Author: victoria

Non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Moldova that provide legal assistance to women affected by gender-based violence will have the opportunity to strengthen their capacities through a mentoring program organized by the Women’s Law Center (CFC), with the support of UN Women Moldova. The programme is part of the initiative “Enhanced Women’s Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”, funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The aim of the programme is to help non-governmental organisations improve their legal aid practices, with a focus on the needs of victims of domestic violence and compliance with international standards, including the Istanbul Convention.

The program will run over nine months, between February and October 2025, and will include several stages:

• Selection of participating NGOs;
• Initial assessment of the needs of each organization;
• Training sessions tailored to identified needs;
• Individualized mentoring for six months, which will include up to 10 days of personalized support for each organization;
• Study visit to the Specialised Service for Assistance to Victims of Violence within the CDF;
• Final round table to assess the impact of the programme.

Who can apply?

Interested organisations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• To be registered for at least two years according to the legislation of the Republic of Moldova;
• Have experience in providing assistance to victims of domestic and/or gender-based violence;

Have previously provided primary and/or qualified legal assistance to victims of violence;

NGOs operating in areas with limited access to state-guaranteed legal services will have an advantage.

How can it be applied?

The application files must contain:

• Cover letter;
• the organization’s CV, including relevant projects in the field;
• CVs of the representatives who will participate in the program.

They can be sent until February 18, 2024, at 18:00, to the email address concurs@cdf.md with the mention “Mentoring program selection contest” or in physical format to 76 Mihail Kogălniceanu Street, Chisinau.

For additional information, those interested can contact CDF at 022 811-999, or visit the organization’s official website.

Civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova now have the opportunity to strengthen their organizational capacities and increase their impact on local communities through the “Strong NGOs for Resilient Localities” program. The initiative is implemented by A.O. EcoVisio, in partnership with People in Need Moldova, and is part of the Moldova ASSIST project, funded by the European Union.

What does the program offer?

1. Intensive trainings for organizational capacity building

The program includes two training sessions, organized in Chisinau and held by experts with extensive experience in the field of organizational development and collaboration with state institutions. Participants can choose to attend one or both sessions, depending on their needs.

• Training 1: Fundraising and project management, internal policies and working tools

Period: February 28 – March 1, 2025

Location: ChisinauThis session is aimed at NGOs that want to improve their funding strategies and strengthen their internal project management mechanisms. Essential techniques for drafting competitive project proposals, managing financial resources and establishing effective internal policies will be presented.

• Training 2: Advocacy and communication with state structures and local public authorities

Period: March 21 – 22, 2025

Location: ChisinauNGOs that want to develop their capacity to influence public policies and establish effective partnerships with local authorities will benefit from practical strategies and relevant case studies. Advocacy techniques, institutional communication and efficient collaboration with the public administration will be addressed.

2. Mentoring and organizational audit

Six selected NGOs will receive personalized support through individual mentoring sessions and organizational audit. This process will help them identify internal strengths and vulnerabilities, providing them with recommendations for optimizing their work structure and processes.

Through these sessions, organizations will be able to improve internal governance, financial sustainability and operational efficiency, having access to experts in the field who will guide them in implementing effective solutions.

3. Online workshops for the exchange of experience

In addition to direct training and individualized mentoring, the program also includes three online sessions, where NGOs will be able to exchange best practices and discuss the common challenges they face.

These sessions will facilitate the creation of a collaborative network between participants, providing the opportunity to learn from the experiences of other organizations and discover innovative solutions to current problems in the associative sector.

Who can participate?

To be eligible, NGOs must meet the following conditions:

• To be an active NGO in the Republic of Moldova;
• Have at least 3 years of activity;
• Have a team of at least 3 employees or active members;
• Be interested in developing organizational capacities and increasing community impact;
• Be available to participate in trainings and, in the case of those selected, in mentoring and organizational audit sessions.

The selection of participants will be made based on an application form, taking into account the geographical distribution (North, Center, South), motivation and specific needs of each organization.

Program trainers

The experts who will support the trainings combine practical experience from the associative sector with a deep understanding of the mechanisms of collaboration with public authorities and organizational development strategies.

Laurențiu Racu – with over 8 years of experience in civil society and over 6 years in the business environment, specialist in advocacy and collaboration with state institutions.

• Elena Tacu – expert in educational projects and organizational management, with over 6 years of experience in working with international teams and coordinating impact initiatives.
• Vica Diavor – specialist in productivity and project management, with a practical approach to organizing and streamlining NGO activities.

Why attend?

• You will grow your organization through modern methods of project management and fundraising.
• You will receive personalized support through mentoring and specific recommendations for your NGO.
• You will learn effective strategies for advocacy and collaboration with public authorities.
• You will interact with other NGOs, exchanging experiences and building new partnerships.

How can you sign up? Application deadline: February 15, 2025

To participate, interested organizations must complete the application form: Application for

For more information, the contact person is Laurențiu Mutruc, the project coordinator, at the e-mail address laur.mutruc@ecovisio.org.

---

This program represents a valuable opportunity for NGOs that want to improve their activity and contribute to the development of local communities in the Republic of Moldova.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is marked annually on February 11, being an initiative of the United Nations (UN) to recognize the contributions of women in science and to promote gender equality in research and innovation. Established by a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, this day highlights the importance of equal access to education and careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.

