Governing Justly and Democratically

Strengthened Participatory Democracy 

Comunitatea Mea (My Community)
Implementer: IREX
Project period: 03/2018-03/2026
Projected Budget: $35.5 million

Comunitatea Mea will strengthen local government in Moldova to become more effective, transparent and accountable to citizens. Under this activity USAID will build local government’s capacity to meet citizens’ needs, achieving four main results: 1) improved quality of and access to municipal services; 2) citizens meaningfully engaged in local governance; 3) decentralization policy reforms advanced; and 4) increased locally-generated revenues and improved financial management practices in local governments. The activity will provide comprehensive assistance to up to 130 communities, including towns and villages, primarily targeting local self-government bodies. Local public administrations (LPAs) will engage civic groups and local businesses to develop their communities and improve public services. The activity will also work with central government partners, associations and civil society groups to advance decentralization policy reform, increase LPAs’ financial viability, and address the streamlining of internal processes through digital solutions.

Democratic Transparency and Accountability Program (DTAP)
Implementer: Association Promo-LEX
Project period: 07/2016-03/2025
Projected Budget: $9.05 million

The Democratic Transparency and Accountability (DTAP) Program aims to increase the credibility of electoral processes via election observation and promotion of a conducive enabling environment for political competition. The activity strengthens electoral transparency and accountability mechanisms; enlists actors such as civil society, community groups, rank and file party members, and activists to bring pressure on decision-makers to be more responsive to citizens and engage in fairer and more representative elections and political competition; promote civic activism and human rights education, and combat hate-speech and discrimination.

Civil Society Resilience Activity
Implementer: National Assistance Centre for NGOs in Moldova CONTACT
Project period: 05/2023-05/2028
Projected Budget: $1.49 million

CSRA aims to increase the resiliency of Moldovan civil society by enhancing the ability of civil society organizations (CSOs) to engage with constituents and diversify their resource base. The project will work with local CSOs to raise their ability to mobilize domestic resources in response to community needs and citizen-driven priorities, and to consolidate the capacity of CSOs to engage with Moldovan citizens and relevant constituent groups. CSRA will also work to establish dialogue and trust between CSOs and the corporate sector through joint initiatives and collaboration, to improve philanthropy in Moldova.

MEDIA-M: Media Enabling Democracy, Inclusion and Accountability in Moldova
Implementer: Internews
Project Period: 04/2017-09/2026
Projected Budget: $14.3 million

MEDIA-M aims to promote the development of independent, professional media that give citizens access to a variety of perspectives, and to create a media sector that is more resilient to political and financial pressures. By focusing on the supply of and demand for objective information, this activity strengthens the ability of independent media to fulfill their role as watchdogs over the government and serve as a space for citizens to engage in public policy dialogue. MEDIA-M’s focus on the legal enabling environment reinforces existing protections for freedom of speech, facilitate better implementation of laws, and advocate for media sector regulation in accordance with international norms.

Model Court Initiative (MCI)
Implementer: Dexis Consulting Group (former Checchi Consulting) Project
Project Period: 01/2021- 01/2027 (Phase 1 and 2)
Projected Budget: $11.1 million

The Model Court Initiative works to improve the performance of courts in delivering quality justice services and to improve the connection between courts, communities, and system users. MCI works toward two Objectives: 1) identifying and supporting Moldovan courts in achieving and maintaining Model Court status through improved services to the public, and 2) supplementary national assistance to facilitate changes needed to improve performance at the individual court level. In implementing its activities, MCI works in partnership with key actors and stakeholders in the justice systems in Moldova, primarily the SCM, the MOJ, the ACA, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), as well as the courts throughout the country and CSOs. MCI selected, through an open call, Balti, Ungheni and Edinet as pilots of Phase 1 of this project to undergo innovative capacity-building focused on court excellence, improved performance, and greater engagement with court users and the general public. During Phase 2 of implementation, the Model Court Project will concentrate on supporting four additional district courts in their effort to become model courts. The new beneficiaries are: Drochia, Hincesti, Straseni, and Criuleni district courts. The initiative is now covering half of all district courts in Moldova and focuses on facilitating overall access to justice by improving the delivery of judicial services.

