Call for Proposals: Promoting Inclusive Local Governance and Women’s Participation (Moldova)

Deadline: 11-Jun-2026

UN Women is inviting civil society organizations and consortiums in the Republic of Moldova to strengthen inclusive local governance by enhancing women’s leadership, civic participation, and community engagement in decision-making processes. The programme supports grassroots activism, gender-responsive governance, participatory budgeting, and empowerment of marginalized groups, including Roma women, refugee women, and women with disabilities. The budget ranges from USD 200,000 to USD 230,000, with implementation planned across up to 37 communities during 2026–2027.

Overview of the Programme

This UN Women initiative in Moldova is designed to promote inclusive and gender-responsive local governance by strengthening the role of civil society, women’s groups, and citizens in public decision-making. It supports community-driven approaches that enhance transparency, accountability, and participation in local governance processes.

The programme is implemented under “Enhance Peace and Prosperity through Women’s Leadership and Inclusion,” funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation. It builds on previous work under the Women for Peace & Prosperity initiative.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to strengthen democratic participation and women’s leadership in governance systems.

Key objectives include:

• Strengthening women’s leadership in governance and decision-making
• Enhancing civic participation and grassroots activism
• Promoting gender-responsive governance and policymaking
• Supporting participatory governance and budgeting processes
• Improving transparency and accountability in local administration
• Expanding inclusion of marginalized and underrepresented groups
• Building capacity for community-based advocacy and engagement
• Strengthening social cohesion and inclusive local development

Priority Areas of the Call

The programme focuses on strengthening inclusive governance systems through multiple thematic areas:

• Women’s leadership development and governance participation
• Civic engagement and community mobilization
• Gender-responsive policies and legal frameworks
• Participatory local governance and budgeting
• Leadership mentorship and capacity building for women
• Support for women-led initiatives and organizations
• Monitoring of local public administration and spending
• Anti-corruption awareness and transparency promotion
• Dialogue and networking spaces for women leaders
• Communication, advocacy, and knowledge management
• Inclusion of marginalized groups (Roma women, refugee women, women with disabilities, youth, older women, single mothers)

Geographic Scope and Coverage

The programme will be implemented across up to 37 communities in the Republic of Moldova during 2026–2027.

Special focus areas include:

• ATU Gagauzia region (qualitative research and targeted interventions)
• Communities with high levels of social exclusion or limited civic participation
• Localities building on prior Women for Peace & Prosperity activities

Key Activities

The selected implementing organization or consortium will carry out a wide range of governance and capacity-building activities.

Core activities include:

• Leadership training and mentorship programmes for women
• Capacity-building for civil society organizations and community groups
• Small grants for women-led initiatives
• Community engagement and participatory governance projects
• Advocacy for gender-responsive local policies and budgeting
• Monitoring and oversight of local public administration activities
• Networking platforms and dialogue forums for women leaders
• Awareness campaigns and community mobilization activities
• Research and analytical studies, including in Gagauzia
• Support for inclusive decision-making processes with local authorities

Special Focus: Gagauzia Region

The programme includes targeted research and intervention activities in ATU Gagauzia to better understand barriers to women’s participation in public life.

Activities in this region include:

• Qualitative research on barriers to women’s civic participation
• Capacity-building programmes for women and local organizations
• Mentorship schemes for emerging women leaders
• Networking and dialogue initiatives
• Small-scale grants for women’s empowerment initiatives

Implementation Approach

The programme emphasizes participatory, inclusive, and conflict-sensitive implementation.

Key implementation principles include:

• Active involvement of communities in design and execution
• Collaboration between civil society and local authorities
• Conflict-sensitive and context-aware programming
• Long-term sustainability of outcomes
• Evidence-based monitoring and evaluation systems
• Use of disaggregated data for impact measurement

Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements

Selected organizations must implement robust monitoring systems to track impact and outcomes.

M&E requirements include:

• Disaggregated data collection (gender, age, vulnerability status)
• Measurement of civic participation and leadership outcomes
• Tracking governance and transparency improvements
• Evaluation of social cohesion and inclusion indicators
• Programme effectiveness assessment across communities

Budget and Financial Structure

The programme provides funding within a defined range and allocates resources for communication activities.

Funding details:

• Total budget range: USD 200,000 – USD 230,000
• Communication and visibility: 10%–15% of total budget
• Funding type: Partnership agreement under UN Women Moldova

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must demonstrate strong technical and operational capacity in governance and gender programming.

Eligible applicants include:

• Civil society organizations
• Consortiums of organizations

Required experience:

• Project management and implementation
• Women’s leadership and empowerment programmes
• Civic engagement and community mobilization
• Local governance and policy engagement
• Social cohesion and inclusion initiatives

Preferred experience:

• Work in ATU Gagauzia
• Collaboration with local authorities and international partners
• Experience with marginalized groups and community-based programming

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the purpose of this UN Women Moldova call?
  • It aims to strengthen inclusive local governance by increasing women’s leadership, civic participation, and engagement of marginalized communities in decision-making processes.
• Who can apply for this programme?
  • Eligible applicants include:
    • Civil society organizations
    • Consortiums of CSOs with relevant experience
• What is the funding range?
  • The budget ranges from:
    • USD 200,000 to USD 230,000
  • Communication costs must account for 10%–15% of the total budget
• What areas does the programme focus on?
  • Key focus areas include:
    • Women’s leadership and empowerment
    • Participatory governance and budgeting
    • Civic engagement and grassroots activism
    • Transparency and accountability in local governance
    • Inclusion of marginalized groups
• What geographic area is covered?
  • The programme will cover:
    • Up to 37 communities in Moldova
    • Special focus on ATU Gagauzia
• What types of activities are supported?
  • Supported activities include:
    • Training and mentorship for women leaders
    • Community mobilization and civic engagement
    • Small grants for women-led initiatives
    • Research and governance monitoring
    • Networking and advocacy initiatives
• What experience is required?
  • Applicants should have experience in:
    • Governance and civic engagement
    • Women’s leadership programmes
    • Community-based development
    • Collaboration with local authorities and civil society

Conclusion

This UN Women Moldova initiative strengthens inclusive governance by empowering women and marginalized groups to actively participate in local decision-making processes. Through leadership development, civic engagement, and participatory governance tools, the programme aims to build more transparent, accountable, and gender-responsive local institutions across Moldova.

For more information, visit UN Women.