Global Statistics

Although women make up almost half of the world’s population, they are still underrepresented in scientific fields. According to UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics, only 33% of the world’s researchers are women.

Some relevant data on women’s involvement in science:

• Only 28% of students taking STEM programs globally are women.
• In the field of artificial intelligence, only 22% of specialists are women.
• Women have won only 4% of all Nobel Prizes in science awarded throughout history.
• In the European Union, 41% of PhD graduates are women, but only 24% of university professors are female.

Situation in the Republic of Moldova

In the Republic of Moldova, women represent 52.3% of the population with habitual residence. In terms of education, women constitute 59.1% of students in higher education, and 32.3% of employed women have higher education, compared to 24.5% of men.

However, in research and development, women are underrepresented. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, only 35% of researchers are women, highlighting the need for policies and programs that encourage female participation in research and innovation activities.

Factors influencing the representation of women in science

Gender differences in STEM are caused by several factors, including:

• Gender stereotypes – The perception that the exact sciences are “masculine fields” continues to discourage girls from choosing such careers.

• Lack of female role models – The reduced number of women in leadership positions in research means that girls have fewer role models.
• Inequities in funding and promotion – Women researchers receive less funding for scientific projects compared to men.
• Sharing family responsibilities – In many societies, women are the ones who take on a large part of the domestic responsibilities, which can limit their professional progress.

Initiatives for the promotion of women in science

Internationally, several organizations and governments have launched programs to support girls’ access to STEM education and combat gender inequalities. These include:

• The “For Women in Science” programme, launched by UNESCO and L’Oréal, which offers scholarships to women researchers.
• The European Commission’s ‘She Figures’ campaign, which monitors the progress of gender equality in research and innovation.
• The ‘Girls Who Code’ initiative, which provides computer science learning opportunities for girls around the world.

At the national level, universities and non-governmental organizations run mentoring programs, science and technology competitions, but also projects to encourage young women to pursue careers in technical fields. These include:

• Girls Go IT initiative – a program launched in 2015, which aims to support girls and young women to develop their digital skills and integrate into the IT industry.
• Tekwill Academy and Tekwill in Every School, Tekwill Academy, an educational program developed by the Tekwill project, which offers training courses in IT, including for young women interested in this field, and Tekwill in Every School is a project that provides access to digital education for students from all over the country, especially promoting the involvement of girls in the field of information technologies.
• The STEM Girls Moldova program, an initiative that promotes careers in science and technology among girls.

These initiatives contribute to increasing women’s participation in science and technology, providing them with opportunities for professional and personal development. Although the number of women in STEM remains relatively low compared to that of men, such programs play a key role in changing perceptions and promoting gender equality in these fields.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of women in research and to continue efforts to ensure an equitable academic and professional environment. Increasing the number of female role models in science, supporting access to STEM education, and removing gender barriers are essential for an innovative and inclusive society.

The Chisinau Municipal Youth Center has launched a public call for the selection of trainers who will contribute to the development of the skills of leaders in student self-governments. The program includes training sessions structured on three essential modules, designed to support students in the effective management of the organizations they represent.

The selected trainers will deliver trainings in the following areas:

• Communication and team management – developing coordination and leadership skills;
• Fundraising and project writing – attracting financial resources and developing viable initiatives;
• Lobbying and advocacy techniques, conflict mediation – strategies for promoting student interests and dispute resolution.

Interested persons must send their CV to the secretariat.centruchisinau@gmail.com email address, mentioning in the subject “Trainer offer for the student program”.

Deadline for applications: February 22, 2025.

---

READ ALSO: Public consultations to support student organizations: directions of action and future initiatives

---

The training program for student self-governments includes several directions of action, including:

Methodological assistance for the development and efficient management of student projects;

• Non-formal learning workshops focused on leadership and organizational management;
• Hackathon dedicated to student initiatives, where young people will have the opportunity to develop concrete solutions for the academic community.

Through these initiatives, the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center aims to support the active involvement of students in decision-making processes, providing them with the necessary tools to develop and strengthen student organizations.

 

UNFPA Moldova representatives paid a visit to the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center, where they offered sets of dispensers containing free sanitary pads. They will be distributed within the Network of Youth Centers in the municipality, as part of an initiative that supports young women’s access to essential products for menstrual hygiene.

This action aims to improve young women’s access to hygiene products, contributing to the promotion of health and well-being among the community. In addition, it is an important step in combating the stigma of menstruation and facilitating a safe and inclusive environment for girls and young women.

During the visit, representatives of UNFPA Moldova and the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center discussed the projects carried out for young people and the possibilities for future collaboration. The discussions focused on developing the services offered by the Youth Centers and improving the support provided to young people in Chisinau.

“We are open to sharing our experiences and improving the services provided,” said Petru Grecu, director of the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center.

The donation offered by UNFPA Moldova comes in the context of broader efforts to increase access to menstrual hygiene products, an essential aspect for the health and dignity of young women.

The Youth Centers in Chisinau will ensure the distribution of these products among the beneficiaries, thus strengthening the initiatives dedicated to supporting and developing young people.