Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society

Funding provided by: United States Agency for International Development Cooperative Agreement AID-117-A-14-00002

Quarterly Progress Report No: 8

April 1 – June 30, 2016

July 29, 2016

Chisinau, Republic of

Submitted to:

Lucia Martinenco Agreement Officer’s Representative USAID/Regional Mission in Moldova 57/1, Banulescu-Bodoni str. Chisinau, Moldova MD 2005 [email protected]

This report was prepared with funds provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development under Cooperative Agreement AID-117-A-14-00002. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 1 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS ...... 3

I. INTRODUCTION ...... 4

OBJECTIVE 1: CSOS MORE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCIES ...... 5 OBJECTIVE 2: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS DEVELOPED ...... 6 OBJECTIVE 3: ENABLING ENVIRONMENT MORE CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY ...... 6

II. MPSCS PROGRESS APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2016, BY OBJECTIVE ...... 6

OBJECTIVE 1: CSOS MORE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCIES ...... 6 CSO ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT OUTREACH ...... 7 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY ...... 10 YOUTH INTEGRATION ...... 13 ADVOCACY INDEX AND COMMUNITY SCORECARD ...... 15 CIVIL SOCIETY STAKEHOLDERS’ COORDINATION ...... 16 COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA ...... 16 OBJECTIVE 2: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS DEVELOPED ...... 17 CAPACITY BUILDING ...... 17 TA TO MPSCS PARTNERS AND OTHER CSOS ...... 20 OBJECTIVE 3: ENABLING ENVIRONMENT MORE CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY ... 21 ENHANCING LOCAL EXPERTISE ON THE ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CSOS ...... 21 SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY ...... 22 REVISING LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND IMPROVING IMPLEMENTATION ...... 23 MOBILIZING DOMESTIC RESOURCES FOR CSO FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ...... 24 CIVIL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING (COST-SHARE COUNCIL OF EUROPE) ...... 25 CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES ...... 25 GENDER INTEGRATION ...... 25 MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST FALSE AND BIASED INFORMATION ...... 26

III. CHALLENGES ...... 27

IV. HIGHLIGHTS OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR MPSCS NEXT QUARTER ...... 27

OBJECTIVE 1: CSOS MORE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCIES ...... 27 OBJECTIVE 2: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS DEVELOPED ...... 28 OBJECTIVE 3: ENABLING ENVIRONMENT MORE CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY .... 28

ATTACHMENTS ...... 28

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 2 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) ACRONYMS API Asociatia Presei Independente (Association of Independent Press) APT Asociatia Psihologilor Tighina (Association of Psychologists from Tighina) ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder ATVJI Asociatia “V.I.P.” a Telejurnalistilor Independenti din Republica Moldova (Association of Independent TV Journalists) CB Capacity Building CJI Centrul pentru Jurnalism Independent (Independent Journalism Center) CJU Clinica Juridica Universitara (University Legal Clinic) CICO Centrul de Informare si Consultanta Organizationala (Center for Organizational Consultancy and Training) CNTM Consiliul National al Tineretului din Moldova (National Youth Council of Moldova) CPD Centrul Parteneriat pentru Dezvoltare (Center Partnership for Development) CRJ Centrul de Resurse Juridice (Legal Resources Centre) CSC Community Scorecard CSO Civil Society Organization ECNL European Center for Not-for-Profit Law EP Engage Program FCPS Femeia si Copilul – Protectie si Sprijin (Woman and Child – Protection and Support) FDRM Fundatia pentru Dezvoltare din RM (Foundation for Advancement of Moldova) FRF Financial Revenues Forms HR Human Resource GoM Government of Moldova LPA Local Public Authority MoE Ministry of Education MoJ Ministry of Justice MoF Ministry of Finance MPSCS Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society OD Organizational Development ODA Organizational Development Assessment PWD People with Disabilities SCG Southern Consultative Group SP Support Program TA Technical assistance TDP Training and Development Plan TDV Tinerii pentru Dreptul la Viata (Youth for the Right to Life) TsL Centrul de Resurse Tineri si Liberi (Young and Free Resource Center) USAID United States Agency for International Development WG Working group

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 3 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) I. INTRODUCTION

This report covers the tenth quarterly reporting period (April 1 – June 30, 2016) of the Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) project. MPSCS is a five-year (2013-2018) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by FHI 360 and its partner the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL).

The purpose of the project is to improve the capacity of Moldovan civil society to represent citizens’ interests, influence policymaking, and sustain the sector’s democratic role for the future. MPSCS accomplishes this goal by meeting three objectives:  Objective 1: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) more effectively represent their constituencies  Objective 2: Institutional capacity of strategic partners developed  Objective 3: Enabling environment more conducive to long-term sustainability of civil society

Due to the steep devaluation of Moldovan lei over the last couple of years, and partly due to the anticipated de-obligation of funds to MPSCS grantee Centrul de Resurse Juridice – CRJ (Legal Resource Center), which is expected to receive direct USAID funding in the coming months, MPSCS identified a surplus of about $500,000 in its budget. As approved by USAID, these funds will be used to extend the period of performance of the Engage Program (EP) and Support Program (SP) grantees and to expand their scopes of works. EP and SP grantees are updating their project descriptions and the revised project descriptions and budgets will be sent to USAID for review and approval in the next few quarters.

At the mid-point of the project’s 5-year implementation, the MPSCS activities have intensified and are producing expected results. The reports details most significant achievements registered in the last quarter.

Under Objective 1, 21 MPSCS Engage Program (EP) and Support Program (SP) partners continued to carry out citizen engagement and advocacy programs, and to strengthen the linkages between civil society and government at both the local and national levels. MPSCS partners worked with central public authorities on development of cooperation mechanisms, such as the National Participation Council, as well as on improving of the legal framework affecting their constituents. National CSO Council (an informal association of leading Moldovan CSOs supported by MPSCS) carried out several meetings with the Government and Parliament to institutionalize the CSO-authorities’ policy dialog. It is expected that a solution will be devised by the end of 2016 according to the Government of Moldova (GoM) action plan.

To protect the citizens’ right to information, three MPSCS partners continued implementing the STOP FALS! campaign aimed at countering propaganda and manipulative information disseminated in the Moldovan media. MPSCS media partners are engaged with authorities in developing legal measures for preventing the spread of misinformation. To this end, media partners held several meetings with relevant authorities’ and are monitoring the Parliament draft on the Audiovisual Code, which aims to protect the information space in Moldova.

MPSCS, through its five partner organizations, advocated for and promoted the rights and freedoms of people with special needs under the People with Disabilities (PWD) Rights program. Individual assistance, trainings and legal consultancy helped more than 100 individuals – PWD and their guardians - to raise self-confidence, improve social inclusion, better understand and apply the PWD legislative framework in Moldova.

Under Objective 2, MPSCS continued to improve good governance, strategic planning, human

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 4 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) resources and financial management, monitoring and evaluation systems of all 26 partner CSOs through assessments, developing planning, and tailored training and mentoring. In the reporting period, MPSCS continued to support its three strategic partners - CRJ, Centrul de Informare si Consultanta Organizationala – CICO (Center for Organizational Consultancy and Training) and Contact- - to improve their internal organizational capacities and consolidate their role as leaders in their domains of expertise through implementing their ambitious organizational development (OD) plans.

Due to a successful cooperation with Apriori Resource Center in , breakaway Transnistrian region of Moldova, MPSCS learned that none of the civil society donors in Moldova are providing consistent capacity-building (CB) support to Russian-speaking CSOs. As such, MPSCS identified 12 leading Russian-speaking CSOs from the Transnistrian and Gagauz Autonomous regions willing to improve their institutional development. To date, MPSCS has carried out two workshops for these CSOs and provided follow-up technical assistance (TA) in Russian to all of them. MPSCS capacity building partner CICO will continue providing CB assistance to all of these CSOs.

In the reporting quarter, five MPSCS PWD Rights partners underwent the second Organizational Development Assessment (ODA) and reported a positive development in their organizational capacities. In line with the MPSCS approach to improving CSO financial sustainability, the project conducted the annual survey of its grantees’ funding. Despite the serious economic crisis in Moldova, 21 partner CSOs accessed funds from domestic sources in 2015, as compared to the baseline number of 10 CSOs accessing these resources in 2013.

Under Objective 3, MPSCS through its partner organizations worked to improve the Moldovan legislation on social entrepreneurship, donations to organizations, accreditation of CSO services, volunteering and other CSO-related policies according to international standards and norms. The strategic partner CRJ worked closely with Parliament and the Government to promote the 2% tax designation mechanism, which, once implemented, will allow individuals to designate 2% of their income tax to CSOs and religious organizations. Parliament voted on the draft 2% law during the final reading on July 21, and the law should go into force starting in January 2017.

MPSCS EP partner Motivatie finalized the draft law on social entrepreneurship and submitted the draft to GoM for review. The draft law aims to improve the legal framework for the CSO income generation and strengthen their financial sustainability. MPSCS partner National Council of CSOs and Parliament prepared the Annual Parliament-CSO Cooperation Conference on July 4-5, 2016. The conference is an important event for civil society development since participants discuss the challenges facing the sector, ways to improve civil society-Parliament cooperation, and solutions for expediting the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012 – 2015.

MPSCS HIGHLIGHTS, April 1 – June 30, 2016

Objective 1: CSOs More Effectively Represent their Constituencies

 MPSCS partner CSOs implemented 40 advocacy campaigns throughout Moldova to improve living and working conditions of their constituencies – the elderly, disadvantaged youth, women, media, PWD and rural population;  Ten Local Public Authorities (LPA) decisions were made to improve community development and support undeserved population and PWD approved as a result of the EP and SP partners’ advocacy and engagement;  More than 100 individuals – PWD and their guardians - received support, consultancy and trainings from five CSOs working under MPSCS PWD Rights program;  More than 300 volunteers were engaged by MPSCS partner CSOs in their project activities;

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 5 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS)  Media materials uncovering propaganda and misinformation, including TV/radio programs, articles, case studies, produced under the MPSCS-supported STOP FALS! campaign reached an audience of more than 450,000 people.

Objective 2: Institutional Capacities of Strategic Partners Developed

 Fifteen Russian speaking CSO representatives from and the Gagauz Autonomous Region improved their knowledge and skills in strategic planning, human resource management, and fundraising as a result of MPSCS assistance;  Twenty-one MPSCS partner organizations, increased their revenues from domestic sources as a result of their improved ability to access local and central government contracts and private donations, to deliver fee-based services, and to attract volunteers, as compared to 10 CSOs reporting such results at the baseline in 2013;  Five MPSCS PWD Rights partners improved their institutional development performances in 2015 compared to the 2013 baseline;  Thirty-three representatives of Moldovan CSOs improved their skills in human resources (HR) management and financial management as a result of CICO’s trainings.

Objective 3: Enabling Environment More Conducive to Long-Term Sustainability of Civil Society

 The draft Law of 2% developed by MPSCS partners CRJ and ECNL passed in the final reading by Parliament of Moldova on July 21 2016. The law is expected to enter into force starting in January 2017. The secondary legislation aimed at implementing the Law on 2% developed already by CRJ and ECNL and submitted to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and State Tax Department for review and public consultations;  A new Law on Public Associations aiming to improve the current legal framework and the activity of the CSOs in Moldova developed by the MoJ working group (WG). CRJ, a member of this WG, and ECNL submitted its comments and the draft laws to be presented to the public consultations next quarter;  The draft law on social entrepreneurship developed by MPSCS grantee - Motivatie was evaluated by the relevant ministries and the National Anti-Corruption Center and submitted to the GoM by the Ministry of Economy for approval. The law on social entrepreneurship aims to improve the legal framework for the CSO income generation and strengthen their financial sustainability;  MPSCS co-funded the Annual Parliament-Civil Society Cooperation Conference organized by Parliament in cooperation with the MPSCS partner, National Council of CSOs on July 4-5, 2016. This platform allowed stakeholders to put forward recommendations for improving the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy and improve the cooperation between CSOs and GoM;  MPSCS developed and distributed an evaluation report on implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015, which informed key stakeholders’ discussions around developing a new strategy document for civil society development in Moldova.

II. MPSCS PROGRESS APRIL 1 – JUNE 30, 2016, BY OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVE 1: CSOS MORE EFFECTIVELY REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENCIES

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 6 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) In Quarter 10, most of the MPSCS EP grantees completed the second year of their project implementation. These longer-term grants have allowed partners to take advantage of the budget and public policy cycles and to achieve the planned results. As a result of CJI’s two-year advocacy efforts, the Moldovan media secured full access to Parliament’s plenary sessions as of April 2016, and can now provide accurate and timely coverage of Parliamentary debates to citizens. Ten decisions of the LPA across Moldova were accepted due to MPSCS partners’ citizen mobilization efforts. Through these local policies, LPAs will fund environmental improvement in Balti (around 160,000 population), and provide homecare for bedridden patients in several , and cover medical expenses for underserved populations. CSOs’ activities to promote their constituency interests are described in more detail later in the report.

CSO ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT OUTREACH

CJI carried out a two-year campaign to raise awareness of the Moldovan Parliament members about the restriction of journalists’ access to the plenary hall of Parliament. Due to the Center’s efforts, beginning in April 14, cameramen and journalists have access to two balconies in the plenary hall specifically reserved for the media. On April 13, Parliament revised its internal regulations on access, order, and security in Parliament and accreditation of media representatives, thus responding to the longstanding demands by civil society and accredited

CJI’s advocacy campaign “We want access to Parliament”, journalists to have free access to the organized in front of the Parliament building, Chisinau, Parliament’s meeting room. In addition, March 2 2016. the organization focused on promoting amendments to the Law on Access to Information. CJI’s recommendations to authorities include modifying the procedure for registering requests for access to information, reducing the waiting period for requested information, and harshening penalties for public officials who violate the legislation on access to information. On June 7, seeking support from journalists and citizens, CJI launched an online and print petition to urge Parliament to revise the Law on access to information. More than 30 signatures have been collected so far. “There are plenty of community problems in our town: we have streets Three MPSCS partner CSOs from Balti, and with no street lighting, districts with no towns – Casmed, Femeia si Copilul – Protectie si playgrounds for kids… We all want our Sprijin – FCPS (Woman and Child – Protection and town to prosper. I think every citizen of Support) and Vesta – supported 23 partner organizations Vulcanesti wll be interested in the from the northern, central and southern districts of the activity of such Public Council and will country through trainings, focus groups, individual personally contribute to solving town consultancy and mentoring. Areas of organizational issues. I am confident this innovation [Public Council] will serve not one improvement included strategic planning, person, but all the people living in implementation of activity plans, development and Vulcanesti.” implementation of project proposals under various Marina Toporas, the member of the international funding programs, community engagement Vulcanesti Public Council and advocacy. These efforts are aimed at reviving the activity of local CSOs, improving service provision for constituencies, and, consolidating the civil society sector in rural Moldova.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 7 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) In order to strengthen CSO-LPA collaboration, Vesta continued supporting southern CSOs to create Public Councils – voluntarily bodies created by community activists, which has a formalized structure and are authorized by authorities to participate in decision-making processes at the community level. In addition to the earlier established Public Councils in Comrat, and Ciadir-Lunga, Vesta’s partners succeeded to create two more Public Councils in Vulcanesti and Tvardita. Public Councils are currently in the process of developing their internal structures. Once fully constituted, they will provide financial support to underserved populations, and improve social services for their community members. Next, Vesta will expand this successful model of LPA-citizen cooperation to the towns of Cimislia and Cantemir.

Another EP grantee - Asociatia Psihologilor Tighina – APT (Association of Psychologists from Tighina) – continues to improve competencies of local initiative groups from Causeni, Stefan-Voda and raions in assisting disadvantaged youth. APT’s four trainings in disadvantaged youth assistance and community engagement and four workshops in preventing occupational burnout were attended by 167 participants, including the representatives of Causeni Direction of Social Assistance and Family Protection, social workers, police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and psychologists. As a result, participants will apply the knowledge in their day-to-day activities to protect disadvantaged youth (mostly children affected by migration) and underserved families.

EcoContact and Caroma Nord – are working at the local level throughout the country with authorities, non-profit organizations and citizens to protect and improve the environment. EcoContact finalized 2016-2020 Carpineni Village Local Development Plan, which was approved by the LPA in June. Similar plans for Costesti village, Rascani , and Palanca village, Stefan-Voda raion are in the final stages of development. EcoContact’s approach to engaging citizens and authorities in developing their strategic plans is drawing the attention of authorities in other localities, and EcoContact is working to respond to this increasing demand. About 25,000 individuals will benefit from the implementation of the above mentioned four Development Plans resulting in improved infrastructure, service provision and, development of local business.

MPSCS EP partner from the north Caroma Nord continues its advocacy efforts in developing and implementing the Environmental Protection Plan as a part of Balti 2016-2019 Socio-Economic Development Strategy. The grantee is supporting the Balti Environmental Policy Committee, created by the LPA and consisting of 19 representatives from CSOs, LPAs, and businesses. In the reporting period, the committee worked to improve the ecological situation in one of the primary schools in Balti, affected by unauthorized trash disposal, and to create a Botanical Garden in the Balti . Caroma Nord works with citizens from the primary school neighborhood, parents, teachers and pupils to build a waste collection system. Due to these efforts, the The violation of consumer rights is still very common in Balti LPA included the construction of the Moldova. On April 19, Galina a retiree from Floresti purchased a water heater from local vendor, which platform in its current plans. In addition, broke down after three days of use. Despite Galina’s the Municipal Community Sanitation numerous requests, the vendor refused to replace it or Services will ensure weekly cleaning of the to refund it as prescribed by the law. CJU helped Galina territory around the school. to develop and submit a complaint to the Balti Consumer Protection Agency. As a result, very shortly To establish a Botanical Garden in Balti, the Galina has received her money back from the vendor. LPA, assisted by Caroma Nord, submitted a request to Parliament to transfer a piece of land of 21.5 ha from state property to the municipal property so that LPA can create the garden on that territory. Parliament is expected to give an answer to this request in the next quarter.

The Balti Environmental Coalition consisting of 42 CSOs and for-profit companies founded by Caroma Nord in the framework of their MPSCS project carried out an awareness campaign and cleaned up

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 8 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) the banks of the Raut River by engaging about 4,000 youth and collecting about 30,000 kilos of paper and plastic. The Coalition earned more than 40,000 MDL as a result of selling the recycled paper.

Clinica Juridica Universitara – CJU (University Legal Clinic) continued to improve the quality of free legal assistance provided to vulnerable people in Moldova, who cannot afford to pay for such services. In the reporting period, CJU helped 107 unemployed and elderly people, young mothers and large families from the north of Moldova, on various legal aspects related to the laws on labor, family, social protection, contracts, human rights and consumer protection. In addition, based on the cooperation agreement with the National Council for the State Guaranteed Legal Assistance, CJU referred 14 of these beneficiaries to the Council’s territorial offices to be represented by the state- paid lawyers in the courts. As a result of the CJU’s assistance, 16 beneficiaries successfully resolved their legal issues, ranging from family, employment, property and consumers’ rights issues in this reporting period.