Justice and Anti-Corruption Reform Activity (JARA)
Implementer: Dexis Consulting Group (Dexis)
Project Period: 03/2023 - 03/2026
Projected Budget: $6 million

The purpose of the Justice and Anti-Corruption Reform Activity (TO3) under the Effective Justice IDIQ is to support the Moldovan Government’s efforts to implement justice reform and promote its anti-corruption commitments. Support contributes to the establishment and operation of a mini-secretariat to monitor the implementation of the Justice Development Strategy for years 2022-2025 (hereinafter referred to as the Justice Strategy) and its corresponding Plan; ensure the finalization of pre-vetting and continuous support to vetting; empowerment of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (APO) to become an independent institution examining high-level corruption cases; as well as support civil society anti-corruption initiatives in pursuing the EU accession agenda. 

Moldova - Commercial Mediation and Arbitration (Phase IV) (Program Contribution Agreement)
Implementer: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
Project Period: 06/2018 - 12/2024
Projected Budget: $1.5 million

The Project was launched in 2013 to support the implementation of the first Justice Reform Strategy (2011-2015), which specifically focused on strengthening the system of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Moldova and promoting its use in the business community. USAID’s contribution to Phase IV (2017-2024) aims at assisting the Government of Moldova to advocate for the use of commercial mediation on a national scale, as well as improving access to arbitration and raising the level of skills relevant for arbitration. Through the activities conducted under this project, ADR shall be established and become a business norm in Moldova.

Changing the Way We Care (CTWWC)
Implementer: Catholic Relief Services
Project Period: 10/2020-09/2025
Projected Budget: $6.5 million

Changing the Way We Care Moldova (CTWWC) is part of a broader Global Development Alliance which works to promote safe, nurturing family care for children reintegrating from residential institutions and children at risk of child-family separation, by strengthening families, and reforming child care systems. In Moldova, the project works with the Government of Moldova to assist children, including children with disabilities, to stay in or return to families through family strengthening interventions that consider the wants and needs of children, the engagement of local community in reintegration and appropriate family-based care, and the transition or transformation of institutions and other residential care, including the national policy and workforce investments necessary to support these needs. After the approval of the National Child Protection Program (NCPP) and its Action Plan for 2022-2025, CTWWC will support more than 30 actions from the NCPP action plan covering Objectives 1 and 3.

Harnessing Data for the Better Life of the Child (Data For Impact)
Implementer: Palladium Group
Project Period: 09/2018-12/2024
Projected Budget: $7,506,769 (including additional funds of $1,006,679 as support refugees and 3 mln to support social assistance reform and digital safeguarding)

The overall goal of the activity is to strengthen the capacity of the government and its partners at national and subnational levels to collect, analyze, and use data to generate a positive impact on children in adversity. The project will develop a fully functional Child Protection Information System (CPIS), able to generate reliable longitudinal data and indicators needed to plan reform initiatives and support decision-making processes. D4I will also strengthen the country's capacity in collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform child protection facilities and care reform at the national and subnational levels. Additional provided funding comes in the support of the government to respond to the refugee crisis, and ensure essential services are provided to both refugees and Moldovan citizens. D4I will implement various activities, focused on gathering high quality data, supporting the review and use of data to inform government decisions, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of Ukrainian refugees currently in Moldova and the host communities. D4I program will expand activities to support the roll-out of the Information System in Child Protection (CPIS), the Social Assistance Reform, and safeguarding of children in the digital environment.

Enhancing Democracy in Moldova via Inclusive and Transparent Elections
Implementer: United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Project Period: 08/2017-12/2024
Projected Budget: $3.7 million

Enhancing Democracy in Moldova through Inclusive and Transparent Elections (EDMITE) seeks to achieve the enhanced integrity, transparency, and inclusiveness of the electoral process in Moldova by ensuring a more independent and credible electoral administration and better informed and pro-active citizens. EDMITE, which entered its second phase in 2020, has focused on modernizing IT solutions by increasing the functional and technical capacities of the State Automated Information System “Elections” (SAISE); developing and implementing voter information and civic education programs; strengthening the capacity for effective and coherent oversight and monitoring of political party and electoral campaign financing; and improving the legal and regulatory framework to respond to recommendations made by election observation missions.

