Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The EU-funded Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility project has launched the 2026 Communication Labs programme for civil society organisations in Moldova. The programme will select up to ten CSOs to strengthen their strategic communication, public engagement, fundraising, and resource mobilisation capacities. At the end of the programme, up to three campaign ideas may receive EU support of up to EUR 8,000 each for production, implementation, and launch.
Overview
The 2026 Communication Labs programme supports civil society organisations in Moldova to improve communication skills and develop impactful campaigns.
The programme helps organisations build public trust, increase awareness of their work, and strengthen long-term sustainability through better communication and resource mobilisation.
Selected organisations will receive training, mentorship, peer learning opportunities, and support to refine campaign ideas linked to their mission and community impact.
Purpose of the Programme
The purpose of the Communication Labs programme is to help Moldovan civil society organisations communicate more strategically and build stronger relationships with citizens, communities, supporters, donors, and local partners.
The programme supports CSOs in developing campaigns that promote public engagement, fundraising, organisational sustainability, and community support for civil society work.
It is designed to help organisations move from campaign ideas to practical, well-planned communication initiatives.
Key Focus Areas
The programme focuses on strategic communication, audience analysis, messaging, storytelling, media engagement, budgeting, campaign planning, campaign evaluation, organisational sustainability, public support for civil society, fundraising, resource mobilisation, the 2% Designation Mechanism, individual donations, recurring giving, community fundraising, crowdfunding, membership schemes, supporter schemes, local business partnerships, volunteering, in-kind support, and other resource mobilisation mechanisms.
What the Programme Supports
The 2026 Communication Labs programme supports civil society organisations in Moldova to design and improve communication campaigns.
Supported activities may include:
- Strategic communication planning
- Audience research and analysis
- Message development
- Storytelling for social impact
- Media relations
- Campaign budgeting
- Campaign implementation planning
- Campaign performance assessment
- Fundraising communication
- Public engagement strategies
- Resource mobilisation planning
- Peer learning and networking
- Mentorship with communication experts
The programme is intended to help CSOs create campaigns that are practical, mission-driven, and sustainable.
Number of Participants
Up to ten civil society organisations from Moldova will be selected to participate in the programme.
Each organisation will participate with a campaign idea that can be developed and refined through training and mentorship.
Campaign Support
At the end of the programme, up to three campaign ideas will be selected for EU support.
Each selected campaign may receive up to EUR 8,000.
This support may be used for campaign production, implementation, and launch.
The campaign should be connected to the organisation’s mission, target communities, and long-term sustainability goals.
Training Components
Participating organisations will receive practical training in key areas of communication and campaign development.
Training topics may include:
- Strategic communication
- Audience research
- Message development
- Storytelling techniques
- Media engagement
- Budget preparation
- Campaign implementation
- Campaign monitoring
- Performance evaluation
- Fundraising and public support strategies
The training is designed to help organisations create stronger, clearer, and more effective public campaigns.
Mentorship Support
A key feature of the programme is tailored mentorship.
Each participating organisation will work with an experienced mentor to strengthen its campaign idea.
Mentorship may support organisations to:
- Refine the campaign concept
- Identify target audiences
- Develop key messages
- Set measurable indicators
- Create implementation plans
- Prepare realistic budgets
- Improve campaign sustainability
- Strengthen fundraising and resource mobilisation approaches
This individual support helps organisations transform ideas into actionable communication campaigns.
Networking and Peer Learning
The programme offers opportunities for civil society organisations from different regions and sectors across Moldova to learn from one another.
Participants will exchange experiences, share practical knowledge, and build connections with other CSOs and communication experts.
This peer learning approach can help organisations strengthen collaboration, improve campaign design, and build stronger networks within Moldova’s civil society sector.
Resource Mobilisation Focus
Campaign proposals should encourage citizens, businesses, communities, and stakeholders to support civil society organisations.
Supported campaign ideas may focus on:
- Fundraising
- Individual donations
- Recurring giving
- Community fundraising
- Crowdfunding
- Membership or supporter schemes
- Local business partnerships
- Volunteer engagement
- In-kind contributions
- Use of the 2% Designation Mechanism
- Other sustainability-focused support models
The campaign should help the organisation build stronger and more diverse support systems.
Who Is Eligible?
Participation is open to officially registered civil society organisations operating in Moldova.
Eligible organisations must:
- Be officially registered in Moldova
- Have at least two years of demonstrated experience
- Contribute to social change, community engagement, policy development, or related fields
- Propose a campaign idea linked to their mission and community work
- Commit to active participation throughout all programme stages
Preference will be given to local and regional organisations, especially those working outside the capital and maintaining strong connections with their communities.
Lead Applicant Requirements
The Lead Applicant must usually be a citizen of Moldova.
Citizens of other Eastern Partnership countries may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
The Lead Applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a current employee or member of the applying organisation
- Hold a role that enables them to lead the proposed campaign
- Have working knowledge of written and spoken English
- Actively participate in all Communication Labs activities
The Lead Applicant should be able to guide the campaign from idea development to implementation planning.
Why It Matters
Civil society organisations often need strong communication to build public trust, explain their work, attract supporters, and mobilise resources.