API’s Center for Assistance provided specialized TA to its 16-member independent media organizations, including regional newspapers and news agencies. Independent media, especially those located outside of the capital, struggle to survive in Moldova and API’s assistance is much appreciated by these media outlets. In the reporting period, API’s legal expert monitored and assisted media outlets on five legal cases, most of them related to access to information; the IT expert provided assistance on eleven IT issues; API graphic designer helped solve eleven technical issues; and the finance expert provided assistance on various financial issues, including accounting and taxation on nine separate instances. In addition, API and its partner organizations implemented the STOP FALS! campaign against false and biased information in the Moldovan media. The STOP FALS! campaign results are described below under the Media Campaign Against False and Biased Information section.

In the reporting period, Tinerii pentru Dreptul la Viata – TDV (Youth for the Right to Life) sent nine request letters to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries, and held several meetings to further develop the volunteering sector in Moldova. These requests and meetings focused on reducing barriers to volunteering by developing a mechanism for validating the competencies of volunteer managers; creating a national level-body to coordinate volunteering; adopting a regulation on reimbursement of volunteers’ expenses; and establishing of a Volunteer Coordinator function The Southern Consultative Group (SCG) within the public authorities and others. In addition, consisting of 17 CSOs, created under Contact- TDV continued to provide individual consultancy to Cahul’s project, continued its involvement in organizations willing to obtain the Certificate of Host policy making. In the reporting period, the Institution for volunteers from the Certification following SCG’s policy recommendations were Commission created under the Ministry of Youth and approved by authorities: Sports. As a result, 11 CSOs obtained this certificate 1. Gas stations’ local taxes will be annually in the reporting quarter. paid for each fuel nozzle (and not per gas station as in the past). Fundatia pentru Dezvoltare din Republica Moldova 2. Local tax rate for street sales courts (stands) - FDRM (Foundation for the Advancement of will be increased. Moldova) is focused on improving the 3. Local taxes rate for small and medium implementation of a methodological guide for private enterprises will remain unchanged. drafting informative notes for legislative and These recommendations, developed in normative acts previously developed by FDRM and partnership with stakeholders, will bring approved by the Ministry of Education. At the significant contributions to the local budgets request of the National School Inspectorate, on April and will improve the business perspectives for 14, the CSO organized on April a one-day training thousands of small and medium enterprises. workshop on the use of the Methodological Guide for ten Inspectorate representatives. Participants learned about the provisions of the

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 9 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) Methodological Guide and how they can engage parents and citizens when drafting educational polices. FDRM will continue training public officials in how to use the Guide.

MPSCS SP partner Contact-Cahul continued strengthening citizen mobilizations skills of their five CSO partners which are advocating for the rights of PWDs to access buildings in Cahul town, promoting Roma people integration in rural communities (Mingir and Carpineni villages, Hincesti town) and providing assistance to the elderly and youth in the town of Edinet and Prepelita and Rasponeni villages. In addition, Contact-Cahul is developing three monitoring reports on how the regional development policies are implemented in northern, central, and southern regions of Moldova. To this end, the organization conducted twelve key informant interviews and twelve focus groups. The draft reports will be shared with authorities and civil society for feedback and consultation, and made public by the end of September 2016.

Motivatie and Centrul pentru Asistenta Juridica pentru Persoane cu Dizabilitati – CAJPD (Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities) continued building capacities of community-based organizations and initiative groups in engaging PWD in public decisions affecting their rights. CAJPD helped the initiative group from Tescureni village, raion, develop an advocacy campaign project aimed at building access ramps at the entrance of the Tescureni village hall. The organization submitted the necessary technical requirements for building ramps to the village hall officials.

Motivatie trained 17 beneficiaries in communication and In order to assess the accessibility cooperation with LPAs. In order to practice new skills, the of the medical institutions from trained beneficiaries conducted three roundtables in Hîncești, Chisinau, Motivatie beneficiaries Cahul and Congaz village with participation of the made pictures of the institutions representatives of LPAs and CSOs. These events brough more which are totally inaccessible for than 20 PWD and their parents and 22 LPAs representatives PWD. The grantee sent these together to discuss the accessibility issues faced by PWD, and pictures to the Ministry of Health jointly identify solutions for improving the PWD life conditions and all the medical intuitions. As in the represented communities. In addition, Motivatie engaged result, the Ministry of Health committed to develop an action ten of its project beneficiaries in a few protests organized plan for improving of accessibility together with other sector CSOs, including CAJPD, in the front conditions at these institutions. of the Chisinau Court. PWD protested against limited access to justice because of the inaccessible entrances to the Courts’ buildings.

PWD protest in front of the Chisinau Central Sector Court against barriers to their right of free access to justice. Motivatie, June 8, 2016.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCACY MPSCS partners advocating for the PWD rights continued their successful activities both at policy and rights protection levels. On July 9, 2010 Moldova ratified the UN Convention of the PWD rights. On the sixth year anniversary of signing this UN Convention, MPSCS partners engaged in public

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 10 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) discussions and flash mobs and urged authorities to fully comply with the provisions of this Convention.

Speranta worked on developing and improving its innovative easy-to-read handbook on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Law on Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. The document will provide people with intellectual and learning disabilities accessible information about their rights. In the reporting period, a team of five specialists, assisted by an expert from Romania, worked on developing the second draft of the easy-to-read materials. To date more than 50 articles of the Law and Convention were adapted. These articles explain the provision for PWD living standards, personal assistance, work capacity, medical and vocational rehabilitation, and obtaining driving license, and other rights to services. Speranta organized two focus groups to test easy-to-read materials, involving 19 PWD from four districts and two volunteers with disabilities. The participants discussed and tested how PWD perceive and understand the articles from the two legal documents. In the next quarter, Speranta will conduct the last focus group and will publicly launch the handbook.

Speranta si Sanatate continues to increase the level of legal knowledge among people with intellectual disabilities and their guardians and parents. Assisted by a legal consultant, the CSO carried out two trainings and a roundtable for 79 parents and/or guardians of PWD, social workers and CSO representatives, on social and medical insurance and employment opportunities for PWD. Speranta si Sanatate invited CSOs representatives working in the field of PWD rights protection, psychiatrists from psychiatric hospital, lawyers and Government representatives such as Ministry of Health and Ministry

Speranta si Sanatate’s training of Regional Development and Construction employees. participants discussing medical insurance The discussions outlined the difficult situation with guaranteed by the state and PWD social housing for PWD caused by the lack of resources employment opportunities for and lack of jobs available for PWD. Participants put Chisinau, May 28, 2016. forward some recommendations, which will be submitted to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction in the next quarter. As a resource for PWD and their legal guardians, Speranta si Sanatate provided 27 individual legal consultancies, solved 12 legal cases, and trained twenty-five new beneficiaries of the organization.

Another PWD Rights partner OSORC from Transnistria brought together more than 40 young people and children with various disabilities to offer them fun and inclusive support through trainings, master classes and open-door events. By teaching PWD youth to develop handcraft, needlework, acting, and signing skills, OSORC ensures their inclusion in social life and improves their chances of obtaining employment. The organization’s staff offered 64 hours of training and consultations to PWD during the Open Door event organized in Tiraspol on the eve of the International Children’s Day (June 1). This event brought together more than 50 disabled children and youth, their parents and guardians, local CSOs and OSORC Center’s Open Door event, Tiraspol, May 31, 2016.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 11 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) businesses. The representatives of the authorities responsible for PWD, namely the Department of Social Development, the Guardianship Department within the Ministry of Social Projection, Transnistria Supreme Soviet (Transnistria’s de facto Parliament) attended the event. By engaging the de facto authorities, OSORC is trying to raise their awareness of PWD needs and to ensure their support to solve those needs.

On April 18, SOS Autism held an inter- ministerial Working Group (WG) meeting to brainstorm the Strategic Inter-Sectoral Policy Document on integration and assistance to persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The meeting participants contributed inputs, feedback and recommendations to finalize the policy document. After the inter-ministerial WG meeting, the CSO organized a public consultation of the same policy document with 35 representatives of CSOs working with SOS Autism presenting the Strategic Inter-Sectorial disabled people, representatives of four Policy Document on integration and assistance to persons with ASD, Chisinau, Ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of April 26 2016. Education, Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family, and Ministry of Finance) and the Cabinet of Deputy Speaker of Parliament. It is expected that the document will be approved in September 2016 by the Ministry of Health as part of the National Mental Health Program 2016-2020. Also, on April 2, the CSO organized a charity concert dedicated to the International Autism Day at the National Philharmonic of Chisinau. The concert aimed at sensitizing the decision-makers and general public to the problems of persons with ASD. During the concert, the private company GAZ NATURAL FENOSA donated IT equipment valued at MDL 25,000 to support the center’s activities. Moreover, the organization collected MDL 59,000, which will be used to make improvements to organization’s center for persons with ASD.

Keystone continues supporting the implementation of the local strategies for social inclusion of persons with disabilities in and Anenii Noi districts, previously developed with the CSO’s support. On April 21- 22 and 26-27, Keystone conducted two trainings on developing successful project proposals and securing additional funds to implement both strategies. Participants developed two proposals by the end of the trainings. The proposal of the Aneni Noi team The working group from Anenii Noi developing a project proposal at the Keystone’s training on aimed at reducing discrimination against PWD Project Management, Anenii Noi, has already been approved for funding by the April 26-27, 2016. YouthBank, a youth project funded by the Irish Youth Foundation.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 12 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS)

YOUTH INTEGRATION Implementation of the National 2020 Development Strategy of Youth Sector is underway at local and national levels. Ten raions adopted and are implementing local youth strategies (in Cahul, Causeni, Falesti, , Hincesti, Ialoveni, Riscani, Singerei, Stefan Voda and Ungeni). However, the implementation of the national and local strategies faces challenges to due to insufficient financial resources as a result of the economic crisis in Moldova, as well as the authorities’ Youth from Hasnasenii Noi working on developing a resistance and ability to systematically identify youth proposal for their community with the and solve youth problems at the local level. To support of Certitudine, April 13, 2016 address these issues and to promote youth involvement the Consiliul National al Tineretului din Moldova – CNTM (National Youth Council of Moldova), Certitudine, Pro Comunitate and FDRM are working closely with youth and relevant stakeholders.

Certitudine organized six youth empowerment trainings on civic engagement, proposal writing, fundraising, advocacy, volunteering and creative conflict resolution topics for about 20 youth from Hasnasenii Noi. In addition, Certitudine is implementing a program focused on providing in-kind assistance to the best youth projects from the North of Moldova. In the reporting period, the grantee shortlisted three best proposals on community development from youth groups from Riscani, Glodeni and Hasnasenii Noi localities. These community initiatives, such as installing trash bins in parks and holding community debates around EU integration, will be implemented in the next quarters.

On May 26, Pro Comunitate organized a CNTM meets Criuleni youth workers to discuss the public debate with 23 youth from Chisinau implementation of 2016 Youth Action Plan, Criuleni, to shape the Municipality 2020 Youth Sector June 17, 2016. Development Strategy. The Strategy was submitted to the Chisinau City Hall and will be approved in September 2016. The grantee and other youth development stakeholders from Chisinau aim to implement several youth participation programs with support from the local government. The CSO will continue monitoring the debates and approval of this Strategy.

In order to raise public awareness about youth issues in Moldova, CNTM monitored the implementation of the Strategy on Vocational and Technical Education for 2013-2020 in this this quarter. The organization developed a Youth Mainstreaming Index to monitor and measure the level of integration of the Strategy in the local authorities’ youth policy development and implementation. The Index facilitates the analysis of the local authorities’ process of developing and implementing youth policies in their communities by tracking a set of indicators. These indicators are divided into three main categories, according to three different elements of policy development and

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 13 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) implementation process: 1) Problem identification – this set of indicators measure whether youth needs are identified appropriately based on age, gender, ethnicity, geography (urban vs. rural), and ability/disability status of youth in their communities; whether the impact of existing youth policies is evaluated; and whether youth and civil society are consulted in problem identification; 2) Action Planning – this set of indicators measure whether action plans developed in response to identified problems correspond to and are appropriate for the varying needs of different groups of youth; 3) Implementation – this set of indicators measure whether the authorities allocate appropriate resources (financial and human resources) to operationalize the action plans.

Once the data is collected and analyzed, CNTM assigns score to each area of authorities’ youth policy development and implementation process: 1) Weak (0-25%), intermediary (25% - 50%), consolidated (50% - 75%); and advanced (75% - 100%).

Youth Mainstreaming Index

Problem Identification

Action Planning

Implementation

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Low level of integration Intermediary level of integration

As seen in the graph above, which is based on the analysis of data collected from 28 LPAs, on average, LPAs scored 31% in problem identification; 37% on action planning; 34% on implementation – all of which indicate an intermediate level of integration of Strategy on Vocational and Technical Education 2013-2020 into local-level youth policymaking and implementation. The collected data will be summarized in a report, including recommendations for improving the content of youth public policies, strengthening the link between policy planning and budgeting process, and improving the monitoring and evaluation of public policies. The report will be presented to the public in the next quarter.

Similarly, CNTM continued to monitor the implementation of the National Youth Development Strategy 2020. In the reporting period, the CSO organized four field visits in , Criuleni, Anenii Noi and Cimislia to assess the local authorities’ integration of the Strategy into the local policymaking. The CSO met with youth workers, local youth councils, and LPA representatives. The data collected by CNTM during these visits will be presented to the public in the next quarter.

In order to promote youth participation and improve accountability within educational institutions, Fundatia pentru Dezvoltare din Republica Moldova - FDRM (Foundation for the Advancement of Moldova) carried out three regional workshops on the analysis of regulatory framework in primary education from good governance perspective. The workshops took place in Ialoveni, Cantemir and with participation of 148 representatives of educational institutions, including school

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 14 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) principals, school accountants, heads of local educational departments, representatives of the local finance departments, and representatives of the Ministry of Education. Participants learned about good governance principles in schools and developed recommendations to apply them in their schools.

With MPSCS support, Casmed is strengthening

FDRM presenting better accountability tools for its Volunteer Department to engage interested schools from Rezina, April 12, 2016. youth in organizing social activities for the organization’s young and elderly beneficiaries. In the reporting quarter, seven Casmed volunteers organized three workshops for Balti children aged 5-10 to teach them the origami techniques. Coordinated by older peers, the children made Easter bunnies out of napkins and other Easter- themed items, and had the opportunity to meet and make new friends. The fee collected from the workshops was used to purchase and distribute food packages to 17 socially vulnerable elderly residents from Răuțel vilage. In addition, to celebrate the International Children’s Day, Casmed’s Volunteer Department organized an activity in the center of Balti town, with interactive games, craft workshops, raffles with prizes, and face painting. The activity provided an Casmed volunteers taught kids from Balti town opportunity for children and parents to have fun make Origami bunnies, together and play, while Casmed volunteers improved Balti, April 16 2016. their abilities in planning and implementing outdoor activities and promoting the image of the organization. The participants showed openness and receptivity to Casmed’s call to support the elderly in their communities through donations and participating in the organization’s activities.

ADVOCACY INDEX AND COMMUNITY SCORECARD MPSCS advocacy capacity building support aims to improve CSOs’ ability to represent the needs of their constituents by actively engaging them in project design, planning, implementation, and evaluation. To this end, MPSCS has been working to implement FHI 360’s Community Scorecard (CSC)- a tool designed to help CSOs to consolidate good governance practices and ensure greater accountability toward their constituency. In Year 3, MPSCS improved the original version of the CSC and assisted Caroma- Nord, Casmed, CJU and FDRM in applying the Caroma Nord’s workshop for citisens and LPA CSC among their beneficiaries and partner representatives to discuss community participation. Balti, April 25, 2016. organizations. All mentioned organizations conducted nine CSC evaluation workshops involving 135 CSOs’ beneficiaries (90 women and 45 men) from Balti municipality, and almost half of the Moldova’s raions- Glodeni, Riscani, Rezina, Soldanesti, Drochia, Ialoveni, Hincesti, Cahul, Criuleni, Causeni, and . As a result of the CSC assessment, all four organizations prepared the CSC

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 15 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) reports. Two of them Caroma Nord and Casmed also presented the results of the SCS assessments to citizens and LPA representatives. Ordinary citizens and LPA representatives greatly appreciated the opportunity to give their feedback to CSOs and expressed their willingness to participate in the next CSC assessments. After the assessment, CSOs feel more confident in using CSC and agreed to apply it next year and to promote it to other Moldovan CSOs as a great to tool to measure citizen satisfaction with CSO activities. Of particular note was the opportunity for participants to understand each other’s problems and to discuss how CSOs can help solve them. Among other conclusions of the CSC reports, participants suggested to CSOs to invest more in their visibility at the community level, and to maintain a consistent line of communication between LPA and citizens so that they can be seen as vital to Community Scorecard evaluation by Caroma Nord, Singureni village, Riscani raion, May 12, 2016. citizens from small and larger localities. Eighty percent of the participants rated the four MPSCS CSOs as well known in their communities. Building on this success, several other MPSCS partners such as APT, FCPS and CNTM have also volunteered to apply the CSC in Year 4. In addition, several LPA representatives from four districts have shown interest in using the CSC to solicit their community residents’ feedback on the LPA service provision. MPSCS will provide assistance to these LPAs to apply the CSC. In addition, MPSCS partners Contact-Cahul and Casmed will engage four above-mentioned LPAs from the north and south of Moldova to apply CSC and to measure citizens’ satisfaction with the LPAs public services.

CIVIL SOCIETY STAKEHOLDERS’ COORDINATION On June 6, two MPSCS representatives attended the Civil Society Gala in Bucharest, Romania - the event aimed at promoting the most successful civil society efforts and award the most efficient, sustainable and original projects implemented by CSOs in Romania and Moldova. More than 300 representatives of Romanian CSOs, government, private companies and media participated at the event, including the Romanian Prime Minister. Organizers awarded 56 projects implemented by 40 CSOs, including three organizations from Moldova.

MPSCS Grant Mangers Serghei Busuioc and The Romanian Civil Society Gala attended by Cristina Rogojina learned about the best MPSCS, Bucharest, June 6, 2016. practices from Romanian civil society and the ways of recognition for their efforts, established contacts with Romanian CSOs and the event organizers, and identified main civil society donors, including private companies with presence in Moldova, such as the Rompetrol KazMunayGas company, Avon cosmetics and BCR bank. As a result, MPSCS is exploring the possibilities of organizing such an event in Moldova supported by private companies and to invite Romanian CSO so that they can share their experiences.

COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA MPSCS used its Facebook page and website as an important tool to increase the visibility of project achievements and activities. The website www.fhi360.md registered 28.5% new visitors, while the

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 16 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) MPSCS Facebook page reached 6,979 likes. In the reporting period, the adoption of the 2016-2021 Strategy for Social Inclusion of PWD by LPAs from Anenii Noi and Ialoveni was the most viewed post on MPSCS Facebook, reaching over 4,800 people, and registering 127 reactions, comments and shares.

Project grantees regularly updated information on the organizational websites and Facebook pages to inform the public about ongoing work, results and needs of their beneficiaries. CJI continued posting commentaries on www.MediaAzi.md related to urgent media issues in Moldova, including on topics of media politicization, media ownership, Internet trolling, and media manipulation. In addition, the CJI launched a documentary analyzing pro-EU and pro-CIS paths for Moldova’s development since its independence. The documentary was broadcast through two television networks (Canal Regional and AICI TV network). The documentary is available on the CJI YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6HsSs_203g.

