The European Union will support socioeconomic development projects of €2.76 million for the Autonomous Territorial Unit (ATU) Gagauzia and Taraclia district. These funds are provided under the project “Support for Agriculture and Rural Development in ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia” (SARD), implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Small scale infrastructure and inter-municipal cooperation projects will be financed to improve living conditions and to enhance quality of local public services and partnerships between ATU Gagauzia, Taraclia and neighboring communities, IPN reports.

Applicants may submit project proposals related to three main categories. The first is support to SMEs - support ranging from €9,220 to €18,440 will be provided to start-ups and operating SMEs. Each beneficiary will contribute to the promotion of local entrepreneurship, the creation of jobs, and raising incomes.

The second is small-scale infrastructure - funding up to €92,200 each will be provided to local public authorities to improve management, access and quality of municipal service provision, prioritized by their Local Development Strategies. This call will be open until 1 September 2017.

The third is development of inter-municipal cooperation – support up to €119,860 each will be provided for inter-municipal cooperation initiatives in the region as identified in their Local Development Strategies.

The projects’ selection criteria for each funding category, application forms, as well as conditions of participation are made available at http://www.undp.md/tenders//tnddetails2/1312/.

Funded by the European Union with €6.5 million and implemented by UNDP, SARD project aims to strengthen cooperation between central and local authorities, as well as with regional organizations from ATU Gagauzia and Taraclia district, to enhance social and economic development of the region and of the Republic of Moldova as a whole.