In Moldova, local and regional CSOs may have strong community connections but limited access to professional communication support.
The 2026 Communication Labs programme matters because it helps organisations strengthen public engagement, improve campaign planning, diversify resources, and build long-term sustainability.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear application that presents the organisation, campaign idea, target audience, sustainability goal, and applicant capacity.
Step 1: Confirm Organisational Eligibility
The organisation should confirm that it is officially registered and operating in Moldova.
It should also confirm at least two years of experience in social change, community engagement, policy development, or related work.
Step 2: Select a Strong Lead Applicant
The organisation should identify a Lead Applicant who can actively participate in all programme activities and guide the campaign process.
The Lead Applicant should be directly involved in communication, fundraising, advocacy, management, or programme implementation within the organisation.
Step 3: Develop a Campaign Idea
The campaign idea should be connected to the organisation’s mission, activities, and target communities.
It should explain how the campaign will increase public awareness, strengthen support, or improve organisational sustainability.
Step 4: Define Target Audiences
Applicants should identify who the campaign aims to reach.
Target audiences may include:
- Citizens
- Local communities
- Supporters
- Donors
- Volunteers
- Businesses
- Public institutions
- Youth groups
- Community leaders
- Civil society networks
The proposal should explain why these audiences matter and how they will be engaged.
Step 5: Explain the Resource Mobilisation Goal
The campaign should encourage support for the organisation or civil society sector.
Applicants should explain whether the campaign will focus on donations, recurring giving, crowdfunding, volunteer support, business partnerships, the 2% Designation Mechanism, or another sustainability mechanism.
Step 6: Show Community Connection
Preference is given to organisations with strong community links, especially local and regional CSOs outside the capital.
Applicants should describe their relationship with target communities and explain how the campaign will respond to community needs.
Step 7: Commit to Programme Participation
Applicants must commit to active participation in training, mentorship, peer learning, and all Communication Labs activities.
This commitment is important because campaign ideas will be developed through a structured process.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Applicants should submit a complete application with organisational information, Lead Applicant details, campaign concept, target audience, sustainability goal, and participation commitment.
Selection Considerations
Applications are likely to be assessed based on organisational eligibility, campaign relevance, community connection, and potential for sustainability.
Key assessment areas may include:
- Official registration in Moldova
- At least two years of relevant experience
- Strength of the campaign idea
- Connection to organisational mission
- Relevance to target communities
- Potential for fundraising or resource mobilisation
- Commitment to full participation
- Role and capacity of the Lead Applicant
- Preference for local and regional organisations
- Potential to build public trust and support for civil society
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Present a clear and realistic campaign idea
- Connect the campaign to the organisation’s mission
- Define the target audience clearly
- Explain the fundraising or resource mobilisation goal
- Show strong community links
- Highlight local or regional impact
- Demonstrate readiness to participate fully
- Select a Lead Applicant with decision-making or campaign leadership capacity
- Explain how mentorship will help improve the campaign
- Show how the campaign can support long-term sustainability
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes include:
- Submitting a campaign idea not linked to the organisation’s mission
- Providing unclear target audiences
- Not explaining how the campaign supports sustainability
- Treating the programme as general training without a campaign plan
- Failing to show community connection
- Not demonstrating two years of relevant experience
- Selecting a Lead Applicant who cannot lead the campaign
- Not confirming working knowledge of English
- Ignoring fundraising or resource mobilisation mechanisms
- Providing vague campaign goals without measurable outcomes
FAQ
1. What is the 2026 Communication Labs programme?
It is a capacity-building and mentorship programme that helps civil society organisations in Moldova develop strategic communication campaigns linked to public engagement and organisational sustainability.
2. Who can apply?
Officially registered civil society organisations operating in Moldova can apply.
3. How many organisations will be selected?
Up to ten civil society organisations from Moldova will be selected to participate.
4. What support will participants receive?
Participants will receive practical training, tailored mentorship, networking opportunities, and peer learning support.
5. Is campaign funding available?
Yes. At the end of the programme, up to three campaign ideas may receive EU support of up to EUR 8,000 each for campaign production, implementation, and launch.
6. What campaign themes are encouraged?
Campaigns should support public engagement, fundraising, resource mobilisation, individual giving, recurring donations, crowdfunding, the 2% Designation Mechanism, local business partnerships, volunteering, or other sustainability mechanisms.
7. Who can be the Lead Applicant?
The Lead Applicant must generally be a Moldovan citizen, at least 18 years old, a current employee or member of the organisation, able to lead the campaign, have working knowledge of English, and participate in all programme activities.
Conclusion
The 2026 Communication Labs programme offers Moldovan civil society organisations an opportunity to strengthen communication, build public trust, and develop practical campaigns that support long-term sustainability. Through training, mentorship, peer exchange, and potential EU support of up to EUR 8,000 for selected campaigns, the programme helps CSOs improve audience engagement, fundraising, and resource mobilisation. Applicants should present mission-driven campaign ideas with clear audiences, measurable goals, strong community links, and a commitment to active participation throughout the programme.
For more information, visit Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility.