To raise public awareness about women’s problems in Moldova, including unemployment, gender- based violence, discrimination in business and politics, Vesta focuses on strengthening its relationships with local TV stations and print media. In the reporting quarter, Alliance of Women from the South of Moldova, Vesta and the local TV outlet Teleradio Gaguzii produced a TV show on Alliance of Women from the South of Moldova and women participation. In June, the 40-minute TV program was broadcast and posted on YouTube and the Alliance Facebook page. After the program broadcast, Vesta’s team answered multiple questions from viewers on how women can be assisted with employment and business startup. Many national media outlets covered the flash-mobs organized by Motivatie and CAJPD in the front of the Chisinau Center Court. API and its partners CJI and ATVJI published articles and broadcast video and radio stories in the framework of the STOP FALS! media campaign against false and manipulative information.

OBJECTIVE 2: INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS DEVELOPED

In the reporting quarter, MPSCS concentrated its efforts on assisting all MPSCS partners to implement their individual, annual Training and Development Plans’ (TDP). Most of the organizations implemented around 90% of their TDP and they still have one more quarter to finalize them. By the end of the quarter, five MPSCS PWD Rights partners underwent a self-facilitated organizational development assessment and registered positive changes. All these CSOs are developing the second annual TDP based on the ODA results.

According to the 2015 MPSCS Financial Revenues survey, the MPSCS EP and SP partners’ domestic and self-financing funding has increased by almost 6% from the 2013 baseline. It is encouraging that 21 MPSCS partner organizations succeeded to access domestic resources, such as local and central government contracts, private donations, and volunteers’ involvement compared to only ten CSOs accessing such resources in 2013. MPSCS and its CB partner CICO delivered a training to Russian- speaking CSOs from Transnistria and the Gagauz Autonomous Region and identified the next steps for providing further assistance to CSOs from these regions.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Organizational Development Assessment of the PWD Rights partners In May – June, MPSCS facilitated ODA for five PWD Rights partners. With MPSCS support, CSOs’ teams identified their organizational strengths and weaknesses and determined their capacity- building needs.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 17 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) As shown in the Figure 1, after one year of implementing OD “This tool - ODA- proved to be related activities, PWD Rights partners have registered positive very efficient. Due to this changes even though all of them still remained at the same assessment our organization stage of organizational development as last year: Speranta si started prioritizing its activities, Sanatate and OSORC at the emerging level; SOS Autism and thinking critically about its strong Speranta at the expanding level and Keystone Moldova at the and weak points. It helped us to mature stage. pay more attention to the longer term planning as well." However, all assessed CSOs show commitment toward institutional development with steady improvements under Ion Dumitras, the President of the each assessed area as shown in Table 2 below. In addition, SOS Autism Executive Board compared to other MPSCS partners, these CSOs have managed to attract new members from their constituency into their Boards and to revise the governance practices in a much shorter time. Due to Figure 1: MPSCS PWD Rights Partners ODA Year their close connection to beneficiaries 2015-2016 6.0 PWD Rights partners were able to 5.0 significantly improve their financial 5.0 4.7 viability in the reporting period. Two 3.9 3.7 4.0 3.5 CSOs, namely Keystone Moldova and 3.2 Speranta developed financial 3.0 2.6 2.4 2.5 2.2 sustainability plans and Keystone 2.0 Moldova even launched a social

1.0 enterprise to generate additional revenues. SOS Autism began 0.0 implementing their fundraising plan. SOS Autism SsS Speranta Keystone OSORC Moldova One of the successful Moldovan 2015 2016 companies, Angry Business Ltd, organized a Charity Bazar on the eve of the International Autism Day on April 2nd and donated to SOS Autism an amount of MDL 16,000.

PWD partners are getting increasingly active in networking and advocacy as well. Many of them implemented new advocacy techniques such public cafe discussions, flash-mobs, cooperation with celebrities, and other methods. The majority of CSOs are actively participating in public-private working groups and are frequently consulted by the government on reforms in their areas of expertise. SOS Autism is leading the Inter-Ministerial Working Group of drafting the Strategic Inter- Sectorial Policy Document on integration and assistance to persons with autism and Keystone Moldova team is offering TA to two Raion Councils, Ialoveni and Anenii Noi in preparing the raion level Strategies on Social Inclusion of PWD.

PWD Rights partners understand the power of media and utilize it as much as possible to further their advocacy campaigns and project activities. For instance, Keystone Moldova established a new collaboration with the newspaper Ziarul de Anenii Noi; SOS Autism signed a collaboration agreement with the National TV channel, participated in three morning programs “Buna dimineata” (Good Morning); and SOS Autism, Centrul Speranta, and Keystone Moldova hired PR/Communication specialists or delegated this function to a specified staff member and other CSOs expressed their interest to do so as well. Based on the second annual ODA results, all PWD Rights partners are developing their TDPs, which will be reviewed and approved by MPSCS in the next quarter.

PWD Rights partners OD performance in 2015 and 2016 Assessed OD Areas 2015 2016 Performance 1. GOOD GOVERNANCE 2.9 3.2 0.3 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES (PLANNING, 2.5 2.7 0.2 MONITORING& EVALUATION, REPORTING)

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 18 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) 3. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3.7 3.9 0.2 4. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT and SUSTAINABILITY 2.7 3.0 0.3 5. CONSTITUENCY CENTERED SERVICES 4.2 4.4 0.2 6. NETWORKING and ADVOCACY 3.2 3.5 0.3 7. MEDIA AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS 3.5 3.7 0.2 TOTAL 3.2 3.5 0.3

Financial Revenues Form (FRF) Under Objective 2, MPSCS seeks to help partner organizations to become less dependent on foreign donors and to acquire necessary skills to diversify revenues. In early 2016, MPSCS conducted the second annual survey of MPSCS EP and SP partners using its Financial Revenues Form (FRF) and compared the results with the 2013 data to assess any change in the level of Moldovan CSOs’ dependence on foreign donors. FRF is a tool that describes all annual organization’s revenue sources based on the three categories: (i) International, (ii) Domestic, and (iii) Self-Financing Sources.

According to FRF final data, 88% of the partners’ total available resources for 2015 came from international source and almost 12% came from domestic sources and self-financing. CSOs’ revenue, total and foreign sources Year Total revenues, MDL Revenue from Percentage of domestic (monetary and in-kind) domestic/self- financing, sources increase/decrease, MDL based on Baseline (2013) 2013 43,391,935.32 8,112,502.29 Baseline 2014 56,385,741.19 9,782,751.51 120.59% 2015 73,965,051.28 8,565,124.70 105.58%

As shown in the table above, according to the 2015 FRF, domestic and self-financing funding increased by 6%, compared to 2013. Despite the fact that Moldova is undergoing a deep economic crisis and a steep devaluation of its currency, 21 MPSCS partner organizations accessed domestic resources, such as local and central government contracts, private donations, and volunteers’ involvement, compared to only ten CSOs that were able to access domestic funds in the economically stable year of 2013.

According to the FRF, CSOs are increasingly securing state funds, including from the Ministries. However, many of them have not received those funds yet, and as a result they did not count those funds under the FRF since funder were still reviewing CSOs’ proposals at the time when FRF was conducted. Due to smaller budgets in 2015, LPAs had smaller budgets for civil society. Nevertheless, eight grantees (as compared to five in 2013), accessed funds from the LPAs in 2015. LPAs contracted CSOs to provide services in community strategic planning, or co-funded CSOs’ indirect costs such as utilities or internet. MPSCS partner Casmed, as one of the most experienced in organizations providing home-based care services at the community level, has attracted highest levels of funding from LPA.

MPSCS CSOs actively engaged volunteers as a great resource MPSCS partner, APT managed to raise 270,000 MDL from foreign to diversify their funding in 2015. According to 2015 Revenues donors and LPA in just a few Survey, CSOs reported an almost 3% increase in volunteering months. These funds will be work. Most active MPSCS partners in attracting volunteers, redirected to support the CSO such as Caroma Nord, Casmed, Certitudine, TDV, Tineri si activities – assisting disadvantaged Liberi, and Vesta created Volunteers’ Departments within youth and underserved families. their organizations and hired Volunteer Coordinators with MPSCS support.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 19 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS)

The total number of CSOs which generated income in 2015 increased from 10 in 2014 to 15 in 2015. The absolute monetary value of the generated income is not substantial, taking into account the economic crisis, but the increase in the number of CSOs with income generation skills is a promising sign for CSOs financial viability.

Training and Development Plan (TDP) In the reporting period MPSCS partner organizations continued to implement TDPs to achieve tangible organizational development results.

Keystone Moldova finalized its Financial Sustainability Plan and launched a successful social enterprise. The organization renovated and equipped one of its premises and is now renting it as a conference room to CSOs and for-profit companies. Speranta si Sanatate developed several important internal documents such as an operational manual, an organogram, job descriptions, and revised the labor contracts with employees based on roles and responsibilities. OSORC carried out a 5-day strategic planning workshop, facilitated by an expert. As a result, the organization developed is strategic plan, updated the mission and vision, and revised their service portfolio and priorities. CJI, Motivatie, FDRM, Speranta, and CPD, based on updated Organizational Strategies, designed action plans with clear performance indicators.

Since ODA revealed that financial management and viability was the weakest area for all MPSCS partners, most of them used their OD budget funds to improve their financial management and accounting procedures. For instance, APT procured and is currently using the 1C accounting software and the accountants of five organizations - APT, CPD, Speranta si Sanatate, Speranta and CRJ - attended specialized accounting trainings; API, SOS Autism, OSORC, Contact-Cahul and CICO continued to study English to improve staff’s writing, and speaking skills so that they can attend trainings in English in Moldova and abroad and to be able to develop better project proposal in English.

TA TO MPSCS PARTNERS AND OTHER CSOS On June 2, 2016, MPSCS conducted the second Russian-language half-day workshop for Transnistria and Gagauz Autonomous region CSOs. The purpose of this workshop was to identify the CSO needs in strategic planning and human resource management and to provide a short introduction into these areas. Fifteen CSO representatives from Transnistrian and Gagauz region attended the training, moderated by two national experts, Nicu Cretu and Elena Levinta. Both of them have extensive experience and knowledge in strategic planning and human resource management.

“The MPSCS workshops made us make an in- Nicu Cretu presented main points of a successful depth analysis of our mission and activity, our strategic plan and helped participants to initiate weaknesses and strengths. As result, we have strategic plans for their CSOs. As part of their revised our organization’s internal procedures homework, each participant will continue and roles. We have changed our way of discussing strategic plans within their own collaborating with local and international organizations. partners. They made us more responsible and

eager for changes.” Elena Levinta, delivered a training session in Mentioned Aliona Marchkova, the Executive financial and non-financial means of motivating Director of the Apriori Resource Centre from staff. Ms. Levinta mentioned that staff recognition Tiraspol. is a highly-effective, but often underutilized management tool. The expert provided examples of team motivations to the participants and shared resource materials in Russian. As a result of this training, several CSOs volunteered to apply MPSC OD tools such as ODA, Community Score Card and Gender Questionnaire. MPSCS will assist them in testing these tools in their regions. MPSCS CB

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 20 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) partner CICO attended MPSCS workshops for the CSOs from Transnistria and Gagauz Autonomous region and established a good collaboration with most of them. In the next quarter, CICO will work with these CSOs so that they can take lead on providing TA to the CSOs from these regions.

OBJECTIVE 3: ENABLING ENVIRONMENT MORE CONDUCIVE TO LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY

MPSCS, through its local partners and international partner ECNL continued to provide TA and support to the Moldovan CSOs’ advocacy on a number of regulatory initiatives, including the percentage mechanism, social entrepreneurship law, and a framework law on freedom of association. This assistance was delivered through written comments, in-person, email and skype consultations, and sharing of comparative materials and international and European standard- setting documents. MPSCS finalized and published the Final Evaluation Report on Implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015. The final evaluation shows that a slow progress has been made and there are certain implementation achievements in all the three areas of the Strategy. The report findings and conclusions will be discussed at the Annual Parliament-CSO Cooperation Conference on July 4-5, 2016. An expert group on philanthropy and fundraising was initiated through its first meeting in May, and the results will further feed into setting agenda for reform in this area.

MPSCS partners, Tineri si liberi – TsL (Young and Free), CRJ and Motivatie continued assisting authorities and stakeholders in developing and improving civil society related laws. CRJ’s draft law on 2% mechanism was voted in two readings by Parliament. The law should enter into force beginning in January 2017. MPSCS partner ECNL and CRJ (as a member of the of the public-private working group created by the MoJ) provided assistance to the authorities in developing a new Law on Public Associations so that it corresponds to the EU standards. The draft Law on Public Associations aims at significantly improving the legal operating environment for CSOs including reducing the number of days to register a CSO; removing the requirement for registering CSOs at local level, which limits their area of activity; and allowing non-residents (people without a permanent residency in Moldova) and profit companies representatives to be members and/or leaders of public associations. The draft law will be presented for public consultations in the next quarter. The draft law on social entrepreneurship developed by MPSCS grantee Motivatie was evaluated by the relevant ministries and the National Anti-Corruption Center and was submitted to the Government for final review and approval. The law on social entrepreneurship aims to improve the legal framework for the CSO income generation and strengthen their financial sustainability. TsL, acting as a secretary of the National Council of CSOs, and Parliament of Moldova coordinated a participatory and inclusive process of preparing the Annual Parliament-CSO Cooperation Conference held on July 4-5. The Conference is an important event for civil society development since the participants are discussing the challenges of the civil society sector, how to improve the CSOs and Parliament cooperation and how to expedite the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012 – 2015.

ENHANCING LOCAL EXPERTISE ON THE ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR CSOS MPSCS continues enabling the local CSO capacity on a range of topics related to conducive environment for civil society: • As part of ECNL’s learning curriculum for CRJ, on May 27, 2016 ECNL expert held an in-person training with CRJ lead experts and the Nation Council of CSOs on the topic of good governance and accountability for CSOs. There were 13 participants (12 in person and one over skype). At the session, good governance concept and overview of possible regulation were presented. As follow-up, ECNL shared its own publication, “CSO Good Governance Handbook”, authored by Marilyn Wyatt.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 21 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) • To inform local discussions, ECNL provided comparative materials on European standards for participation in decision-making and cooperation mechanisms, regulation of registration and operation of CSOs, monitoring of enabling environment for CSOs methodology, and other issues. • ECNL connected Moldovan CSOs who challenge the so called “Big brother” law with ICNL’s expert on freedom of expression to ensure support in guaranteeing freedom of expression and countering a potentially restrictive initiative for CSOs.

SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY The new government’s action plan for 2016-2018 includes an action of preparing a new Civil Society Development Strategy. The strategy and improving cooperation between CSOs and public authorities is also high on the agenda for the National Council of CSOs and other CSOs. To support partners in their efforts, ECNL contracted a local expert to carry out independent evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015 implementation and present recommendations for the future cooperation document. ECNL supported the Presenting the evaluation report of the Civil Society evaluator in designing research Development Strategy 2012-2015, May 26, 2016. methodology, arranging focus group meetings, holding consultations and review of the drafts (online and in-person), and finally in presentation of the pre-final report. The presentation of the pre-final draft, organized on May 26, 2016, brought together 38 key counterparts from the National Council of CSOs and other CSOs, Parliament members, and GoM representatives. The draft was also published online on www.fhi360.md, www.consiliulong.md, and www.civic.md to collect opinions of a wider group of CSOs on the final evaluation document. The presentation of the report organized on May 26, 2016, triggered discussions of the moderate progress in achieving Strategy objectives and resulted in planning next steps to ensure effective cooperation. One of the report’s recommendations suggests establishing a monitoring system, which is a plausible approach and in line with practices of Croatia, and Estonia. In addition, stronger guidance and commitment to the leading role in implementation of the Strategy by the government would be essential for future implementation. MPSCS will continue assisting authorities to implement the Civil Society Development Strategy and will promote the evaluation report of the Civil Society Development Strategy as a resource to inform the next steps in this regard.

Centrul de Resurse Tineri si Liberi – TsL (Young and Free Resource Center) — the organization acting as the secretary of the National Council of CSOs, monitored the GoM efforts and advocated for improving of the legal environment for CSOs. TsL organized meetings of the National Council of CSO members with Parliament and government representatives aimed at relaunching the activity of the National Council for Participation or develop a new similar mechanism, and establish the following actions for evaluation and extension of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015. National Council of CSOs had several meetings with the Parliament in order to plan the upcoming Annual Parliament-CSO Cooperation Conference planned for July 4-6, 2016. CSOs, representatives of the donor community, and central authorities will spend two days brainstorming and exploring how to improve collaboration between civil society and the Moldovan Parliament and Government.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 22 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) REVISING LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND IMPROVING IMPLEMENTATION 2% designation mechanism In order to promote the 2% Law, CRJ legal team took part in a series of meetings with the following Parliamentary Committees: Parliamentary Committee for National Security, Defence and Public Order, Parliamentary Committee for Social Protection, Health and Family and the Committee for Economy, Budget and Finance (the rapporteur committee). In this reporting period, the draft Law amending the existing 2% Law was subject to debates within the aforementioned Parliamentary Committees and CRJ legal experts intervened with comments, details and clarifications. In addition, CRJ drafted the 2% implementing Regulation and sent it for consultations to the main state authorities in charge with the implementation of the designation mechanism, and namely MoF, MoJ, and the State Tax Department. The Regulation contains seven chapters with regards to general provisions; beneficiaries of the percentage designations; procedure of the percentage designations; using the percentage designations; reporting and control of the using of percentage designations; responsibility; and final provisions. In the next quarter, CRJ will continue working with the state authorities to finalize and approve this Regulation.

Law on Public Associations Current Law on Public Associations was adopted a little more than 20 years ago and, at the time, it represented good and progressive standards for the region in regulation of public associations. Based on practice of implementation, the law can be further improved by removing the hindrances, which public associations face in practice. A new law can contribute to better conditions on registration and operation for CSOs.

Following the CRJ advocacy campaign, in March 2016 the MoJ created a WG in order to improve the Law on Public Associations. At the initial introductory meeting, the WG discussed the concept of the Law on Public Associations. CRJ legal experts committed to develop draft provisions to be subject to debates within the WG, as well as to prepare, if appropriate, analytical notes to justify certain amendments to the Law. In this period, the CRJ legal experts developed and then provided to the WG the structure of the new draft Law; its general provisions with the most sensitive issue dealing with introduction of foundations as subjects of the law, aiming to have one and the same law for all non-commercial organizations- i.e. public associations, foundations and private institutions; rights and obligations of non-commercial organizations; procedure of establishment, registration, reorganization and liquidation of non-commercial organizations; and information on management and control bodies.

In the next period, CRJ team will attend the meetings of the MoJ WG to amend the Public Associations Law and draft the materials to be discussed by the WG. Besides, the organization will develop the informative note to the draft law amending the Public Associations Law.

