The local nongovernmental organizations are invited to take part in a EU-supported program of grants for developing civil society in Moldova. The NGOs can obtain €1,000 to €60,000 for community mobilization, information and awareness-raising activities, IPN reports.

The program has a budget of €3 million and is aimed at supporting activities that would promote and monitor transparency in the local public administration. The program is also designed to increase the level of civic education and critical thinking and to promote cultural diversity, social cohesion and communication at the local and regional levels.

In the program launch event, project director Mircea Eşanu said the program will last for three years and up to 150 project proposals of NGOs aimed at promoting the principles of good governance in Moldova are to be financed until 2021. Opinion polls show many citizens do not agree with the direction followed by the country and are concerned about the fact that they cannot contribute themselves to changing things.

Only public organizations can apply for grants. The citizens who do not form part of a public association can suggest their ideas to a regional or local NGO and ask them to apply to the program. “We expect to take people with interesting ideas out of their homes. We will see what they can do in the own community. They should lend a hand in solving the problems,” stated Mircea Eşanu.

Details about submissions are available on the website of the project Development of Civil Society at the local level in the Republic of Moldova.