Call for Women’s Economic Empowerment and Reintegration Grants (Moldova)

Deadline: 16-Jun-2026

Applications are now open for the UN Women Moldova Economic Empowerment and Reintegration Support Programme, designed to support women in contact with the criminal justice system through tailored economic empowerment, employability, and reintegration services in the Republic of Moldova.

Implemented under the project “Supporting Women in Contact with the Criminal Justice System through Economic Empowerment and Resilience,” funded by Sweden, the initiative aims to strengthen women’s access to sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion, and long-term economic independence.

About the Programme

The programme seeks to select a civil society organization or consortium to design and implement a comprehensive reintegration and economic empowerment initiative for women involved with the criminal justice system.

The selected organization will work closely with justice institutions, probation services, social service providers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to deliver individualized support that helps women overcome barriers to employment, entrepreneurship, and social reintegration.

At least 50 women are expected to benefit from the programme.

Focus Areas

The programme supports activities related to:

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Reintegration support
• Trauma-informed assistance
• Employability development
• Career orientation
• Skills development
• Reskilling opportunities
• Employment readiness
• Job matching
• Entrepreneurship development
• Livelihood support
• Income-generating activities
• Social inclusion
• Resilience building
• Reduction of stigma
• Access to decent employment
• Service referrals
• Tailored reintegration assistance

Purpose of the Programme

The initiative aims to:

• Improve economic opportunities for women in contact with the criminal justice system
• Strengthen sustainable livelihoods
• Support successful social reintegration
• Reduce barriers to employment
• Build resilience and self-sufficiency
• Promote economic inclusion
• Improve access to skills and training
• Strengthen support systems for vulnerable women
• Enhance long-term social and economic outcomes

Target Beneficiaries

The programme will support at least 50 women, including:

• Women in detention
• Women preparing for release
• Women under probation supervision
• Women serving non-custodial sentences
• Women serving community-based sentences
• Women released from detention
• Women receiving support from specialized social services
• Women assisted by non-governmental organizations

Types of Support Provided

Beneficiaries may receive:

Employability Support

• Career guidance
• Career orientation
• Employability coaching
• Employment readiness training
• Job matching services

Skills Development

• Vocational training
• Skilling opportunities
• Reskilling programmes
• Market-relevant training

Economic Empowerment

• Entrepreneurship support
• Livelihood assistance
• Income-generating opportunities
• Business development guidance

Reintegration Services

• Individualized needs assessments
• Service referrals
• Social inclusion support
• Reintegration planning
• Trauma-informed assistance

Funding Available

The total budget available under this Call for Proposals is:

• Up to USD 120,000

Project Duration

The assignment is expected to:

• Begin in July 2026
• Continue through July 2027

Eligible Applicants

Applications may be submitted by:

• Civil society organizations registered in the Republic of Moldova
• Consortia of eligible civil society organizations

Applicants should demonstrate the capacity to implement programmes focused on:

• Women’s empowerment
• Social inclusion
• Economic development
• Reintegration support
• Employment services
• Community-based assistance

Partnership and Coordination

The selected organization or consortium will collaborate with:

• UN Women
• Justice sector institutions
• Probation services
• Social service providers
• Civil society organizations
• Community stakeholders
• Reintegration support actors

Why This Programme Matters

Women in contact with the criminal justice system often face significant barriers to employment, economic independence, and social reintegration.

The programme seeks to address challenges such as:

• Employment discrimination
• Social stigma
• Limited access to skills development
• Economic vulnerability
• Lack of professional opportunities
• Insufficient support networks

By providing tailored support, the initiative aims to improve long-term reintegration outcomes and reduce the risk of social exclusion.

Application Tips

Strong applications typically demonstrate:

• Experience supporting vulnerable women
• Expertise in economic empowerment programmes
• Understanding of reintegration challenges
• Strong partnerships and stakeholder engagement
• Capacity to deliver individualized support services
• Experience in employment and livelihood programming
• Effective monitoring and reporting systems
• Gender-responsive approaches

Common Application Mistakes

Applications may be weakened by:

• Limited experience with reintegration programmes
• Weak implementation methodologies
• Unclear beneficiary support strategies
• Insufficient stakeholder coordination plans
• Lack of gender-responsive approaches
• Poor monitoring frameworks
• Unrealistic budgets or timelines
• Incomplete consortium arrangements

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the programme designed to support?

• Women in detention.
• Women preparing for release.
• Women under probation supervision.
• Women serving non-custodial or community-based sentences.
• Women released from detention.
• Women receiving support from social service providers or NGOs.

How many women are expected to benefit?

• At least 50 women.

How much funding is available?

• Up to USD 120,000.

Who can apply for the Call for Proposals?

• Civil society organizations registered in the Republic of Moldova.
• Eligible consortia of organizations.

What types of activities can be implemented?

• Employability coaching.
• Career guidance.
• Skills training.
• Entrepreneurship support.
• Livelihood assistance.
• Job matching.
• Reintegration services.
• Trauma-informed support.

Can organizations apply as a consortium?

• Yes.
• Applications may be submitted by individual organizations or consortia.

What is the implementation period?

• From July 2026 through July 2027.

Conclusion

The UN Women Moldova Economic Empowerment and Reintegration Support Programme provides up to USD 120,000 to support a civil society organization or consortium in delivering tailored economic empowerment and reintegration services for women in contact with the criminal justice system. Through employability support, skills development, entrepreneurship assistance, and individualized reintegration services, the initiative aims to improve sustainable livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and promote long-term social and economic inclusion for women across Moldova.

For more information, visit UN Women.