MPSCS partner, ECNL, focused its effort on providing to the WG under the MoJ with necessary TA and comparative information as requested. For instance, ECNL guided CRJ experts (who are a member of the working group) in identifying the possible structure of the law and sent written comments on each chapter during the process of drafting. On May 27, ECNL experts took part in a WG meeting at the MoJ, where they delivered direct assistance to the Ministry. ECNL’s initial conclusions and recommendations on the draft, also shared with the working group, include: • Importance to clarify the scope of regulation for the upcoming draft law. The draft now covers all three forms of non-commercial organizations, thus, expanding the scope beyond public associations. However, the earlier discussion initiated with CSOs focused on a new law on public associations, and thus the draft law requires a wider consultation with CSOs and other stakeholders on the scope of the law, as well as its specific provisions; • Needed assessment of possible costs and benefits of the new draft provisions, e.g. will the new law increase or decrease registration fees, will it make registration faster and easier,

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 23 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) will there be more documents required for registration, will there be more requirements for notifying the Ministry about changes in the CSO documents and other practical issues.

In the following quarter, ECNL experts will continue supporting the working group in addressing these issues, as well as providing other assistance on request.

Fiscal Code April through June 2016, CRJ project implementation team, along with the selected fiscal expert, developed a survey intended to consult the non-commercial organizations on their satisfaction with the fiscal regime applicable to non-commercial organizations. The survey was primarily addressed to the CSO’ leaders, financial managers and accountants. On 20 April 2016, CRJ legal team sent the survey to about 100 CSOs with the request to complete it by 30 April 2016. CRJ legal team collected and analysed the feedback received from 54 CSOs. CRJ will send the analysis of the Fiscal Code to the Ministry of Finance, together with conclusions and recommendations in August-September 2016.

Social entrepreneurship In the reporting period, the relevant ministries, including the National Anti-Corruption Center, evaluated and provided their comments on the draft law on social entrepreneurship developed by Motivatie. The legal expert hired by Motivatie provided support to the previously created MoE WG, adjusting the draft law based on comments received from the ministries and other public institutions, as well as from the interested CSOs and the ECNL. MoE submitted the Motivatie’s package of documents related to the law on social entrepreneurship to the Government for its final revision and approval as a necessary step before presenting it to the Parliament for adoption. The current draft of the law, favors CSOs-social enterprises since it provides direct benefits for carrying out socially responsible business activities but these provisions still need to be further discussed and approved. Motivatie will continue to provide support to the GoM on finalizing the draft law on social entrepreneurship, which allow CSOs generate additional income and become more financially sustainable.

MOBILIZING DOMESTIC RESOURCES FOR CSO FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY On May 25, 2016, ECNL convened its first expert group meeting on philanthropy and fundraising with participation of 11 representatives of expert CSOs, donors, Moldova’s first crowdfunding web platform. The participants are interested in continuing discussions and preparing an action plan on how to promote better environment for philanthropy. ECNL continues its convening role for the group and planned another meeting with the expert group in mid-July. Based on the discussions with the Moldovan experts, a session on philanthropy as part of the highlight workshop on domestic resource mobilization to be held on September 13, 2016. ECNL will provide support to the most practical suggestions of the workshop in its program activities in the following project years. The upcoming research on fiscal environment for philanthropy prepared by CRJ will feed into these efforts as well.

Other issues emphasized by CSOs are related to their capacity for raising private resources in support of their work. To address this request, in Year 4, ECNL plans a capacity building training on fundraising methods to be delivered by Czech trainers, who will share their practical experience on building a fundraising campaign in the country, where philanthropy may not be as well-rooted as in Western countries.

As was previously reported, MPSCS and ECNL developed and published, both in Romanian and Russian, 300 copies of the second version of the Guide on Financial Management and Accounting (developed in 2013). MPSCS informed Moldovan CSOs about this valuable resource available in both electronic and print format and distributed 152 printed copies. CSOs from Transnistrian region also asked for this guide, as they were interested in working according to the Moldovan accounting

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 24 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) standards. In addition, the guide will help them organize their bookkeeping according to the Transnistrian legislation.

CIVIL PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL DECISION-MAKING (COST-SHARE COUNCIL OF EUROPE) MPSCS partner ECNL has been serving as an expert consultant to the Council of Europe (CoE) in promoting regionally civil participation in decision-making. As part of this work, ECNL was contracted by the CoE to prepare an initial draft of the guidelines on participation in political decision-making. Launched by the CoE Secretary General, this initiative will result in a more binding and standard- setting document on participation, and a broader dialogue between civil society and public authorities in the CoE member states, including Moldova. ECNL presented the draft guidelines and the accompanying comparative paper of good practices at the first meeting of the official working group of the European Committee on Democracy and Governance (CDDG) in April, 2016. The draft guidelines are now circulated for a public consultation, including through MPSCS network in Moldova. The final document will be presented for approval by the end of 2016, and will be further applied by the CoE member states.

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES

GENDER INTEGRATION

In order to promote equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women in the workplace, on May 30, 2016, Centrul Parteneriat pentru Dezvoltare - CPD (Center Partnership for Development), in partnership with the Association of Business Women from Moldova and Gender Equality Platform, conducted the first Public Policy Forum entitled, Public Policy Forum conducted by CPD in partnership “How to ensure a friendly labor market for both, with Association of Business Women from Moldova and Gender Equality Platform. Chisinau, May 30, 2016. fathers and mothers”. The event gathered 45 representatives of Parliament, GoM, donor community, business and CSO sectors to discuss public policy options and identify consensus on labor market reforms, especially in relation to work-life balance. The participants emphasized concerns about discrimination in the workplace affecting both men and women, and proposed solutions for improving work-life balance in Moldova. CPD presented its analytical report on the subject entitled “Is the labor market friendly for mothers and fathers?”.

The report shows that the legal framework is not family friendly. Particularly, social policies do not motivate young families to have children since the state allowances for maternity and childcare leaves are insufficient taking into account cost of living. In addition, the lack of daycare and low salaries are impeding mothers with children aged 0-6 to get back to their jobs.

Authors of the report presented valuable recommendations to the

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 25 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) authorities on how to ensure an equal treatment for men and women in the workplace, including:  Increase the number of state funded nurseries for children aged 0-3;  Reform childcare leave, making it shorter and better paid. Provide an option of taking the childcare leave for both parents, based on parents’ decision;  Develop and adopt the legal framework for daycare services;  Develop and adopt a regulation on how to implement the recently approved (April 2016) legal provision of 14-days paternity leave which is still a novelty for Moldova.

CPD is working closely with the MoE and the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family to translate the above mentioned recommendations into concrete policy changes.

MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST FALSE AND BIASED INFORMATION API together with its partners CJI and ATVJI continued conducting the STOP FALS! campaign. In the reporting period API produced and published two investigative articles combating false and biased information distributed through the local and external media. The articles were published in Romanian and Russian languages on ten most popular media web portals, such as Unimedia.info, Moldova.org, Ziuadeazi.md, Stirilocale.md, Gagauzinfo.md, Allmoldova.com, Realitatea.md,

Diez.md, Ialovenionline.md, NewsMaker.md. These materials were also sent as .pdf API STOP FALS! discussion Club documents to the following 18 partner local and Chisinau. May 3, 2016. regional newspapers for publication: Jurnal de Chişinău, Vocea Poporului, Ziarul Naţional, Cuvântul, Est Curier, Ecoul Nostru, Expresul, Gazeta de Sud, Glia Drochiană, Observatorul de Nord, Ora Locală, Unghiul, SP, Adevărul de Anenii Noi, Natura, Cuvântul Liber, Ziarul Nostru, Meleag Natal. In addition, API translated into Romanian and distributed four most relevant articles from Ukrainian website Stopfake.org, conducted a public debate on false and manipulative information in media for 36 people in Pervomaiscoe village, Drochia rayon, and held the third discussion club for media representatives and journalists aimed at analyzing and debating the cases of manipulation and false information disseminated through the media and other communication platforms, and develop solutions for protecting the Moldovan media space. The API media materials published on their website reached more than 5,500 views and the articles published in the partner local and regional newspapers reached an audience of up to 280,000 people.

CJI developed and published on www.mediacritica.md five articles and two video materials explaining the manipulation and propaganda techniques using specific examples. These materials aimed at building the critical spirit of Moldovan media consumers, gathering 3,658 views on the website and 663 likes on its Facebook page. In addition, CJI performed media monitoring of 12 media outlets in Moldova and produced six case studies on manipulation in these media, which were published on the Mediacritica web site and taken over by other media portals and news agencies. On May 19, CJI held a press conference to present the results of media monitoring conducted in the period of February–April, 2016 and included in the second monitoring report. This report includes the most relevant case studies of informational manipulation and propaganda in the following 12 monitored local media: Publika TV, Prime TV, Accent TV, Jurnal TV, Ziarul National, Panorama, Deschide.md, Gagauzinfo.md, Novostipmr.com, Ren TV, RTR TV, and Sputnik.md. The report showcased how the media outlets deviated from journalistic ethics, including balanced presentation of facts and objective reflection of the events. In the reporting period, Mediacritica.md web portal

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 26 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) gathered total 12,114 views, and the case studies were viewed 3,329 times. More than 10 Moldovan media, including the most popular news web sites such as the Agora.md, Ipn.md, Europalibera.org and others, widely reflected the results of the media monitoring presented at the press conference. In addition, CJI distributed the monitoring report among the journalists, international organizations and sent with an official letter to the Broadcasting Coordinating Council of Moldova. The English version of monitoring report is attached.

ATVJI published three editions of the Ziarul de Garda newspaper supplement containing the articles about propaganda and manipulation through the media. A total of 22,800 copies of these supplements in Russian and Romanian languages reached Moldovan citizens. In addition, many articles from the newspaper supplement were published on ZdG.md website, shared on Facebook pages of the ATVJI, ZdG, Stop Fals! and other partner media websites and Facebook pages. The readers commented and shared widely these articles. All the above mentioned media materials produced both in Romanian and Russian languages can be downloaded on www.mediacritica.md and http://api.md/category/stop-fals.

III. CHALLENGES

CSOs in Transnistria region of Moldova have difficulty accessing foreign funding. Organizations registered in Transnistria must register foreign grants with the Coordinating Council of NGOs and Political Parties of Transnistria or register them as currency transactions at the Transnistrian Republican Bank. In the reporting period, Transnistrian de-facto authorities brought into discussions their older initiative to register CSOs receiving funds from abroad as “foreign agents”. This mechanism is similar to the one used in the Russian Federation. MPSCS grantee, OSORC is a member of the de-facto authorities WG created to develop the “foreign agents” legislation. OSORC and its beneficiaries and several other CSOs which are receiving capacity building support from MPSCS strongly opposed to this legal initiative. As a result, the de facto authorities postponed the discussion of this legislation until the autumn of 2016. Presidential elections are scheduled at the end of 2016 in the Transnistrian region, and regional CSOs believe the discussions on this subject might be further postponed until 2017. MPSCS provided timely updates to USAID and ECNL on this development in Transnistria and will continue to closely monitor this issue.

IV. HIGHLIGHTS OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES FOR MPSCS NEXT QUARTER

Objective 1: CSOs More Effectively Represent their Constituencies

 More than 40 MPSCS organizations and their partners will continue advocating for supporting PWDs, elderly, women, youth, media and rural population;  MPSCS PWD Rights grantee Speranta will finalize testing and will publish print easy-to-read materials on PWD rights;  Contact-Cahul will finalize and launch the Integrated Report on Regional Development Policy Implementation;  Vesta will carry out a conference on gender equality and women’s entrepreneurship in participation of authorities, civil society and citizens;  CNTM will develop and publish a Report on Evaluation of Youth Centers in Republic of Moldova;  STOP FALS! campaign implemented by the API, CJI and ATVJI will reach up an audience of more than 450,000 people.

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 27 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) Objective 2: Institutional Capacities of Strategic Partners Developed

 Both MPSCS EP and SP program partners will complete their Year 2 individual TDPs;  PWD Rights partners will receive MPSCS enhanced TA in developing Year 2 TDPs;  MPSCS will facilitate the third round of ODA with EP and SP partners to measure progress and identify areas in need for further development;  MPSCS will provide individual consultancy to around 15 leading CSOs from Transnistria and Gagauz Autonomous Region on good governance, project management cycle and fundarising activities;  CICO will conduct a cluster club in financial management and accounting for about 20 Moldovan CSOs.

Objective 3: Enabling Environment More Conducive to Long-Term Sustainability of Civil Society

 CRJ will finalize the Governmental Regulation to implement the 2% Law and will draft Instructions for CSOs on the registration in the percentage designation process;  CRJ, as a member of the of the public-private working group created by the MoJ, will continue providing assistance to authorities on finalizing the new Law on Public Association. CRJ will launch the analysis and recommendations on how to improve the Fiscal Code provisions for CSOs;  Motivatie will advocate for adoption by the GoM of the law on social entrepreneurship;  TsL trough the National Council of CSOs will advocate for revision and extension of the Civil Society Development Strategy and creation of the National Participation Council- as an institutionalized authorities-civil society communication platform;  ECNL will organize a workshop on domestic resource mobilization on September 13.

ATTACHMENTS

 Annex 1: MPSCS Grants & Subcontracts Database  Annex 2: Final Evaluation Report on Implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015, ECNL  Annex 3: Media Monitoring Report No. 2 - Elements of Propaganda, Manipulation of Information and Violation of the Rules of Journalistic Deontology in the Domestic Mass Media, CJI

Quarterly Progress Report No. 8: April 1 – June 30, 2016 28 Moldova Partnerships for Sustainable Civil Society (MPSCS) MPSCS Grants&Subcontracts Database Grant/Subcontract/P Amount of the award, Name of Organization Full Name of organization Contact Contact address Telephone/Email Web Page Project Title Duration Amount of the award, MDL Regions covered by project Description of the project urchase Order № USD

Certitudine empowers 180 active young people from nine different rural communities in the northern part of Moldova with skills and knowledge to actively participate in decision-making and community development processes within their communities. In each e-mail: [email protected] Centrul de Informare și of the target communities, the round table discussions on youth participation are organized with representatives of LPA, youth, EUGENIU GRAUR, TEL: (373 231) 27 554, Inspire, Empower, Engage Youth in Susținere a Tinerilor 63 Dostoievski street, office 4572-CERTITUDINE- Aug 1, 2014 - Jul schools and other local institutions, in order to identify the opportunities, challenges and solutions for youth participation at local 1 CERTITUDINE EXECUTIVE GSM: (373 79) 999533 www.certitudine.md Community Development and MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 9 villages from Balti Municipality Economiști 22-28, Balti, Moldova 01 31, 2017 level. In addition, the organization conducts training activities in each community on youth participation, volunteering, project DIRECTOR promote EU integration „CERTITUDINE" planning and implementation, community outreach, mobilization and fundraising. As result, 45 project proposals are developed and implemented by youth based on the assessed needs in target communities. Furthermore, Certitudine helps the youth to draft and to present public policy recommendations relevant to the issues addressed by their community projects.

e-mail: [email protected] Tarna Rom Union of the Youth Roma of Moldova creates a civic platform named - Voice of Roma Coalition - consisting of Uniunea Tinerilor Romi MARIN ALLA, TEL: (373 22) 208 966 32 communities from North, CSOs working with Roma people in Moldova, to monitor the implementation of the Government Roma inclusion Action Plan. Voice Vasile Alecsandri str.1, of. Sept 1, 2014 - Mar 2TĂRNĂ ROM din Republica Moldova EXACUTIVE FAX: (373 22) 208 965 N/A Voice of Roma Coalition 4572-Tarna-Rom-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 South and Center Area of Roma Coalition implements three advocacy campaigns in Gagauzia region cities - Comrat, Ceadar Lunga, Basarabiasca and 812, Chisinau, Moldova 26, 2016 „Tarna Rom” DIRECTOR GSM: (373 76) 708928 , warn the Government about hasty decisions related to Roma people by producing and publishing four monitoring reports. In addition, the Voice of Roma Coalition publishes a policy document with solutions based on analyzes and identified problems.

University Legal Clinic strengthens CSOs that provide pro bono legal services in their communities. University Legal Clinic e-mail: [email protected] Strengthening capacities of CSOs develops minimum standards on how CSOs should provide legal assistance to citizens as well as strengthen their organizational TABARCEA OLESEA, CLINICA JURIDICĂ Clinica Juridică 38 Pushkin Street, office TEL: (373 231) 52 476 providing community legal services Aug 1, 2014 - Jul At least 12 districts from North capabilities. CJU also strengthens partnerships between 20 CSOs and regional offices of the National Legal Aid Council as well as 3 EXECUTIVE www.clinicajuridica.md 4572-CJU-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 UNIVERSITARĂ (CJU) Universitară 511, Balti, Moldova GSM: (373 79) 507946 and promoting the European 31, 2017 of Moldova with LPAs, and develops skills of 30 young people in advanced legal practices and involves them to provide free legal advice to DIRECTOR integration process people in Northern communities on a volunteer basis. In line with its mission, CJU provides free legal assistance to at least 1,000 socially disadvantaged people from northern Moldova.

Women and Child – Protection and Support strengthens the organizational capacities of four CSOs, on both banks of the VICTORIA SECU, , Dubăsari, River, to allow them to more efficiently promote and protect the rights of disadvantaged persons. Activities includes: focus FEMEIA ȘI COPILUL- e-mail: [email protected] Femeia și Copilul- EXECUTIVE 43 Pacii str, Criuleni, MD- Aug 1, 2014 - Jul Cocieri, groups and consultations as well as organizational development trainings for the CSOs. Furthermore, FCPS aims to improve 4 PROTECȚIE ȘI SPRIJIN TEL: (373 248) 21 809 www.fcps.md Different Shores – Common Goals 4572-FCPS-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 Protecție și Sprijin DIRECTOR 4801 31, 2017 Dubăsarii Vechi, Criuleni, collaboration between the CSOs and the LPAs through roundtable discussions, workshops, and cooperation agreements. In this (FCPS) Hârtopul - Mare regard, the CSOs organizes three roundtables to discuss discrimination cases and develops recommendations to ensure the rights of disadvantaged people.

Association of the Independent Press builds the capacity of independent media by strengthening its Center for Assistance to independent media. API’s Center for Assistance IT specialist, web-designer, economist, designer and legal expert conduct training sessions and provide ongoing assistance aimed to strengthen and streamline the technical, web-design, financial and advertising resources of 16 media outlets. As result, 80 services to API constituents provided by the Center for Assistance experts and 90 Building capacities of independent PETRU MACOVEI, e-mail: [email protected] members of editorial offices trained. Moreover, API undertakes ongoing media monitoring and produce media pieces to dispel ASOCIAȚIA PRESEI Asociația Presei 41/5 București Street, media, promoting European values Aug 1, 2014 - Oct 5 EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 22) 220 996 www.api.md 4572-API-01 MDL 6,630,364.97 $510,028.07 National level disinformation and propaganda perpetuated in Moldova by the national and international media outlets. API, in partnership with INDEPENDENTE (API) Independente Chișinău, Moldova and norms, and a media campaign 31, 2017 DIRECTOR ATVJI, and CJI produce in Romanian and Russian media pieces (TV, printed and radio) to dispel misinformation; undertake media against false and biased information monitoring by presenting cases of manipulation and propaganda through media; organize public discussions about false information and proteach journalist is going to produce at least two materials on EU issues and publish or broadcast them through the media they represent. Additionally, CJI organizes 10 discussion clubs for students of the Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism. Ambassadors of the USA, EU, other EU countries, as well as r

Human and finance resources Youth for the Right to Life increases the viability, visibility and influence of the volunteer sector in Moldova. The CSO develops NICOLAE consolidation e-mail: [email protected] the core training curricula for Volunteer Coordinators and the course support “Fundraising for the Volunteering Programs in TINERII PENTRU PROCOPIE, for development of the Moldovan civil Tinerii pentru Dreptul la 12/2 Traian Ave, Chişinău, TEL: (373 22) 567 551 Aug 1, 2014 - April Moldova”. Youth for the Right to Life creates the Moldovan network of host volunteer institutions and provides support to around 6 DREPTUL LA VIAȚĂ EXECUTIVE www.tdvmoldova.wordpress.com society sector engaged in volunteer 4572-TDV-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National level Viață Moldova GSM: (373 79) 450027 30, 2017 300 CSOs in developing viable Volunteering Programs. Additionally, the organization conducts at least 12 workshops with relevant (TDV) DIRECTOR activities and promotion of European authorities to adopt the necesary regulations to simplify the acceptance of the volunters by the host institurions. A total of three integration monitoring reports on the implementation of volunteering public policies are published during the project.

