Women’s Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood Support Programme (Moldova)

The Republic of Moldova has launched a funding opportunity to support women engaged in household-level economic activities by providing non-financial assistance worth up to USD 6,000 per project. The programme aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve energy efficiency, promote sustainable livelihoods, and empower women in vulnerable rural communities through climate-smart household enterprises.

About the Programme

The Republic of Moldova is inviting applications from eligible women for a programme that promotes women’s economic empowerment, climate resilience, and energy-efficient household businesses. The initiative is designed to help women strengthen their livelihoods while supporting local climate action and sustainable development.

Rather than providing direct cash grants, the programme offers non-financial assistance in the form of goods, equipment, services, or works required to implement approved projects.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to help vulnerable rural communities adapt to climate change while encouraging sustainable local economic development.

Programme Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen women’s economic empowerment.
• Improve climate resilience in rural communities.
• Promote energy-efficient household economic activities.
• Support climate change adaptation measures.
• Encourage sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• Reduce household vulnerability to climate-related risks.
• Support implementation of gender-sensitive Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs).
• Promote sustainable local economic solutions.
• Build resilient rural communities.

Why This Programme Matters

Climate change continues to affect rural communities across the Republic of Moldova, where women often face greater barriers to accessing finance, technology, and economic opportunities.

This programme addresses these challenges by helping women:

• Modernize household businesses.
• Introduce energy-efficient technologies.
• Improve climate adaptation practices.
• Increase household income opportunities.
• Reduce environmental impacts.
• Contribute to local climate action commitments.

The initiative also supports national and community efforts toward sustainable development and long-term resilience.

Funding Support

Selected beneficiaries will receive:

• Non-financial assistance valued at up to USD 6,000 per project.
• Support through:
  • Goods
  • Equipment
  • Services
  • Works required for project implementation
• Assistance based on approved project proposals.

Applicants must contribute a minimum of:

• 5% of the requested project value through their own financial contribution.

Project Duration

• Supported projects must be completed by March 2028.

Priority Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following:

• Women’s economic empowerment
• Household-level business development
• Climate resilience
• Energy efficiency
• Climate change adaptation
• Sustainable livelihoods
• Green household enterprises
• Sustainable local development
• Community resilience
• SECAP implementation

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be women.
• Reside in one of the 42 partner communities participating in the programme.
• Be engaged in household-level economic activities.
• Submit projects aligned with gender-sensitive Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs).
• Provide at least 5% co-financing of project costs.

Programme Coverage

The programme plans to support:

• At least 160 women engaged in household-level economic activities.
• At least 20 projects located on the left bank of the Nistru River.

Eligible Project Characteristics

Successful projects should:

• Improve climate resilience.
• Increase energy efficiency.
• Reduce household vulnerability.
• Promote sustainable household enterprises.
• Introduce environmentally sustainable practices.
• Align with local climate and energy priorities.
• Support long-term community resilience.

How the Support Works

Unlike traditional grant programmes, this initiative does not provide cash directly to beneficiaries.

Instead, approved participants receive project support through procurement of:

• Equipment
• Goods
• Construction or installation works
• Technical services
• Other approved implementation needs

The support is delivered according to each approved project plan.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants should:

1. Confirm that they live in one of the eligible partner communities.
2. Develop a household economic activity project focused on climate resilience and energy efficiency.
3. Ensure the project aligns with the local SECAP.
4. Prepare the required project documentation.
5. Demonstrate the ability to provide the required 5% financial contribution.
6. Submit the application before the programme deadline.
7. If selected, work with programme administrators during procurement and implementation.
8. Complete project implementation by March 2028.

Application Assessment

Applications are expected to be assessed based on:

• Applicant eligibility.
• Alignment with programme objectives.
• Contribution to climate resilience.
• Energy efficiency improvements.
• Sustainable livelihood potential.
• Consistency with local SECAP priorities.
• Feasibility of implementation.
• Community impact.
• Required applicant contribution.

Tips for Applicants

To improve the likelihood of success:

• Clearly explain how the project improves household resilience.
• Demonstrate measurable energy-efficiency benefits.
• Show how the project contributes to climate adaptation.
• Align activities with local SECAP priorities.
• Prepare a realistic implementation plan.
• Include accurate cost estimates.
• Demonstrate long-term sustainability.
• Clearly identify expected community and household benefits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Applying from outside the eligible partner communities.
• Requesting direct cash funding instead of eligible non-financial support.
• Ignoring SECAP alignment.
• Omitting the required 5% financial contribution.
• Submitting incomplete project information.
• Proposing activities unrelated to climate resilience or sustainable livelihoods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can apply for this programme?

Women living in one of the 42 eligible partner communities in the Republic of Moldova who are engaged in household-level economic activities.

How much support is available?

Each approved beneficiary may receive non-financial assistance valued at up to USD 6,000.

Will beneficiaries receive cash?

No. Support is provided through goods, equipment, services, or works rather than direct financial payments.

Is co-financing required?

Yes. Applicants must contribute at least 5% of the requested project value.

How many women will benefit?

The programme aims to support at least 160 women, including at least 20 projects on the left bank of the Nistru River.

What types of projects are encouraged?

Projects that improve energy efficiency, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and environmentally sustainable household economic activities aligned with local SECAPs.

When must projects be completed?

All supported projects must be completed by March 2028.

Conclusion

The Republic of Moldova’s Women’s Climate Resilience Programme provides an important opportunity for women in eligible rural communities to strengthen household enterprises through energy-efficient and climate-smart solutions. By providing non-financial assistance of up to USD 6,000 alongside local climate planning priorities, the programme supports sustainable livelihoods, strengthens community resilience, and helps women play a leading role in climate adaptation and rural economic development.