of approved projects:
1. Rural Development Agency CENTER (ADR CENTRU), Orhei
Project title: Strengthening the capacity of the Private-Public-Associative Partnership constituents and implementation of public policies in the Central Region
Consolidating the capacity of the civil society, public and private sectors active in regional development in the Center region of Moldova: creating a regional civil society organizations network, establishing two resource centers - Habitat and ADR Centru, online portal strateg.md, creating the public-private-civic partnership to elaborate policies for regional development, improving the Strategic Plan for Regional Development to be approved by the Regional Council of the Center Region.
2. Association of Independent Press (API), Chisinau
Project title: Developing the study and analysis capacity of the Association of Independent Press (API)
Advocacy campaign for local media development including independent press from Gagauzia and Transnistria regions: performing two short and practical studies and creating a Public-Private Working Group with Parliament and Government representatives to promote the recommendations from the studies.
3. Association of Psychologists Tighina, Causeni
Project title: Assistance service to CSO's acting in the social protection of the families in difficulty from the districts of Causeni, Stefan Voda, Anenii Noi and Transnistria
Strengthening the capacity of a specialized CSO network, developing a common actions plan and increasing the capacity of the relevant public officials in the family protection field, expanding the successful experience to neighboring districts/raions including the communities from Transnistria - Bender and Tiraspol.
4. Centre of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities, Chisinau
Project title: Agenda of change in the area of disabilities
Increasing the involvement of differently abled people in the decision-making process regarding relevant policies: study on ostacles of involvement, development of a public document with strategies and action plans included, creating a mechanism of monitoring the agenda implementation, promoting their involvement through awareness raising activities, mobilizing CSOs in the field and citizens, strengthening the capacity of the CAJPD center.
5. National Center for Child Abuse Prevention (CNPAC), Chisinau
Project title: Child victim/witness of violence in the criminal justice system
Preventing the abuse of rights of children in the penal system of justice: training officials and lawyers on the special needs of children in the justice system and awareness raising campaign, strengthening the capacity of professionals dealing with children in the justice system, advocacy for the improvement of the legal framework to protect children and minors in the justice system.
6. Regional Center of Assistance and Information for CSO’s CONTACT- Balti
Project title: CSO's Involvement in the process of regional development
Promoting regional development policies and strengthening the capacity of actors supposed to implement them in the North and Center: promoting regional policies through partnership with Agencies of Regional Development, strengthening the capacity of the Comunitas Nord network, strengthening the capacity of CONTACT Balti, cooperation with mass-media to increase CSO visibility, ensuring a dialogue between the civil society and authorities.
7. Regional Center of Assistance and Information for CSO’s CONTACT- Cahul
Project title: From local development to regional development of the country
Implementing regional policies, promoting partnership between regional civil society organizations and the authorities: partnership with regional development agencies, strengthening the capacity of the Comunitas Sud network, strengthening the capacity of CONTACT Cahul, cooperation with mass-media to increase CSO visibility, ensuring a dialogue between the civil society and authorities.
8. Regional Center of Sustainable Development (CRDD), Ungheni
Project title: Active citizens for prosperous communities in border region with European Union
Strengthening the capacity of 7 local authorities and 15 regional civil society organizations in Ungheni, increasing citizen involvement in 7 communities of the Ungheni region, improving the dialogue between the civil society, citizens, mass-media and the authorities by means of creating a panel of citizens to ensure this dialogue.
9. Young Journalists Centre Moldova (CTJM), Chisinau
Project title: Developing and promoting national youth media network
Promoting and strengthening youth mass-media: promoting youth participation in public debates, strengthening young journalists’ capacity, exchange of experience between young and experienced journalists, running internships for young journalists, activities of civic journalism, strengthening CTJM capacity.
10. Every Child, Branch Office in Moldova (EvCM), Chisinau
Project title: Support in developing a culture of philanthropy and individual donations in Moldova
Promoting the culture of philanthropy among the general population to support the civil society: poll on philanthropy, info campaign, training CSOs in social protection of family and child on fundraising, elaborating action plans on collecting funds for civil society organizations in Calarasi, Cahul, Falesti, Ungheni.
11. Bulgarian culture society "Rodolubec", Parcani, Slobozia
Project title: WE ARE TOGETHER
Strengthening the civil society capacity in Transnistria: creating the Coordination Council of civil society organizations in Transnistria, roundtables, CSO credibility campaign and citizen involvement, establishing partnerships between Transnistrian civil society organizations and Moldovan civil society organizations.
12. CSO “Soarta”, Soroca
Project title: Active elderly through volunteering
Stimulating cooperation between civil society organizations active in volunteering by promoting active ageing: involving elderly people in volunteering activities (Soroca), establishing cooperation among 15 civil society organizations active in volunteering on active aging, awareness raising about the benefits of volunteering as a form of active ageing, ensuring the contact and cooperation between young volunteers and elder volunteers.
13. CSO “Youth for the Right to Live” (TDV), Chisinau
Project title: Development and implementation of the policies for stimulating the volunteering in Moldova
Developing sustainable models of promoting and encouraging volunteering: developing of implementation mechanisms on the law on volunteerism, developing policies to encourage volunteering supported by employers, public and media events involving civil society organizations, citizens and authorities on promoting the good practices and benefits of volunteering.
14. Association of Independent TV Journalists from Moldova, Chisinau
Project title: Promoting the culture of Investigative TV and Radio Journalism Programs in Moldova
TV Radio Investigative Program: Public multimedia campaign for advocacy for human rights and transparency, strengthen TV Radio journalists capacity to do investigative programs by means of 4 regional public debates, training for journalists and distribution of DVDs and other info materials with TV/Radio investigative programs performed and tips for better journalist activity.