Casmed assists rural CSOs in the north of Moldova, facilitates partnerships with local and regional governments on social service Rural Civil Society Organizations as POSTOLACHI contracting in rural communities, and raises awareness in these communities about the work of local CSOs. Casmed focuses on Proactive Actors Centrul de Asisten ță NATALIA, e-mail: [email protected] Balti, Riscani, Singerei, consolidating the network of 10 CSOs that provide community services in the northern part of the country. Activities for the network str. Stefan Cel Mare, 19/1, in the provision and development of Aug 1, 2014 - Jul 7 CASMED Socio-Medicală la EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 231) 27 674 www.casmed.md 4572-CASMED-01 MDL 389,485.00 $29,960.38 Drochia, Falesti, Floresti and includes organizing a CSO study visit, roundtable discussions with LPAs, community-surveying activities, four trainings on Balti, Moldova community services and promotion of 31, 2017 Domiciliu „Casmed" DIRECTOR Rezina advocacy and fundraising, and one “Active Aging Festival”. At least 10 Informational days are going to be organized in different European Integration communities to discuss the current interactions between civil society and local government, to inform them of the general sense of satisfaction in the community and to suggest potential improvements.

Centrul Național de Studii ALEXEI BUZU, 13, Armeneasca street, Center Partnership for Development promotes the adoption of gender non-discrimination procedures in the labor market by CENTRUL PARTENERIAT și Informare pentru e-mail: [email protected] EXECUTIVE Chisinau MD-2012, Top Moldovan employers become Aug 1, 2014 - Mar organizing annual employers’ forums, analyzing best practice in non-discrimination, developing a labor market discrimination index, 8 PENTRU DEZVOLTARE Problemele Femeii TEL: (373 22) 241 393 www.progen.md 4572-CPD-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level DIRECTOR Republic of Moldova models of non-discrimination 31, 2017 and advocating public policy reform and reform at the organizational level among top employers in Moldova. Lastly, CPD trains and (CPD) „Parteneriat pentru TEL: (373 22) 241 393 consults at least 40 private companies on how to apply the gender non-discrimination procedures. Dezvolatre"

CSOs from Căușeni, Anenii Noi, Association of Psychologists from Tighina develops the capacity of social actors from target districts to more effectively assist Căușeni, Ștefan-Vodă, Anenii AFTENI LUDMILA, Str. Mateevici 1, oficiul 105, Ștefan Vodă Districts and youth experiencing hardship and to facilitate these actors’ relationship with LPAs. The association builds capacities of CSOs from ASOCIAȚIA e-mail: [email protected] Noi and including the left bank Asociaţia Psihologilor EXECUTIVE 106, or. Căuşeni, MD – Transnistrian Region – More Viable Aug 1, 2014 - Mar Căușeni, Ștefan-Vodă, Anenii Noi including the left bank of the Nistru River, working with youth left without parental care as result

Engage Program Partners 9 PSIHOLOGILOR TIGHINA TEL: (243) 2 16 80 www.aptighina.causeni.org 4572-APT-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 of the Nistru River Tighina DIRECTOR 4301, Republica of and Competitive in Protection of 28, 2017 of migration, empowering them in providing better assistance and enhancing their internal organizational capacities. Lastly, APT (APT) Moldova Youth being in Social Difficulty and encourages the participation of these organizations in local council meetings to put the issues of youth in hardship on the agendas promoting European values of local governments.

Independent Journalism Center ensures journalists’ and media consumers’ access to information by promoting legislative Advocacy Campaigns Aimed at reforms and creating favorable conditions for media activity. CSO launches three advocacy campaigns aimed at promoting the bill CENTRUL PENTRU NADINE GOGU, e-mail: [email protected] Improving Transparency of Media Centrul pentru Jurnalism 53, Sciusev St, Chișinău Aug 1, 2014 - Jul on media ownership transparency, ensuring journalists’ access to meeting hall of the Parliament plenary sessions and amending 10 JURNALISM EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 22) 213 652 www.media-azi.md Ownership and Access to Information 4572-CJI-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level Independent MD 2014 31, 2017 the law on Access to Information. The campaigns includes four roundtable meetings, six press club events, the dissemination of INDEPENDENT (CJI) DIRECTOR and promotion of EU values and petitions signed by journalists and media consumers in order to mobilize the society and strengthen public opinion with regard to integration the adoption of the Law on Access to Information, and Law on Transparency of Media Ownership.

Asociația Regională a ANTONINA Vesta creates a Southern Alliance of seven Women CSOs that work on women’s empowerment. Each member of the Alliance is mamelor cu Mul ți Copii și VOLKOVA, 58 Pobeda st., office 416, e-mail: [email protected] Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, establishing a public council at local level, consisting of active citizens and representatives of the Civil Society Organizations, to be Aug 15, 2014 - 11 VESTA a Femeilor- EXECUTIVE Comrat, Gagauzia, MD- TEL: (373 298) 25 261; 84 062 www.vestagagauzia.jimdo.com Take part in decision making! 4572-VESTA-01 MDL 389,978.00 $29,998.31 Vulcanesti, Cahul, Cantemir, systematically convened to advocate for rights of women including women-entrepreneurs, to collaborate with LPAs and to consult Aug 14, 2017 Întreprinzătoare din DIRECTOR 3800, Republic of Moldova Taraclia, Basarabeasca the LPAs’ representatives on solutions of women problem. These objectives are achieved through a variety of workshops, Găgăuzia „Vesta" webinars, conferences, as well as a multimedia promotional campaign.

National Youth Council of Moldova develops evidence-based youth policies by first developing an evaluation methodology and then using it to evaluate the implementation of youth policies, as well as performing a comprehensive evaluation of how central and Implementation and evaluation of IGOR CIUREA, local budgets are allocated with regard to youth activities, youth centers and local youth funds. CNTM organizes local CONSILIUL NAȚIONAL Republic of Moldova, e-mail: [email protected] action plan of National Strategy of Consiliul Național al SECRETARY Aug 1, 2014 - Mar consultations with youth and youth workers/public officials regarding implementation of local and national strategies on youth and 12 AL TINERETULUI DIN Chisinau, str. Petru Rares, TEL: (373 22) 235 175 www.cntm.md Developing Youth Sector 2014-2020 4572-CNTM-01 MDL 856,671.00 $65,897.77 National Level Tineretului din Moldova GENERAL 31, 2018 creation and spending of local budgets allocated for youth, including youth workers action plan for youth. At the end of each year, MOLDOVA (CNTM) no. 18 and promotion of European CNTM publishes one report summarizing local consultations results and recommendations. In addition, CNTM will develop a study Integration on social entrepreneurship for youth CSOs and a guide on fundraising campaigns and will provide a training for youth CSOs in fundrasing machanisms. University Al. Russo, 38 Puskin str., office 510, Increased involvement of civil society Balti, Moldova in Environmental protection and FRECĂUȚANU Caroma Nord builds the capacity of environmental CSOs that are implementing advocacy campaigns with the active involvement e-mail: e-mail: [email protected] accountability in decision making RODICA, www.caromanordblog.wordpress. 4572-CAROMA NORD- Nov 1, 2014-Oct of community members in decision-making. Caroma Nord creates a North Environmental Coalition of 30 CSOs and surveys around 13 CAROMA NORD Caroma Nord caroma_pirlita2002@yahoo TEL: (373 231) 52 376 through the creation of the MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 Balti EXECUTIVE com 01 31, 2017 50 citizens to find out what are the environmental issues of Balti region. Based on findings, Environmental Strategy and Action Plan .com Environmental Coalition in Balti and DIRECTOR of Balti region is developed, submitted to LPA’s representatives and monitored its implementation. TEL: (373 231) 52 376 promote the EU environmental GSM: (373 79) 124353 values.

Improving the performance of the Foundation for Advancement of Moldova improves Moldova’s education system by developing the Regulatory Impact educational system by implementing FUNDAŢIA PENTRU GABRIELA OJOG, Assessment concept (RIA) in the education sector in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The organization develops skills of Fundația pentru 45 Pushkin str, 5th floor, of e-mail: [email protected] regulatory impact analysis and DEZVOLTARE DIN EXECUTIVE Sept 1, 2014 - Aug representatives of LPAs, the Ministry of Education and CSOs on how to apply RIA to ensure better regulatory initiatives and to 14 Dezvoltare din Republica 505, MD-2005, Chisinau, TEL: (373 22) 210 198 www.fam.md effectively involving education- 4572-FAM-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level REPUBLICA MOLDOVA DIRECTOR 31, 2017 improve public servants’ skills in implementing education policies. To improve the effectiveness of CSO involvement in public policy Moldova Republic of Moldova focused CSOs in the process and (FDRM) formation and implementation, the organization hosts workshops with CSOs and the Ministry of Education, and conducts trainings promotion of EU values in the on social accountability tools. educational field Association Motivatie from Moldova works on creating six functional structures formed of young people with and without Youth with and without disability disabilities in rural areas/regions in order to become actively involved in solving community problems. The organization selects and IGOR MERIACRE, together actively participating develops capacity of 18 beneficiaries to participate more actively in community decision-making and strengthen their organizational e-mail: [email protected] Asociația „MOTIVAȚIE” EXECUTIVE 48 Mircea cel Batran ave. in community life and decision Sept 1, 2014 - Aug processes. Youth organized into six local groups develop and implement their project proposals based on identified needs. 15 MOTIVAȚIE TEL: (373 22) 661 393 www.motivatie.md 4572-Motivatie-01 MDL 672,215.67 $51,708.90 National Level din Moldova DIRECTOR Chișinău MD-2075 making, and improving social 31, 2017 Additionally, Motivatie supports the government to develop a working definition of social entrepreneurship for Moldova. In this entrepreneurship legal framework regard, they organize a series of workshops and meetings with relevant stakeholders, including interested CSOs, to identify issues faced by CSOs implementing social entrepreneurship, and to develop recommendations aimed at improving the legal framework for CSOs social entrepreneurship.

VITALIE POSTU, ProComunitate develops youth policies and promotes dialogue among community actors to stimulate youth participation in local EXECUTIVE governance processes. ProComunitate organizes public debates for young people between the ages of 16 and 30, representatives DIRECTOR e-mail: [email protected] of local councils, teachers, and local civil society representatives to identify youth problems in the community and initiate a team- 124 Stefan cel Mare ave., 4275- Aug 15, 2014 - 16 PRO COMUNITATE Centrul Pro Comunitate VITALIE POSTU, GSM: (373 79) 547057 www.procomunitate.md Strengthening youth work MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level building session to identify solutions regarding youth participation in decision-making at the local level. Discussions highlight the of. 221, Chisinau PROCOMUNITATE-01 Aug 14, 2017 EXECUTIVE issues of youth participation in the LPA public decision-making. ProComunitate creates a monitoring team to track the inclusion of DIRECTOR youth participation in decision-making process. In the end of the project, 30 youth workers have skills in youth partnership, community development and other youth issues.

NATALIA GURANDA, EcoContact strengthens participatory governance by providing capacity building trainings to CSO, facilitating the implementation PROJECT e-mail: [email protected] Strengthening participatory Chisinau, S. Lazo 4 str. MD 4572-ECOCONTACT- Aug 1, 2014 – July of pilot projects and publishing lessons learned. EcoContact creates Communities’ Working Groups to implement in three pilot 17 ECO CONTACT EcoContact COORDINATOR GSM: (373 69) 589607 www.aarhus.vox.md governance by developing the MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level 2004, Republic of Moldova 01 31, 2017 communities the Green Economy model - a method of engaging citizens in public decision-making. Governance experience from capacities of CSOs these communities is shared with other localities and CSOs.

Center of Legal Assistance for Persons with Disabilities increases the capacity of 36 CSOs working with people with CENTRUL DE VITALIE MESTER, Centrul de Asisten ță e-mail: [email protected] Increase the degree of people with disabilities to influence public policy and better represent constituents' interests. CAJPD conducts a training on advocacy ASISTENȚĂ JURIDICĂ EXECUTIVE 16 Pușkin Street, of.5, Oct 1, 2014 - Sept 18 Juridică pentru Persoane TEL: (373 22) 287 090 www.advocacy.md disabilities participation in public 4572-CAJPD-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 National Level campaigns, participation in public policy process and mobilizing constituencies; and coaches at least nine of these CSOs in PENTRU PERSOANE CU DIRECTOR Chişinău, Moldova 30, 2017 cu Dizabilități policy processes initiation/development/implementation/monitoringof at least nine major public policies related to people with disabilities at regional DIZABILITĂȚI (CAJPD) or national level.

Resource Center Young and Free coordinates the secretariat of the National Council of NGOs - an umbrella organization elected by CSOs and representing the interests of the Moldovan CSOs. Young and Free holds regular meetings of the National e-mail: [email protected] Council of NGOs and monitors the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy for 2012-2015 and Government ANTONINA FONARI, TEL: (373 22) 567 489 Strengthening a sustainable civil commitments under the Moldova – European Union Association agreement to develop the civil society. Resource Center Young Centrul de Resurse EXECUTIVE 12/2 Traian Ave, Chişinău, Nov 1, 2014-April 19 TINERI ȘI LIBERI (TsL) GSM: (373 79) 450028 www.consiliulong.md society and supporting the European 4572-TsL-01 MDL 389,109.00 $29,931.46 National Level and Free devotes a large portion of time to develop and publish monitoring reports. Besides that, Young and Free facilitates „Tineri şi Liberi” DIRECTOR Moldova 30, 2017 integration process quarterly meetings with relevant Ministries and Parliament Committees to discuss the mechanism of percentage designation (2% mechanism), the Laws on Donations and Social Contracting. The CSO also participates in the meetings organized by the Ministries and the Parliament Committees to develop the Civil Society Development Strategy for 2016-2019. In addition, the organization carries out 20 workshops to familiarize 100 Moldovan CSOs with current CSO-related fiscal legislation. Sub-total MDL 14,397,823.64 $1,107,524.90

Centrul Regional de Contact-Cahul develops CSO networking and advocacy capacities by organizing cluster clubs, trainings, and workshops for STRELCIUC SILVIA, Advocacy and mobilization for a more Asistență și Informare a e-mail: [email protected] CSOs on how to efficiently carry out advocacy campaigns. Contact-Cahul develops a database of southern advocacy CSOs and EXECUTIVE powerful action and greater power of 4572-CONTACT- Aug 15, 2014 – 20 CONTACT-CAHUL Organizațiilor 31 August 4/3 Street, Cahul TEL: (373 299) 84 842 www.contact-cahul.md MDL 1,890,000.00 $145,384.62 National Level creates a Southern Consultative Group involving 12-15 regional CSOs to monitor public policies and to participate in decision- DIRECTOR action and intervention of CSO and CAHUL-01 Aug 14, 2017 Neguvernamentale din making processes. The Group members are trained in development and monitoring of public policies at different levels. EU awareness campaign Moldova „Contact-Cahul"

Center for Organizational Consultancy and Training develops the institutional capacities in transparent governance, financial CENTRUL DE INSTRUIRE NICOLAI LOGHIN, Centrul de Instruire și e-mail: [email protected] management, procurement, project management and fundraising of 21 MPSCS CSO Partners and approximately ten other ŞI CONSULTANŢĂ EXECUTIVE 65 Mitropolit Varlaam Str., Increasing CSOs' sustainability Oct 1, 2014 - Sept 21 Consultanță (+373) 22 212 203 www.management.md 4572-CICO-01 MDL 1,889,756.00 $145,365.85 National Level interested Moldovan CSOs. 21 MPSCS CSO Partners develop and improve their internal polices and procedure in Financial ORGANIZAŢIONALĂ DIRECTOR of. 409, Chisinau, Moldova through organizational development 30, 2017 Organizațională GSM: (373 68) 464 359 Management, Human Resource Management, Procurement, and Good Governance as result of trainings, consultancy and (CICO) coaching from CICO. Strategic Partners Strategic

VLADISLAV Promoting legal and regulatory Legal Resource Center from Moldova fosters an enabling environment for Moldovan CSOs through legal and regulatory reform. e-mail: [email protected] CENTRUL DE RESURSE Centrul de Resurse GRIBINCEA, 33, A. Sciusev str., MD- reforms and advocacy for reforms to Jan 1, 2015 - Dec The organization focuses on developing and submitting to the Ministry of Justice a new Law on Public Associations, finalizing the 22 TEL: (373 22) 843 601/ 602 www.crjm.org 4572-CRJ-01 MDL 1,890,000.00 $145,384.62 National Level JURIDICE (CRJ) Juridice EXECUTIVE 2001, Chisinau foster an enabling environment for 31, 2017 2% Tax Designation Law, and developing amendments to the Fiscal Code and to the Law on Transparency in the Decision-making DIRECTOR CSOs Process.

Sub-Total MDL 5,669,756.00 $436,135.08

The Association of Independent Press conducts informational campaign about the advantages of European integration, through Building capacities of independent publishing of eight editions (84,000 copies each) of a newspaper supplement ”Obiectiv European: Let’s talk about Europe” and PETRU MACOVEI, e-mail: [email protected] ASOCIAȚIA PRESEI Asociația Presei 2/2 Romană Street, media, promoting European values Oct 1, 2014 - Sept distributing them through national and regional newspapers; publishes articles promoting the European integration process on 10 23 EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 22) 220 996 www.api.md 4572-API-01 MDL 3,091,662.00 $237,820.15 National Level INDEPENDENTE (API) Independente Chișinău, Moldova and norms, and a media campaign 30, 2015 online media (24 articles on each outlet); conducts 20 topic-based debates on European integration issues in different regions; DIRECTOR against false and biased information produces and publishes six journalistic investigations intended for thwarting false information on the European integration process; and places 10 advertising banners promoting European integration on billboards in Chisinau and throughout the country.

