There is no mechanism for developing social entrepreneurship in Moldova, findings

02.07.2013 16:42
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The laws on entrepreneurship are general and lenient and there are no programs for the state to support social entrepreneurship. Also, there are no mechanisms for facilitating access to financing, representatives of civil society said in a roundtable meeting centering on social entrepreneurship, IPN reports.

Expert-consultant of “Motivatie” Association Olga Tretiacov said that social entrepreneurship in Western Europe has existed for 30 years, while in Eastern Europe it only starts to be implemented. Moldova does not have legal acts that would define mechanisms for developing social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship is often mixed up with philanthropy or charity. But social entrepreneurship is aimed at making profit for solving community problems.

According to the expert, the development of social entrepreneurship would ensure the financial sustainability of the NGOs by developing services provided for money. Preconditions will be created for employing persons with disabilities. For society to be aware of the necessity of drafting a bill on social entrepreneurship, the businesspeople should devote attention to the social sphere.

Olga Tretiacov also said that if social entrepreneurship had the power of a law behind, the state would develop financing programs funded from the budget. Financing would be provided based on projects and business plans. The rest of the money may be invested by private individuals and legal entities.

The expert added that an authority should be instituted to provide assistance and promotion possibilities to the NGOs. This authority may design state financing programs so that the businesses started by the NGOs become profitable.

The roundtable meeting “Social entrepreneurship in the Republic of Moldova: Drafting of the bill on social entrepreneurship, proposal of necessary legislative amendments” was held within the project “Social entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities” that is implemented with support from the USAID within the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program, carried out by FHI360.