Business Support Programme for Women Entrepreneurs (Moldova)

Deadline: 27-May-2026

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Moldova Office is inviting civil society organizations or consortia to design and implement a 24-month, solution-oriented business support programme for women entrepreneurs in Moldova. The programme focuses on strengthening women’s economic empowerment through business growth, innovation, mentoring, and improved access to finance.

The initiative is designed to support at least 100 women entrepreneurs by helping them identify specific business challenges and implement practical, results-oriented solutions within their enterprises. It runs from July 2026 to June 2028 and is structured into multiple tracks, each lasting up to six months.

Programme Overview

• A 24-month national programme for women entrepreneurs in Moldova
• Implemented by qualified civil society organizations or consortia
• Focuses on business growth, resilience, and competitiveness
• Each participant works on solving a real business challenge
• Structured support includes mentoring, finance access, and expert guidance
• Minimum target of 100 women entrepreneurs across all tracks
• Each track includes approximately 25 participants

Core Objectives

• Strengthen women-led business resilience and scalability
• Improve access to finance and funding opportunities
• Support business innovation and digital transformation
• Enhance competitiveness in local and international markets
• Foster workforce linkages and employment generation
• Promote inclusive participation of marginalized groups
• Encourage adoption of green and sustainable business practices

Target Groups and Inclusion Focus

• Women entrepreneurs across Moldova
• Rural women and women from small towns
• Women from underserved regions, including:
  • Left bank of the Nistru River
  • UTA Gagauzia
• Refugee women
• Other underrepresented or vulnerable groups

A minimum of 40 percent of participants must come from rural or underserved areas to ensure geographic and social inclusion.

Programme Structure and Approach

• Business diagnostics to identify key challenges for each participant
• Development of tailored business solutions
• Implementation and piloting of solutions within real business operations
• Mentoring and expert advisory support throughout the process
• Facilitation of access to finance and investment opportunities
• Networking and knowledge-sharing among entrepreneurs
• Practical, results-driven learning approach rather than theoretical training

Implementation Requirements

• Organizations must define:
  • Sectoral focus (if applicable)
  • Geographic coverage strategy
  • Implementation methodology
• Nationwide outreach is required
• Strong focus on rural and underserved regions
• Ability to deliver structured, outcome-based business support
• Capacity to manage multi-track programme implementation

Funding Details

• Budget allocation: USD 90,000 per programme track
• UN Women may fund between 1 and 4 tracks
• Applicants may submit proposals for:
  • One track
  • Multiple tracks
  • Full programme delivery (based on capacity)

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to civil society organizations and consortia
• Organizations must demonstrate:
  • Experience in women’s economic empowerment or entrepreneurship support
  • Capacity to manage complex, multi-participant programmes
  • Expertise in business development or enterprise support
• Consortia are encouraged to combine complementary expertise
• Proven ability to work with diverse and vulnerable populations is an advantage

Expected Outcomes

• Increased business resilience among women-led enterprises
• Improved access to finance and investment readiness
• Enhanced digital and innovative business practices
• Growth in women-owned micro and small enterprises
• Stronger integration into local and international markets
• Improved economic inclusion of rural and marginalized women

Strategic Importance

• Aligns with UN Women’s global mandate on gender equality and economic empowerment
• Addresses structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in Moldova
• Supports transition from micro-enterprises to scalable businesses
• Encourages inclusive and sustainable economic development
• Strengthens national entrepreneurship ecosystems

Key Selection Priorities

• Clear and practical implementation methodology
• Strong inclusion strategy for rural and underserved groups
• Experience in entrepreneurship or business acceleration programmes
• Capacity to deliver mentoring and financial access support
• Ability to ensure measurable impact and scalability
• Strong geographic reach across Moldova

Conclusion

The UN Women Moldova business support programme is a large-scale initiative designed to strengthen women-led entrepreneurship through structured, solution-focused business development support. By combining mentoring, financial access, innovation, and inclusion strategies, the programme aims to improve business resilience, expand economic opportunities, and promote gender-inclusive economic growth across Moldova.

For more information, visit UN Women.