Independent Journalism Center produces a series of media products targeting mostly rural populations and Russian-speaking regions who are more reticent towards EU integration such as: 10 two-minute films focused on success stories of entrepreneurs or citizens who benefited from EU-funded projects; two video spots; 30-minute documentary analyzing the political context and geopolitical factors surrounding the EU integration process, as well as the relationship between the EU and Russia-Belarus- Advocacy Campaigns Aimed at Kazakhstan Customs Union and 12 TV shows focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of EU integration and the Customs CENTRUL PENTRU NADINE GOGU, e-mail: [email protected] Improving Transparency of Media Union. All TV materials are broadcasted by local and national media. The organization also organizes three-day study visits to Centrul pentru Jurnalism 53, Sciusev St, Chișinău Oct 1, 2014 - Sept 24 JURNALISM EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 22) 213 652 www.media-azi.md Ownership and Access to Information 4572-CJI-01 MDL 2,203,474.00 $169,498.00 National Level countries that have joined the EU in recent years for 15 journalists, including those from Russian-speaking communities and the Independent MD 2014 30, 2015 INDEPENDENT (CJI) DIRECTOR and Promotion of EU values and Gagauz region. During the study visits, journalists learn to provide accurate coverage on the EU and EU integration-related Integration subjects. After the visit, each journalist is going to produce at least two materials on EU issues and publish or broadcast them through the media they represent. Additionally, CJI organizes 10 discussion clubs for students of the Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism. Ambassadors of the USA, EU, other EU countries, as well as representatives of European institutions, are be invited to these discussions. Independent Journalism Center incorporates a one-week course on covering the EU integration process in the Chisinau School of Advanced Journalism curriculum.

National Youth Council of Moldova promotes EU benefits among youth on national level. In this regards, the organization develops an informational and methodological guide for educators and youth workers on organizing civic education lessons on the Implementation and evaluation of IGOR CIUREA, EU and the integration process. Educators and youth workers use the guide to organize EU Weeks campaign in schools across CONSILIUL NAȚIONAL Republic of Moldova, e-mail: [email protected] action plan of National Strategy of Consiliul Național al SECRETARY Oct 8, 2014 - Oct Moldova, in partnership with Ministry of Education. The EU Weeks campaign take place at the same time in all participating 25 AL TINERETULUI DIN Chisinau, str. Petru Rares, TEL: (373 22) 235 175 www.cntm.md Developing Youth Sector 2014-2020 4572-CNTM-01 MDL 1,299,999.00 $99,999.92 National Level Tineretului din Moldova GENERAL 7, 2015 schools. Over a period of three weeks, youth attend courses on EU values and what European citizenship means, and prepare EU MOLDOVA (CNTM) no. 18 and promotion of European Fairs. Parents, friends, youth organizations, and the media are invited to the Fairs. CNTM support school youth councils to create Integration European corners in their school libraries, where youth will find resources about the EU. Around 1,000 schools are involved and over 150,000 students and 1,000 teachers improve their knowledge about the EU’s structure and the benefits of EU integration.

Contact-Cahul organizes public events and distributes promotional materials to inform citizens about the EU. The organization Centrul Regional de prepares a team of community outreach representatives who travel to rural communities and organize 50 workshops for youth. In STRELCIUC SILVIA, Asistență și Informare a e-mail: [email protected] Advocacy and mobilization for a more order to spread the campaign messages to more than 15,000 residents in the south, including a third of ethnic minorities (Gagauz, EXECUTIVE 4572-CONTACT- Nov 1, 2014 - Oct 26 CONTACT-CAHUL Organizațiilor 31 August 4/3 Street, Cahul TEL: (373 299) 84 842 www.contact-cahul.md powerful action and intervention of MDL 389,644.00 $29,972.62 South of Moldova Russians, and Bulgarians), Contact-Cahul organizes a regional caravan, "Euro Mobile". Equipped with Moldovan and EU flags and DIRECTOR CAHUL-01 31, 2015 Neguvernamentale din CSOs and EU awareness campaign stickers, cars pass through 35 communities in the South, 15 of which are populated by ethnic minorities. Contact-Cahul also Moldova „Contact-Cahul" organizes an open-air cultural event to inform people about the European cultural exchange programs, funds, and opportunities. Overall, more than 17,000 people are expected to be involved in the Contact-Cahul activities.

Certitudine organizes three flash mobs to raise awareness regarding EU integration reaching around 1500 youth and adults from target communities. All three flash mobs are organized in Balti. The CSO provides trainings to promote ERASMUS + in local e-mail: [email protected] schools and universities in order to connect youth to opportunities provided by EU in terms of youth mobility, skills building and Centrul de Informare și EUGENIU GRAUR, TEL: 023127554, Inspire, Empower, Engage Youth in jobs reaching for around 500 youth interested in youth mobility and non-formal education in the EU context. Also, Certitudine Susținere a Tinerilor 63 Dostoievski street, office 4572-CERTITUDINE- Oct 24, 2014 - Oct 27 CERTITUDINE EXECUTIVE 079999533 www.certitudine.md Community Development and MDL 389,091.00 $29,930.08 North of Moldova promotes EU values through a velo marathon reaching directly more than 500 young people and adults. The CSO plans to Economiști 22-28, Balti, Moldova 01 23, 2015 DIRECTOR promote EU Integration organize around 40 movie nights and outreach activities in students’ dormitories and public open-air theatres, door-to-door „CERTITUDINE" campaign in 50 villages to inform citizens about advantages of European integration and 50 quizzes on a Facebook page on EU topics. A youth conference organized in partnership with “Alecu Russo” University about perspectives of EU integration for Moldovan citizens reaches directly around 100 young people. In addition, Certitudine carries out two photo exhibitions in Balti.

University Legal Clinic conducts an awareness campaign in the Northern Moldova to increase the public understanding of democratic process and of the European values. Volunteers equipped with branded T-shirts and caps distribute informational e-mail: [email protected] Strengthening capacities of CSOs North of Moldova (Balti city, TABARCEA OLESEA, materials and facilitate discussions in seven localities. CJU holds information sessions at Balti University with about 50 students CLINICA JURIDICĂ Clinica Juridică 38 Pushkin Street, 511 TEL: (373 231) 52 476 providing community legal services Oct 15, 2014 - Oct Singerei, Falesti, Floresti, 28 EXECUTIVE www.clinicajuridica.md/ 4572-CJU-01 MDL 390,000.00 $30,000.00 and establishes a European Information and Resource Center within their office open to the community to visit and take advantage UNIVERSITARĂ (CJU) Universitară office, Balti, Moldova GSM: (373 79) 507946 and promoting the European 14, 2015 Riscani, Glodeni, Drochia, and DIRECTOR of a variety of informational materials on the EU and the EU integration process. CJU expects around 300 visitors per year to integration process Telenesti) benefit from the Information and Resource Center.

Youth for the Right to Life conducts a roundtable focused on European volunteering practices and the benefits of European Human and finance resources NICOLAE integration of Moldova. The CSO organizes 2015 National Volunteer Week to support European integration and promote EU best e-mail: [email protected] consolidation for development of the TINERII PENTRU PROCOPIE, practices in volunteering. To raise public awareness the organization distributes promotional and informative materials (T-shirts, Tinerii pantru Dreptul la 12/2 Traian Ave, Chişinău, TEL: (373 22) 567 551 Moldovan civil society sector Oct 24, 2014 - Oct 29 DREPTUL LA VIAȚĂ EXECUTIVE www.tdvmoldova.wordpress.com 4572-TDV-01 MDL 390,941.00 $30,072.38 National level bags, flyers, stickers, and posters). In addition, TDV organizes fundraising activities to support European integration activities and Viață Moldova GSM: (373 79) 450027 engaged in volunteer activities and 23, 2015 (TDV) DIRECTOR the National Caravan “Volunteering – European values and integration” in 10 different districts of Moldova. In each locality, TDV promotion of European integration conducts cultural and artistic activities with local public authorities and citizes. The district and local organizations that promote Moldova EUMoldova 12 Grantees European integration are mobilized to interact with citizens and distribute informational materials in the 10 tents. Association of Psychologists Tighina mobilizes community leaders, LPA, volunteers, families, and children from Căușeni district CSOs from Căușeni, Anenii Noi, to promote European values by facilitating a series of public actions in support of Moldova’s integration. APT works with Radio AFTENI LUDMILA, Str. Mateevici 1, oficiul 105, Ștefan Vodă Districts and Moldova to produce and distribute three radio programs and with regional TV “Studio-L” channel to organize three public debates; ASOCIAȚIA e-mail: [email protected] Asociaţia Psihologilor EXECUTIVE 106, or. Căuşeni, MD – Transnistrian Region – More Viable Nov 1, 2014 - Oct Căușeni, Anenii Noi, Ștefan develops and distributes 14,000 leaflets (in Romanian and Russian) on examples of social assistance provided in EU countries, 30 PSIHOLOGILOR TIGHINA TEL: (373 243) 21 680 www.aptighina.causeni.org 4572-APT-01 MDL 384,220.00 $29,555.38 Tighina DIRECTOR 4301, Republica of and Competitive in Protection of 31, 2015 Vodă Districts the myths and reality regarding the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the EU; produces a video spot and broadcasts it at (APT) Moldova Youth being in Social Difficulty and “Studio-L” TV; organizes “Europe Day in Căușeni”; conducts discussions with at least 500 citizens from 35 communities from the promoting European values region about the values promoted in the EU; organizes Elderly People Day in six localities of Căușeni and a drawing contest titled “European Vector” for at least 30 young persons from the community.

Foundation for Advancement of Moldova focuses on improving access to education and career development services for Improving the performance of the young people and bringing EU values in education closer to citizens. In partnership with the Ministry of Education, FDRM equips educational system by implementing FUNDAŢIA PENTRU GABRIELA OJOG, three Career Guidance and Counseling Centers from Soroca, Comrat and Cahul with the necessary resources to transfer Fundatia pentru 45 Pushkin str, 5th floor, of e-mail: [email protected] regulatory impact analysis and DEZVOLTARE DIN EXECUTIVE Oct 9, 2014 - Oct knowledge, ideas and experience regarding the EU integration process and promote quality education and civic education. The 31 Dezvoltare din Republica 505, MD-2005, Chisinau, TEL: (373 22) 210 198 www.fam.md effectively involving education- 4572-FAM-01 MDL 386,452.00 $29,727.08 Soroca, Comrat and Cahul REPUBLICA MOLDOVA DIRECTOR 8, 2015 organization conducts three EU cultural nights and three intellectual games in each targeted community in Soroca, Comrat and Moldova Republic of Moldova focused CSOs in the process and (FDRM) Cahul. To all of these events are invited not only young people, but also senior citizens. Through discussions and presentations, promotion of EU values in the FDRM aims to bring closer to them the positive message of EU integration, benefits and values. All participants receive educational field promotional materials and information about EU.

Casmed organizes awareness campaign in Balti municipality and 10-12 target localities. The campaign include: door-to-door Rural Civil Society Organizations as POSTOLACHI activities to inform elderly and isolated older people from rural villages about EU integration process; “Hour of Europe” events in Proactive Actors in the provision and Centrul de Asisten ță NATALIA, e-mail: [email protected] Balti, Riscani, Singerei, ten schools; a nationwide drawing contest for children with the subject “I am a child of Europe''; posting 28+1 informative panels str. Stefan Cel Mare, 19/1, development of community services Oct 9, 2014 - Oct 32 CASMED Socio-Medicală la EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 231) 27 764 www.casmed.md 4572-CASMED-01 MDL 390,003.00 $30,000.23 Drochia, Falesti, Floresti and about each member country of EU in the Central Gallery of Balti; publishes 10,000 leaflets and 2,000 informational brochures in Balti, Moldova and promotion of European 8, 2015 Domiciliu „Casmed" DIRECTOR Rezina Romanian and Russian to address common myths and stereotypes about the EU; develops a video and an informational movie of Integration 5-8 minutes about the what EU means; street painting contest for children with the title “Be free to create”, and organize a flash mob to attract people interest towards Europe integration process of Moldova.

To empower civil society to support public authorities in the process of European integration of Moldova, Resource Center Young and Free conducts “five o’clock tea” informal meeting with the media partners of the Council of NGOs and organizes a e-mail: [email protected] ANTONINA FONARI, workshop entitled “Civil Society Support for the European Integration of the Republic of Moldova”. The workshop conducted in the TEL: (373 22) 567 489 Strengthening a sustainable civil Centrul de Resurse EXECUTIVE 12/2 Traian Ave, Chişinău, Nov 1, 2014 - Oct framework of the National Forum of NGOs brings together CSOs, media and key opinion leaders to identify mechanisms through 33 TINERI ȘI LIBERI (TsL) GSM: (373 79) 450028 www.consiliulong.md society and supporting the European 4572-TsL-01 MDL 390,890.70 $30,068.52 National level „Tineri şi Liberi” DIRECTOR Moldova 31, 2015 which the civil society and the Council of NGOs / National Council for Participation may support the Moldova's integration in the integration process European Union. At the end of the forum, participants sign a Resolution for Collaboration between CSOs and central and local public authorities for successful European integration that is monitored. In addition, Young and Free coducts six public debates about the benefits of European integration. University Al. Russo, 38 Puskin str., office 510, Increased involvement of civil society Caroma Nord organizes a forum under the thematic “EU solidarity for the environment” to spread information on environmental EU Balti, Moldova in Environmental protection and FRECĂUȚANU opportunities, partnerships between the stakeholders involved in EU projects on environmental issues, and promotion of green e-mail: e-mail: [email protected] accountability in decision making RODICA, www.caromanordblog.wordpress. 4572-CAROMA NORD- Nov 1, 2014 - Oct Balti, Falesti, Drochia, Glodeni, economy. The forum brings together around 100 - 120 individuals, representatives of various bodies such as LPAs, CSOs, 34 CAROMA NORD Caroma Nord caroma_pirlita2002@yahoo TEL: (373 231) 52 376 through the creation of the MDL 259,510.00 $19,962.31 EXECUTIVE com 01 31, 2015 Rascani, Sangerei business sector, and schools. The organization produces informational materials (banners, T-shirts, TV and radio spots) to .com Environmental Coalition in Balti and DIRECTOR promote the forum. In addition, Caroma Nord conducts workshops on waste management in five districts from the North of Moldova TEL: (373 231) 52 376 promote the EU environmental such as for youth and teachers. GSM: (373 79) 124353 values.

Sub-Total MDL 9,965,886.70 $766,606.67

Fundatia Est-Europeana (FEE) combines capacities of different partners by subgranting to the following 9 NGOs: Urma Ta, EBA, Pro-Europe Center Comrat, Contact Center Balti, Dialog Center Cahul, Transparency International-Moldova, Dialog Pro, ADEPT and Expert-Grup. The CSO and its subgrantees increase awareness of and acceptance for the European path among the targeted 98, "31 August 1989" Oct 15, 2014 – population, by creating video spots ans show-casing good examples from Poland, Romania, Estonia and Lithuania, by conducting FUNDAȚIA EST- Fundația Est-Europeană SORIN MEREACRE, street, 3rd floor, e-mail: [email protected] Consolidation of Moldovan Societal 35 www.eef.md 4572-FEE-01 Feb 28, 2016 MDL 7,690,911.25 $591,608.56 National level 30 debates on EU integration and by implementing the Campaign “Pro-Europe – Pro-Democracy”. FEE supports the Secretariat of

FEE EUROPEANĂ (FEE) (FEE) PRESIDENT MD-2004, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 235 343 Support for the European Integration the NGO Platform for Europe, exploring the linkages available at national and grass roots level, enabling the Platform to highlight the benefits of EU Association Agreement and DCFTA and mobilizing popular support for EU integration. The project increases accountability of the Government on EU integration agenda by monitoring Moldova’s progress in implementing the EU Association Agreement.

Sub-Total MDL 7,690,911.25 $591,608.56 Interact Media, though its media product - agora.md, which is the most visited business site in Moldova, with an audience of Address: 170 Columna str., 200,000 unique visitors per month, increases the support and understanding of business people regarding the benefits of the Chisinau, MD-2012, e-mail: [email protected]; European integration of Moldova. The aim is achieved by producing and broadcasting 15 success stories of entrepreneurs, who Moldova The Republic of Moldova approach TUDOR DARIE, [email protected] 4572- Jan 1, 2015 - Nov have increased exports to the EU, or companies who had developed economic relations with the EU; by developing 10 online-TV 36 INTERACT MEDIA Ltd "Interact Media" SRL e-mail: www.interakt.md to UE through online business MDL 374,991 $28,845.46 National level DIRECTOR TEL: (373 22) 999 332 INTERACTMEDIA-01 30, 2015 episodes dedicated to the Association Agreement and its benefits; by producing and placing online 10 infographics about the EU [email protected] media outlet GSM: (373 79) 689933 standards, which must be followed by the business people; by developing on www.agora.md an interactive module where GSM: (373 79) 689933 everyone can see the main actions envisaged by the Association Agreement, the ministry or agency responsible for a certain implementation period, and the level of achievement.

Cimislia, Basarabeasca, , Pro Media promotes the benefits and the impact of integration into European Union of Moldova for the inhabitants in villages from ANDREI BARGAN, 14, Stefan cel Mare Street, e-mail: [email protected] TV programs: "Moldova-EU: Benefits Jan 1, 2015 - Dec Glodeni, Taraclia, , the South of Moldova. Pro Media will produce 24 TV reportages (5-7 min each) about implemented projects with EU support in 37 PRO MEDIA Ltd "Pro Media"SRL www.radiomedia.md 4572-PROMEDIA-01 MDL 374,918.86 $28,839.91 DIRECTOR MD-4101, Cimișlia TEL: (373 241) 22 866 from local and regional perspective" 31, 2015 Basarabeasca, Soroca, villages of Moldova and will broadcast these stories within 12 TV and Radio programs on EU integration of Moldova (2 stories per Comrat, Straseni program). The stories and programs be also placed on-line and broastcated by local TV network (Aici TV and Media TV).

Perspectiva promotes the benefits of EU integration of Moldova through the dissemination of European information to residents of VICTORIA e-mail: [email protected]; Asociaţia Obstească 15/4, Republicii Street, www.aoperspectiva.wordpress.c The European Union closer to 4572-PERSPECTIVA- Feb 1, 2015 - Jan Cahul district involving active local youth. Under the project 20 young people are selected for creation of the Euro Promoters Youth 38 PERSPECTIVA IVANCIOGLO, [email protected] MDL 319,927.93 $24,609.84 Cahul "Perspectiva" office 3, Cahul om citizens of Moldova 01 31, 2016 Club. These young people are trained to carry out “door-to-door” campaign in 10 localities of Cahul district, and the social theatre PRESIDENT GSM: (373 69) 030796 presentations on the pro-EU topics in 8 target communities of Cahul.

ATVJI produces 6 media packages (TV programs, radio programs, print articles, and on-line stories) to explain the meaning of the Asociația "V.I.P." a EU-Moldova Association Agreement, the concerns faced by local population and how they might be overcome. ATVJI collects from e-mail: [email protected]; Telejurnaliștilor ANETA GROSU, 22, Puskin Street, office European answer to Moldovan Mar 1, 2015 - Moldova’s communities people’s concerns, questions and topics about EU-Moldova Association Agreement and the EU Integration 39 ATVJI TEL: (373 22) 234 438 www.reporterdegarda.md 4572-ATVJI-01 MDL 371,117.26 $28,547.48 National level Independen ți din PRESIDENT 324, MD-2012, Chisinau concern March 31, 2016 process of Moldova, gathers answers and explanations to these concerns by filming in European communities interviews and GSM: (373 79) 583737 Republica Moldova stories and broadcasts the final media products on public TV and radio stations, on local TV stations, and in on-line and print media.