Moldova Rural LEADER Project (MRLP)
Implementer: Solidarity Fund PL
Project Period: 08/2020-08/2026
USAID contribution: $3 million

The project goal is to provide Moldovan communities with comprehensive assistance for local development, following the EU LEADER / Community-led Local Development approach, by involving all community actors (representatives of the public, private and civic sectors) and addressing local development challenges. The project will improve the competitiveness and living conditions in rural communities with a strong people empowerment dimension. During the first phase of three years the MRLP program facilitated the creation of 16 new local inter-sectoral partnerships, Local Action Groups (LAGs), thus extending the coverage to 650,000 inhabitants and approximately 50% of the territory. MRLP piloted innovative approaches such as circular economy and Organizational Management Organizations for rural tourism on the platform of LAGs. During the second phase of cost extension, MRLP will focus on professional and capacity development of LAGs to become sustainable in the context of EU accession path, and build the capacity of the National LEADER Network to better and more effectively represent their constituent LAGs for a smarter LEADER.

Health Sector Assistance 

Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC)*
Implementer: FHI 360
Project Period: 01/2023-09/2024
USAID contribution: $860,000

The USG provides about 30% of the overall funding to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GF) and has contributed $3.5 billion to GF’s COVID-19 response mechanism (C19RM) worldwide, from which Moldova is procuring four oxygen generating plants for the National TB Institute, a national-level hospital and two regional ones. Working with the GF’s primary recipient, and the GoM, FHI360—together with Assist International—will be providing technical assistance to support site preparation for the five O2 plants, including platforms, piping and connections. 

Tuberculosis Data Impact Assessment and Communications Hub (TB DIAH)*
Implementer: JSI International
Project Period: mid/2018-11/2023 
USAID contribution: $540,000 (applied to Moldova from Worldwide budget of $36 million) 

As a sub-activity of the $36 million TB DIAH project, which is associated with USAID’s Global Accelerator to End Tuberculosis and is focused on performance-based measures for combating TB. TB DIAH aims to ensure optimal methodology for gathering and analyzing TB Data and the appropriate use of such information to measure performance and to inform national TB programs and USAID  interventions and policies. This includes an online Data Hub, and a regional Center of Excellence on monitoring and evaluation (in Tbilisi, Georgia) that aim to improve data reporting and sharing. Besides Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova are beneficiaries of this activity. Moldova is a relatively large beneficiary of the TB DIAH program—based on country population—as it is ranked in the top 30 countries of the world for cases of MDR TB per 100k population, according to the WHO. 

USAID-WHO Europe Regional TA for Multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB* 
Implementer: WHO
Project Period: ongoing
USAID contribution: $220,000 (applied to Moldova)

Description: USAID also funds a regional TB activity complementary to TB-DIAH, which in addition to Moldova targets Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The activity seeks to strengthen country capacities for better surveillance and response monitoring (SRM) for TB/MDR-TB to: 1) rationalize country capacities for active case finding (ACF) and revise systematic screening (SS) algorithms; 2) foster country capacities for introduction of the TB preventive treatment in MDR-TB contacts (MDR-TPT); and 3) operationalize strategic planning (SP) at regional and country levels. The activity provides technical assistance directly to national TB Program and TB Managers by the WHO EURO regional office. It does not do any direct implementation but rather is a TA platform that has been operational since 2012 to continue to support surveillance and capacity to address TB and MDR TB in the region. 

SMART4TB
Implementer: Johns Hopkins University
Project Period: 01/2024 - 09/2027 
USAID contribution: Moldovan segment TBD

Pharmaceutical study involving a new therapy regimen for rifampicin-resistant TB. The requisite study will be carried out by the Institute of Phthisiopneumology and TB in Chisinau. 

Addressing Unmet Needs for Rehabilitation at Country Level
Implementer: WHO Regional and Moldovan Offices
Project Period: 04/2023 - 03/2028  
USAID contribution: $600,000

Description: Implemented by the WHO with support from USAID’s Inclusive Development Hub, this effort aims to reduce unmet needs for rehabilitation (e.g., following strokes, heart attacks, and injuries). The project’s four objectives include: 1) create effective rehabilitation networks and advocacy; 2) increase policy-relevant rehabilitation information; 3) strengthen Ministry of Health rehabilitation leadership and planning with a focus on workforce; and 4) expand provision of quality rehabilitation with a focus on primary health care. Moldova is one of 20 countries being considered for inclusion in this project, and WHO is actively advocating for its inclusion.