Deadline: 30-Sep-2025
The United Nations Development Programme Moldova has issued an Expression of Interest inviting grant applications under the “Internal Mediation: Grant Competition for Developing Mediation and Social Cohesion Initiatives.”
This opportunity is part of the EU-UNDP Partnership for internal mediation aimed at preventing conflicts and building peace across both banks of the Nistru River. Local mediators—especially women and youth—are being empowered to lead community-based initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, promote dialogue, and build trust.
The project seeks to implement 11 mediator-led initiatives in five localities monitored under the Social Tensions Monitoring Mechanism (STMM) and through six Confidence Building Measures (CBM) platforms. Target communities include Ocnița, Orhei, Ștefan Vodă, Cahul, and Taraclia. The proposed work will focus on community-rooted mediation strategies, local trust-building measures, inclusion of marginalized groups such as young people and women, and strengthening links with civil society, local authorities, and regional peacebuilding networks.
Grants of up to USD 10,000 each are available, with project implementation expected to run until 31 March 2026. Eligible applicants must be non-governmental or civil society organizations legally registered in Moldova. Applicants should either be based in one of the specified STMM locations or have an established track record of at least three project interventions in those areas in the last three years. Preference is given to organizations that have previously participated in internal mediator training by UNDP Moldova or have formal partnerships with trained mediators.
Proposals must include a detailed budget in US dollars using the provided template, covering the full five-month duration of the project. All goods and services in the proposal are to be costed at zero percent VAT. Costs must be reasonable, efficient, and justify the scope of work. Ineligible activities include those that overlap fully with other funded programmes, expenses incurred before grant agreements are signed, and other disallowed costs such as sponsorships for individuals, alcohol, or luxury items.
Supporting documents and forms are available in English, Romanian, and Russian. Electronic submissions via email are required, with strict file size and document requirements. This grant provides a chance for civil society in Moldova to apply creative mediation and dialogue tools to reduce community tensions and build sustainable peace.
For more information, visit UNDP.