EU Action Grants CRPE contributes to harmonization with European standards in education and construction field, using best practices from Romanian experience. The CSO informs private sector, academia and public institutions about the importance of the harmonization with the EU standards, by elaborating 1,000 promotion materials, organizing an Open Day at the National Institute of Reprezentan ța din LUDMILA e-mail: [email protected]; 59, "31 August 1989" Informing the public and stakeholders Standardization and organizing 5 information campaigns at 5 universities of Moldova. As well, CRPE involves academia in the Republica Moldova a GAMURARI, [email protected]; Mar 1, 2015 - Feb 40 CRPE street, office 6, MD-2012, www.crpe.md about the European standards 4572-CRPE-01 MDL 374,782.73 $28,829.44 Chisinau, Comrat, Balti process of transposing EU standards by conducting an assessment of the standardization issues in teaching process and Centrului Roman de EXECUTIVE TEL: (373 22) 223 250 29, 2016 Chisinau adopted under DFCTA curricula, elaborating a support guide for Ministry of Education and teachers and organizing a workshop with academia Politici Europene DIRECTOR GSM: (373 78) 342260 representatives to discuss these issues. The CSO informs also the representatives of construction sector about the need to use European standards in their business, through a case study on challenges in construction field and a public debate with all stakeholders Strengthening the negotiation power Moldova Fruct increases the level of knowledge and awareness of its members and other fruit producers from the North regions Asociația Producătorilor IURIE FALA, 162, Stefan cel Mare blvd, e-mail: [email protected]; of fruit growers due to the Soroca, Briceni, Edinet, of Moldova about the advantages and benefits of EU-Moldova Association Agreement. The CSO carries out a study visit to Poland 4572- Mar 1, 2015 - Feb 41 MOLDOVA-Fruct și Exportatorilor de EXECUTIVE office 410, MD-2004, TEL: (373 22) 223 005 www.moldovafruct.md implementation of European MDL 372,335.32 $28,641.18 Donduseni, and their for 15 Association members and based on gathered information Moldova Fruct elaborates a study on advantages and benefits of MOLDOVAFRUCT-01 29, 2016 Fructe "Moldova-Fruct" DIRECTOR Chisinau GSM: (373 69) 366424 practices of cooperation and self- communities EU integration for Moldova fruit growers. All information and learnt practices are presented during 5 regional workshops, one government National Conference and reflected in 7 press articles. Contact Center carries out EU awareness campaigns in 10 northern and central districts of Moldova. The CSO organizes 10 Centrul Național de SERGHEI Awareness campaigns in the outside exhibitions of photographs and infographics in public locations about European projects implemented in communities Asistență și Informare a NEICOVCEN, 83, Bucuresti Street, MD- e-mail: [email protected]; northern and central regions to Feb 15 - Oct 14, Northern and central regions of accompanied by public discussions about the content, impact and importance of European integration for citizens of the target 42 CONTACT CENTER Organizațiilor www.contact.md 4572-CONTACT-01 MDL 369,852.40 $28,450.18 EXECUTIVE 2012, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 233 947 inform public of EU integration 2015 Moldova communities. 20 public debates for up to 1,000 opinion leaders, public employees, CSOs’ leaders, members of the local initiative Neguvernamentale din DIRECTOR benefits for Moldova groups, business representatives, women, youth and socially vulnerable group representatives are conducted to support the Moldova CONTACT campaign. Sub-Total MDL 2,557,925.50 $196,763.50

Keystone ensures participation of people with disabilities and civil society in developing public policies for people with disabilities e-mail: in the Anenii Noi and Ialoveni districts, supporting development of local Strategies on inclusion of people with disabilities. The CSO [email protected]; Collaboration at the local level for organizes a roundtable and two trainings to mobilize and empower people with disabilities, CSOs and LPA on participatory Keystone Human LUDMILA MALCOCI, [email protected]; 20, Sf. Gheorghe street, social inclusion of persons with Apr 1, 15 - Mar 31, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the rights of people with disabilities. Keystone ensures a participatory development and 43 KEYSTONE Services International EXECUTIVE [email protected]; www.keystonemoldova.md 4572-KEYSTONE-01 MDL 820,450 $63,111.54 Anenii Noi and Ialoveni MD-2005, Chisinau disabilities in Anenii-Noi and Falesti 17 approval of local Strategies for social inclusion of people with disabilities, by establishing a participatory group on Strategy Moldova Association DIRECTOR TEL: (373 22) 929 198 Districts development, 20 focus groups, organizing a workshop for Strategy development and a roundtable for its consultation. As well, the GSM: (373 69) 501709 CSO increases the capacities of CSOs and LPAs from Anenii Noi and Ialoveni to implement actions according to the developed Strategy, by training them on project writing and management, and offering them on-going mentoring. SOS Autism increases chances for social integration of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and facilitates their access to services and rehabilitation programs, by developing a National Strategy on social integration of people with ASD. e-mail: [email protected]; The CSO collects the needs of people with ASD and their families through five focus-groups organized in different regions of [email protected] ION DUMITRAS, 191, Grenoble Street, MD- Social integration of children and May 1, 15 - Apr Moldova. To facilitate development and approval of the Strategy, SOS Autism invites national and international experts, 44 SOS AUTISM SOS AUTISM GSM: (373 69) 672869; (373 http://autismmoldova.md 4572-SOSAUTISM-01 MDL 830,000 $63,846.15 National level PRESIDENT 2043, Chisinau youth with autism from Moldova 30, 17 coordinates six meetings of the inter-ministerial working group and six meetings of the technical working group, and organizes one 68) 878788 advocacy campaign. As well, SOS Autism increases awareness regarding the importance of social integration of people with autism, by developing a social spot, printing 300 calendars and 1,000 brochures, organizing one concert and publishing at least 10 media articles Speranța develops the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Law on Social Inclusion of Persons with e-mail: [email protected]; Disabilities in an innovative "easy-to-read" format, offering to people with intellectual and learning disabilities accessible information LUCIA GAVRILITA, 12/2, Traian blvd, ap. 2, [email protected] Easy-to-read, easy to understand, May 15, 2015 - about their rights. Speranta involves one international and five local experts to prepare the "easy-to-read" materials, which are 45 SPERANȚA Centrul ”Speranța” EXECUTIVE www.speranta.md 4572-SPERANTA-01 MDL 830,000 $63,846.15 National level MD-2043, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 561 100 easy to act May 14, 2017 tested by 15 youth with disabilities, within 10 activates. The CSO develops guidelines on how to use easy-to-read materials and DIRECTOR GSM: (373 79) 775511 promotes the products within a roundtable. Additionally, Speranta organizes 10 trainings and 15 informative sessions to ensure the promotion, and use of the materials, and to increase the capacities of people with disabilities to defend their rights. Speranță și Sănătate raises the level of legal knowledge among people with mental disabilities and their guardians and provide PwD Rights Grants Rights PwD Legal protection for legal help to at least 50 families. The CSO organizes 16 educational trainings for parents/guardians (8-10 trainings/year) of people LUDMILA e-mail: [email protected]; parents/guardians of people with with mental disabilities, offers 25 legal consultations per year to people with mental disabilities and their guardians, develops and Asociația Părinților cu SPERANȚA ȘI ANDREICIUC, 81/2, Vasile Lupu Street, [email protected] mental disabilities and assistance in 4572-SPERANTA-SI- June 1, 2015 - disseminates 500 copies of a brochure and one video spot about people with mental disabilities. Additionally, Speranta și Sanatate 46 Copii Nedezvoltati Mintal http://www.hopeandhealth.md/ MDL 830,000 $63,846.15 Chisinau SĂNĂTATE EXECUTIVE MD-2008, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 718 574 maintaining the fundamental rights of SANATATE-01 May 31, 2017 conducts an analysis of the existing legislation regarding housing and labor market and carries out a roundtable to debate with "Speranța și Sănătate" DIRECTOR GSM: (373 68) 338338 persons with intellectual and representatives of public authorities, other CSOs and CSO beneficiaries, the existing legal issues and to find solutions for its psychiatric disabilities improvement.

OSORC raises awareness and informs the public about the rights of people with disabilities, and increases social activity of people with disabilities and their families through workshops, consultations, discussions, and participation in local and national events. LIUDMILA e-mail: [email protected]; The CSO organizes 3 master classes on needlework for people with disabilities, and the works are shown within two editions of Centrul de Resurse 114a, Karl Libkneht, Equal rights despite unequal July 15, 2015 - 47 OSORC BORODINA, TEL: ( 373 778) 64 599 N/A 4572-OSORC-01 MDL 830,000 $63,846.15 Transnistrian region Talent Fair in Tiraspol and Ribnita. OSORC together with its partners carries out two Open Door events and publishes news "OSORC" Tiraspol, 3300 opportunities July 14, 2017 PRESIDENT GSM: (373 69) 462998 articles and video reports on local TV. Additionally, the CSO conducts Leadership Summer School for 35 young people, 4 workshops for 25 young people with disabilities, and one seminar for 30 active parents. The needs and recommendations collected during the project are presented within four roundtables and one conference.

Sub-Total MDL 4,140,450.00 $318,496.15

Parc Comunicații designs and implements a comprehensive nation-wide awareness campaign on Moldova’s European Union ALEXANDR (EU) integration. As part of the national campaign EUROPA PENTRU TINE (EUROPE FOR YOU), Parc Communicatii implements Societatea Comercială 89/1 Vasile Alexandri e-mail: [email protected]; Moldova European Integration 4572-Parc Comunicatii- Oct 15, 2014 - Oct 48 PARC COMUNICAȚII BEJENARI, www.parc.md MDL 6,204,799.00 $477,292.23 National level a wide range of activities aimed at raising awareness on Moldova’s European integration. Over the course of one year, MPSCS Parc Comunicații SRL Street, MD-2012, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 855 151 Awareness Campaign 01 30, 2015 DIRECTOR with Parc comunicatii assistance uses television and radio spots, banners, leaflets, articles, TV programs, door-to-door activities, socila media to communicate with citizens.

Contact Center in partnership with CTO Caraseni work on improving the skills of capacity building service providers. Initially, CTO Caraseni conducts a Needs Assessment Survey to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges to CSO’s Centrul Național de SERGHEI capacity development marketplace. The findings of the assessment are presented during three round tables organized in Balti, Asistență și Informare a Support to the local market for NEICOVCEN, 83, Bucuresti Street, MD- e-mail: [email protected]; Feb 23, 2015 – Cahul and Chisinau. CTO Caraseni organizes cycle of trainings and cluster clubs in CSO organizational development and capacity 49 CONTACT CENTER Organizațiilor www.contact.md capacity development services and N/A MDL 675,415.00 $51,955.00 National level EXECUTIVE 2012, Chisinau TEL: (373 22) 233 947 Feb 22, 2016 building for trainers. Moreover, Contact Center improves and promotes capacity building/trainers and journalist databases. The Neguvernamentale din providers DIRECTOR database of trainers will be a major step toward creating a functional and competitive market of capacity building services for Moldova CONTACT Moldovan CSOs. The database of journalists covering civil society topics will help CSO to access journalists and to improve the

Subcontractors media coverage of their activities.

ECNL assists local stakeholders in adapting civil society legislation to European standards. ECNL works on supporting the Apaczai Csere Janos u.17, drafting, improvement, and implementation of civil society legislation (2% mechanism, amending the Law on Public Associations European Center for Not- HANNA ASIPOVICH, e-mail: [email protected]; Jan 15, 2014 - 50 ECNL 1st floor, Budapest 1052, www.ecnl.org.hu Enable legal environmental for CSOs N/A MDL 8,701,836.00 $669,372.00 National level and Fiscal Code to increase CSOs’ financial sustainability, and reviewing the Civil Society Strategy Development 2012-2015); for-Profit Law POLICY OFFICER TEL: (361) 318 6923 / 483 1774 July 31, 2018 Hungary building the capacity of local partners to carry out legal reform and advocacy activities; and providing resources and promote the sharing of comparative expertise.

Sub-Total MDL 15,582,050.00 $1,198,619.23

MDL 60,004,803.09 $4,615,754.08

Final Evaluation Report

Implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy 2012-2015

June 2016

Prepared by: Gheorghe Caraseni

OCT Caraseni Tel: + 373 69129998 Consulting & Training Services Email: [email protected] 2, D. Cantemir Str., Chisinau www.caraseni.md Republic of Moldova

This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Copyright © This Report is the intellectual property of the European Center for Non-for-profit Law. All rights reserved.

Acknowledgments The evaluator thanks all those who participated in the evaluation and expressed their reasoned opinions about the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (SCDS) of the Republic of Moldova and its Action Plan for 2012-2015, supplied the necessary information for the evaluation of the SCDS and reacted to the evaluator’s requests. Special thanks go to Hanna Asipovich (Policy Officer, ECNL-Budapest) who coordinated the evaluation process and facilitated the organization of meetings with some representatives of the Central Public Authorities. Also, thanks to the FHI 360 and Contact Center Chișinău teams that were generous to host some interview sessions during the evaluation. The evaluator appreciates the cooperation of all the constituents.

Disclaimer The evaluator made efforts to assure that the evaluation and the information presented in this report is full and accurate. However, any errors that may appear in this report are non-deliberate, although the evaluator is responsible for them. This report reflects the evaluator’s point of view based on the evaluation findings and it does not necessarily represent the opinions of USAID or of the European Center for Non-for-profit Law (ECNL) and/or of the constituents consulted during the evaluation.

Glossary  AP – Action Plan  CPA – Central Public Authorities  CReDO – Human Rights Resource Center  CSDS – Civil Society Development Strategy  CSOs – Civil Society Organizations  ECNL – European Center for Non-for-Profit Law  EEF – East European Foundation  EU – European Union  LPA – Local Public Authorities  MLSPF – Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family  MYS – Ministry of Youth and Sports  NBS – National Bureau of Statistics  NFE – Non-formal Education  NGO – Nongovernmental Organization  NNC – National NGO Council  NPC – National Participation Council  NYCM – National Youth Council of Moldova  RM – Republic of Moldova  SA – Social Entrepreneurship  SME – Small and Medium-sized Enterprises  TDV – NGO ”Youth for the Right to Live”  ToR – Terms of Reference  USA – United States of America  USAID – US Agency for International Development

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Report on the Evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (2012-2015) 2

CONTENTS

Summary ...... 4

Part 1 Background & introduction ...... 9 Background ...... 9 Introduction ...... 10 About the evaluator...... 10 Purpose of the evaluation...... 10 Objectives of the evaluation ...... 10

Part 2 Methodology of evaluation ...... 11 Principles of evaluation ...... 11 Evaluation methodology ...... 11

Part 3 Findings and conclusions ...... 13 Relevance of the CSDS ...... 13 Relevance of the CSDS in the national context and for the development needs of the civil society...... 13 Relevance of the players involved in developing and implementing the CSDS ...... 14 CSDS Effectiveness ...... 15 Cooperation and partnerships ...... 26 CSDS Efficiency ...... 27 Sustainability of achievements ...... 28

Part 4: Lessons learned and good practices ...... 31

Part 5: Recommendations ...... 34 General framework of recommendations ...... 34 Detailed recommendations ...... 34 Strategic recommendations ...... 34 Recommendations for general objectives ...... 36 Conceptual recommendations ...... 37 Operational recommendations ...... 40

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Report on the Evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (2012-2015) 3

SUMMARY

This report represents the conclusions and recommendations resulted from the evaluation of the implementation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (CSDS) for 2012-2015 and of its Action Plan (AP). The CSDS, accompanied by an Action Plan, comprises 3 areas of intervention each, representing a separate objective with specific objectives and actions: Objective 1: “Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies”; Objective 2: “Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society”; Objective 3: “Development of the active civic spirit and volunteering” The purpose of the final evaluation was to review the implementation of the CSDS and AP for the period between 2012 and 2015, identify the achievements and gaps in the implementation and make recommendations on how to enhance its relevance and effectiveness. The evaluation methodology was developed by the evaluator and approved by ECNL, and included the following evaluation techniques and tools: review of documents, online evaluation surveys and semi-structured interviews (individual meetings, focus groups, Skype) with 54 persons, representatives of the civil society, state authorities and donors’ community. Although there was no formal ex-ante evaluation, the CSDS is based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations of a number of studies, monitoring reports and relevant resolutions that had taken place prior to its development and that cover all the three areas of the CSDS1. The CSDS and AP, as a whole, are consistent and coherent, extremely ambitious, and follow the logic of the intervention, from reviewing the contexts, to making policies, and then to implementing them. As a result of the final evaluation, one can conclude that the CSDS is relevant for the current context and that the 3 intervention areas included therein reflect the key needs of development of the Moldovan civil society. In what concerns the implementation of the CSDS, it took place in a political unstable and performance unfavorable environment, although when the CSDS was developed, the national context was relatively stable. The final evaluation shows that a slow progress has been made and there are certain implementation achievements in all the three areas/general objectives of the CSDS. Nonetheless, the main finding and general conclusion is that most of the commitments made under the CSDS were not fully achieved (either were not completed or were not even started). More precisely, the level of implementation of the actions assumed under the CSDS represents nearly 27%; other 9% of actions are at an advanced level of achievement, and 64% of the commitments made have not been achieved, including 52% of actions were not started. Thus, the results of the implementation of the commitments of the CSDS and PA are under the expected level and modest as compared to the results published, although certain progress is visible in the

1 They are specified in the report.

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Report on the Evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (2012-2015) 4

achievement of some common initiatives of state authorities and the Moldovan CSOs, as described further in the report. There were various factors that affected the implementation of the CSDS: political, financial and related to management and coordination. This is an opportunity to learn certain lessons and change certain aspects in the future. General Objective #1: Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies registered a better level of achievement of the commitments (36%) as compared to the other CSDS objectives, and two examples of good practices,2 described in the report. The progress made by the central public authorities regarding “decision-making participation and transparency”, especially at the civil society consultation stage. Not the same can be said about the achievements at the local level, the publication of the divergence table by the authorities and setting up of a unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society. These and other actions have not yet been honored and would make the object of future commitments in this sense. General Objective #2: Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society turned out to be the most sensitive one, which faced much resistance from the central public authorities and, therefore, the progress has been slow and the achievements (19%), as a whole, are much under the expected level, with a failure to develop the mechanism for enforcing the 2% law; the legal framework on social entrepreneurship currently being developed; and a failure to develop social contracting yet, while setting up specialized funds to support the civil society have not even come to be discussed by the CSOs and state public authorities. The evaluation also found some achievements related to book-keeping and funds management in the noncommercial sector as well as examples described in the report that can be assessed as good practices3 that should be replicated. General Objective #3: Developing the active civic spirit and volunteering, although it is a little under the level of implementation of CSDS (26%), it has achieved tangible results and a clear progress in regulating and recognizing volunteering as well as applying this provision, such as: accreditation of host organizations, documenting the volunteer status, recognizing volunteering as part of the length of service etc. Although there were many dissensions, the cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) and the Secretariat of the Volunteering Coalition is an example of integration of volunteering in the legal regulations and that can be assigned to good practices and replicated in the future. However, there are many AP actions under this objective that have not been achieved and are described in the report, e.g. creation of a school for coordinators of volunteers, creation of a National Volunteering Center etc. The cost-efficiency evaluation of the CSDS is problematic because relevant data on the funds allocated and consumed in the implementation of the CSDS are missing. The costs planned for the

2 1) The joint training course for the representatives of state authorities and CSOs within the Military Academy of Armed Forces “Alexandru cel Bun” and 2) the Advisory Board in making policies, set up by the Ministry of Economy and made up of representatives of the ME, and the private and associative sectors. 3 E.g. the Working Group for the Social Entrepreneurship set up under the MoE and the amendments made by it to the Moldovan legal framework.

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Report on the Evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (2012-2015) 5

implementation of the CSDS have been only partially implemented4 (34 of 88 actions) with the total amount of MDL 4,190,000. Due to lack of information, it was not possible to establish the effective budget used in the implementation of the CSDS and, hence, the relation between the resources allocated and the results obtained cannot be reviewed either as a whole or per each general objective in part. There are various reasons for that and they are described in the report. As a whole, the evaluation finds that CSDS actions have been supported by: USAID via FHI 360, Swedish Government/SIDA via the East-European Foundation; MYS (small grant program) from the state budget; UN Population Fund; Pontis Foundation; FERSO and RITA organizations from Poland. The sustainability of achievements at the level of public policies developed and results of interventions at public policy level can be found in all three components/general objectives of CSDS, which have materialized in amendments made to the exiting legal framework e.g. the Law on Transparency in Decision-Making, Law on Volunteering etc. and the mechanisms (developed or currently being completed) for enforcing various laws e.g. the 2% Law, the Volunteering Law etc. The sustainability of such interventions and results is assured via their integration in the legal framework of Moldova and the mandatory character of enforcement thereof with this. As to the institutionalization of the results obtained, the evaluation finds that they are insignificant, one of the exceptions being the setting up of the Commission for the Certification of host institutions for volunteering (Pillar 3). Another institutionalization attempt was the determination of the contact persons in ministries for the implementation of the CSDS. This can be considered a good practice; however, it did not have consistency because those persons had many responsibilities in continuity. Most of the actions envisaged in the CSDS that contained aspects of institutionalization have not been implemented5 and represent one of the weaknesses in the implementation of the CSDS. The financial sustainability of the results of the implementation of the CSDS greatly depends on their institutionalization and ownership. If the institutionalization of the results of the implementation of the CSDS is non-significant, the aspects of their financial sustainability become irrelevant or, in the best case, minor. The evaluation found certain conceptual discrepancies between the civil society actors and the governmental structures with regard to the responsibility for implementing the CSDS and the financial commitments. These were obvious and visible, were well felt during the development and implementation of the CSDS, and affected the CSDS ownership and achievements (see the report). The development and implementation of the CSDS implies the need to learn some detailed lessons in the report. First: when making commitments, account must be taken of the implementation capacity and the available human and financial resources, or the financial commitments to be materialized in the future. Secondly: it is important to realize that implementing complex multi-sector commitments, such as the civil society development ones, implies a much consistent involvement both from the state public

4 See PA of the CSDS 2012-2015. 5 E.g. setting up of a unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society; setting up of an Ethics Board within the National NGO Council; setting up of a Specialized Fund for supporting the Civil Society; setting up of a National Independent Volunteering Center and of the National Volunteer Coordinators School; developing 3 regional volunteering centers.

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Report on the Evaluation of the Civil Society Development Strategy (2012-2015) 6

authorities, civil society organizations and the donors community (of various rank and level) that interacts with the civil society. Third: the common vision, availability of involvement, commitment and ownership should not be underestimated because during the implementation of the CSDS, these aspects or better to say their lack substantially affected the performance. Fourth: half measures usually do not work and do not generate plausible and sustainable results. E.g. the failure to create the unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society and the attempt to solve the problem with a focal point that has tens of other tasks in addition to the cooperation with the civil society proved to be unsuccessful and did not work. This is one of the reasons why the cooperation between the civil society and the state public executive authorities was adverse as a whole, with some exceptions that can serve as good practices. Other lessons to be learned are described in the report. There are also good practices identified during the final evaluation that should be replicated because they proved to be fruitful. One of the good practices is the redressing of the approach in the Social Entrepreneurship Subcomponent, where initially the draft law was rejected and seemed a blocked initiative but after a number of rounds of debates in 2015 this situation was unblocked and the newly created Working Group on Social Entrepreneurship that works under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy re-launched this subject. This is a positive example that can be attributed to the “good practices” when after the failure to approve an initiative, the mixed working group of CSOs and state authorities managed to identify an acceptable solution to all the stakeholders and is about to be completed and submitted to the Government for endorsement and further submission to the Parliament. Another example that can be attributed to good practices is the productive cooperation between the Volunteering Coalition Secretariat and the MYS, and the amending of the legal framework on volunteering, recognizing volunteer work as length of service, as well as the inclusion of other provisions. The development of accreditation regulations, setting up of the respective commission and the proper accreditation of about 60 CSOs as host institutions as well as the development of IDs for volunteers is another argument in favor of perceiving this situation as “good practices” worth replicating. These achievements can be classified as success stories. The final evaluation makes a range of recommendations that can be grouped into strategic recommendations; conceptual recommendations; and operational recommendations, as follows (and better explained in the report): Strategic recommendations: 1. Develop a new Civil Society Development Strategy for 2017-2020; 2. Keep in the CSDS 2017-2020 the priority areas of the CSDS 2012-2015; 3. Enhance accountability for the implementation of the CSDS. Recommendations for the general objectives: 4. Reformulate and adjust the general objective #1 of the CSDS; 5. Strengthen the efforts on the general objective #2 of the CSDS; 6. Gradually withdraw from the General Objective #3 and refocus efforts on the general objectives #1 and #2 of the CSDS.

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Conceptual recommendations 7. Revitalize the National Participation Council; 8. Use findings, conclusions, and eventually the recommendations of various studies in developing and monitoring the implementation of the CSDS; 9. Evaluate CSDS implementation costs and budget them; 10. Map active NGOs and the potential donors and involve them in supporting the implementation of the CSDS. 11. Make grant provision to NGOs transparent. 12. Promote the CSDS more actively, including at the local level and involve more actively local public authorities and local NGOs. 13. Create and interconnect dialog platforms between the civil society and state public authorities. 14. Translate the CSDS, including the AP, and its monitoring and evaluation reports to Russian. Operational recommendations 15. Develop reporting templates and report against updated progress indicators; 16. Carry out an interim evaluation of the CSDS.

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Part 1 BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND The Civil Society Development Strategy (CSDS) for 2012–2015 and the Action Plan (AP) for implementing the CSDS were approved by the Moldovan Parliament by Law No. 205 of 28 Sept 2012 that became effective on 4 January 2013 upon its publishing in the Official Gazette. The Moldovan Government, in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations, within 4 months, were to set up the structure responsible for the cooperation with the civil society (made up of representatives of the executive bodies and of the civil society), by coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the CSDS and its AP. The working group for developing the CSDS and AP (2012–2015) was set up based on the Disposition of the Speaker of the Parliament DD/C-1 no.10 of 9 Feb 2012 and was to monitor the implementation of the CSDS and AP alongside the unit responsible of the cooperation with the civil society. The CSDS for 2012-2015 continues the efforts of the CSDS for 2009–20116. Although the AP of the previous CSDS was not approved, some activities referring to the development of the civil society had been implemented in the previous period. For instance, there were developed and passed amendments to the Law on the Civic Association in the part related to the public benefit. A working group for amending the noncommercial legislation was set up under the Ministry of Justice. The Moldovan Parliament passed the Law on Volunteering, thus starting building an enabling framework for volunteering. It also passed the Law on Social Services that acknowledges civic associations as a social service provider and launched the Grant Program for youth CSOs and the necessary legal framework was also developed. The CSDS for 2012-2015, accompanied by an Action Plan, contains 3 areas of interventions each, representing a separate objective with specific objectives and actions.  Objective I: “Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies”;  Objective II: “Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society”  Objective III: “Developing the active civic spirit and volunteering” The AP of the CSDS 2012-2015 details the interventions per each objective assumed (in terms of “activities” and “actions”), specifies the responsible parties and the implementation partners, and contains a section on the funding sources.

6 Approved by the Parliament Decision no. 267-XVI of 11 Dec 2008

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B. INTRODUCTION 1. About the evaluator The evaluation of the CSDS and AP for 2012-2015 was conducted by Gheorghe Caraseni, Evaluator and Consultant, Member of the International Program Evaluators Network (IPEN), GOPA Consultants (Germany) and of the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) of the Open Governance Partnership (USA). Gheorghe has national and international experience of over 20 years in strengthening organizational capacities and civil society development, including circa 10 years of experience in evaluating programs, projects and strategies in Moldova and in other eight CIS countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan). The evaluator was selected by ECNL as a result of an open contest published on the information portal civic.md7 and on the official website of FHI 3608.

2. Purpose of the evaluation To review the implementation of the CSDS and PA for 2012-2015, identify the achievements and gaps in the implementation and make recommendations for enhancing its relevance and effectiveness.

3. Objectives of the evaluation The final evaluation in the implementation of the CSDS and PA 2012-2015 has had a number of objectives and aimed to:  Determine the level of implementation of the AP actions;  Identify to what extent the CSDS reached its goal to improve the legal framework and the activity context of CSOs in Moldova;  Review the level of cooperation between state public authorities and the civil society (Government–CSOs and Parliament–CSOs) in the period subject to evaluation 2012-2015;  Identify and then describe in short 4 or 5 successful achievements and the reasons that contributed to that success;  Review and present the main gaps in the implementation of the CSDS;  Determine the level of knowledge about the CSDS among various partners and its relevance for the sector;  Identify the needs in civil society development that are included in the CSDS 2012-2015;

 Make recommendations for CSOs and state authorities about the next steps in strengthening

the civil society in Moldova.

7 See http://www.civic.md/angajari/30805-apel-pentru-candidaturi-evaluarea-implementarii-CSDS-de-dezvoltare-a- societatii-civile-2012-2015.html 8 See http://fhi360.md/index.php/en/newsroom/news-archive/487-apel-pentru-candidaturi-evaluarea-implementrii- CSDS-de-dezvoltare-a-societii-civile-din-r-moldova-20122015.html

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Part 2 METHODOLOGY OF EVALUATION

2.1 Principles of evaluation The process of evaluation was structured in accordance with the set of variables developed by the evaluator according to the requirements stipulated in the Terms of Reference (TOR). The findings were based on the evidence collected during the evaluation and served as grounds for the respective conclusions. The lessons learned were formulated after a review of the findings and conclusions and the recommendations were structured according to the CSDS areas of intervention. The evaluator assures the authenticity of all the data collected, analyzed and presented including of the conclusions and recommendations in order to enhance the efforts of development of the civil society in Moldova. The evaluator took as a guide the principles of an impartial and independent evaluation, offering credibility through his expertise as well as by knowing the situation of the civil society in Moldova and having specific evaluation knowledge in the non-for-profit area. Another principle used as a guide by the evaluator was promptness and accessibility of the data reviewed and of the recommendations made. The evaluator provided a report and an evaluation process that complies with the ToR requirements, observed the deadlines, presented the information in a structured manner, separating the evaluation conclusions from the recommendations.

2.2 Evaluation methodology From a methodological point of view, the evaluator used a mixed approach by applying various methods for collecting and/or verifying/triangling the corresponding information, thus removing the contradictions and assuring trust in the validity of the methodology. The evaluation methods decided upon were not used by accident but in order to be mutually complemented with the other methods and evaluation tools. The evaluation methodology was developed by the evaluator and approved by ECNL–Budapest, and included the following evaluation techniques and tools:  Review of the relevant documents such as: the SDSC for 2012–2015, PA for implementing the SDSC for 2012–2015, the Advisory Opinion to the draft Parliament Decision for approving the CSDS for 2012–2015 and its AP, the reports of the Government and of the civil society on the implementation of the CSDS and AP for 2012-2015, and other relevant documents (See attached the List of documents consulted);  Evaluation surveys were developed after studying the documents and included an interview questionnaire and an online survey questionnaire. The online questionnaire, after the evaluation of the implementation of the CSDS for 2012-2015, includes 9 relevant questions for determining the achievements, weaknesses and recommendations related to the CSDS for 2012-2015. The questionnaire was approved by the ECNL and posted together with the announcement on 16 March 2016, on the information portal www.civic.md9, on the official webpage of the Chisinau CONTACT Center www.contact.md10, on the official page of FHI

9 See http://www.civic.md/stiri-ong/31847-evaluarea-implementarii-CSDS-de-dezvoltare-a-societatii-civile-2012- 2015.html 10 http://contact.md/index.php/ro/toate-noutatile/269-evalueaza-implementarea-CSDS-de-dezvoltare-a-societatii- civile-2012-2015

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36011 and on the Facebook page of OCT CARASENI12 (See announcement and questionnaire attached).  Semi-structured interviews. The opinions of a total number of 54 persons were consulted, including representatives of the civil society (27 persons), state authorities (17 persons) and donors community (10 persons). There were organized 8 individual meetings, 8 focus groups, 5 Skype and telephone interviews and 3 questionnaires were received online (See attached the List of persons consulted).

11 See http://www.fhi360.md/index.php/en/component/content/article/494-evalueaz-implementarea-CSDS-de- dezvoltare-a-societii-civile-20122015.html 12 See https://www.facebook.com/caraseni.oct/

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Part 3 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

This section of the report comprises information about the findings of the final evaluation of the implementation of the CSDS and AP for 2012-2015. The findings and conclusions are not set forth in the order of their importance but rather structured according to the evaluation questions and variables as provided by the ToR. The CSDS was developed at the initiative of the civil society with the support of the Moldovan Parliament in a participatory manner within three topical working groups13 made up of representatives of the civil society and state authorities who conducted in total about 30 working meetings during 2012. Subsequently, the CSDS and AP were approved by the Moldovan Parliament14, which represents a democratic, inclusive and open exercise. Based on the conclusions of the final evaluation, one can conclude that the CSDS for 2012-2015 is relevant for the current context and the three areas of intervention included in the Strategy (“Decision-making participation and transparency”, “Financial sustainability of the CSOs” and “Civic activism and volunteering”) and reflects the key development needs of the Moldovan civil society. The implementation of the CSDS took place in a politically unstable and performance unfavorable environment. The results of the implementation of the commitments made under the CSDS and AP are modest as compared to the results planned, although certain progress is visible in the implementation of common initiatives in all the three areas of the CSDS. Nonetheless, as a whole, the results of implementation of the CSDS are under the expected level, and the factors that affected the implementation of the CSDS are diverse, both political, financial and related to management and coordination. This serves as an opportunity to learn certain lessons and change certain issues in the future.

The findings of the final evaluation according to the ToR requirement are presented below.

3.1 Relevance of the CSDS 3.1.1 Relevance of the CSDS in the national context and for the development needs of the civil society. After the consultations with all the state and civil society players, of planning documents and study and monitoring reports, the evaluation confirms that the priorities set in the CSDS text are relevant for the national context and reflect the needs of the Moldovan civil society. A strong argument in favor of the CSDS relevance is the fact that the priorities shown in the CSDS included the reforms assumed by the Moldovan authorities and that were already ongoing when the CSDS was developed (e.g. making the decision-making transparent, developing the social contracting mechanism, improving the legal framework for volunteering, tax reforms), with many normative acts having been adopted in the corresponding areas and reflected in the previous civil society development strategy of Moldova (2009-2011) but that required regulations for further application. Of course, the CSDS included new commitments e.g. setting up in the Government of

13 O I: “Strengthening of the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies” – led by the NPC; O II: “Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society” – led by the NGO Council; and O III: “Developing the active civic spirit and volunteering” – led by the Volunteering Alliance. 14 The CSDS was approved by the Moldovan Parliament by Law No.205 of 28 Sept 2012 and published in the Official Gazette on 4 Jan 2013.

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a unit for the cooperation with the OSC, developing a mechanism for public funding from the state budget etc. Although no ex-ante evaluation has been conducted, the CSDS is based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations of many studies, monitoring reports and relevant resolutions that took place prior to developing it and that cover the three areas of intervention of the CSDS, e.g.: the study “NGO Sustainability Indicator” (USAID 2010 and 2011), the study “Transparency and Financial Sustainability of Moldovan Nongovernmental Organizations” (Contact 2011), the study on the Development of Moldovan Nongovernmental Organizations (UNDP, 2007), Final report on the Monitoring of the Observance of Transparency in Decision-Making (ADEPT, 2011), the report on Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Reform of the Central Public Administration (ADEPT, 2010), NGO Forum resolutions (2008, 2011), the report on the “Financial Strengthening of the Civil Society by Introducing the Mechanism of Designating a Part of the Income Tax to Public Benefit Noncommercial Organizations” (CREDO, 2011), the study “Infrastructure of corporate volunteering in Moldova: Potential and a Way to Follow” (TDV, 2012), the report “Evaluation of the impact of legislative amendments to public benefit on civil associations” CREDO (2010) etc. The CSDS and AP, as a whole, are consistent and coherent and follow the logic of intervention from reviewing the contexts to making public policies and then to implementing them. The State Chancellery requested a repeated endorsement of the CSDS and AP prior to approving it, invoking errors and making recommendations related to the legislative techniques, conceptual, technical and division of responsibilities, as well as noting that the opinions of the representatives of ministries were not taken into account during the working meetings. In the evaluator’s opinion, the feedback of the State Chancellery, as a whole, targets the operational level and does not change considerably the CSDS three topical areas of intervention but rectifies certain issues mentioned above. The feedback of the State Chancellery is not found in the CSDS or in the AP for 2012-2015, which later generated involvement and ownership deficiencies (described below), confirmed by the persons consulted during strategy evaluation.

3.1.2 Relevance of the players involved in developing and implementing the CSDS The evaluation found that the CSDS was developed by the relevant players. Thus, the CSDS was developed by the key players, active CSOs with expertise from the civil society associated in councils and alliances (the NGO Council, the National Participation Council, the Volunteering Alliance) and executive state public authorities (State Chancellery and line ministries) with the support of the Moldovan Parliament that took over the initiative and assured that the process was appropriately organized and coordinated. The Parliament hosted a number of working group meetings chaired by Ms. , Deputy Speaker. The representatives of ministries and of the State Chancellery were involved in all the working group meetings during the development of the CSDS and AP. The ECNL (Budapest) made recommendations during the development of the CSDS through its international expertise, most of which were incorporated in the CSDS and AP texts. USAID via FHI 360, the Swedish Government via the East-European Foundation, as well as other donors mentioned in the report, supported various initiatives of many Moldovan CSOs in the implementation of the CSDS.

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The state authorities were appointed responsible for the implementation of the CSDS (the State Chancellery, line ministries, Academy of Public Administration, the National Bureau of Statistics, local public authorities) and CSOs, e.g.: CREDO, NPC, NGO Council, ACAP, Expert Grup. Only civil society organizations are found as partners (see those mentioned above as well as the National Youth Council of Moldova and the Volunteering Coalition. For some actions, given their universal character (valid for all the players), it is simply specified “state public authorities” and “NGOs”.

3.2 CSDS Effectiveness This section of the evaluation report presents the achievements in the implementation of the CSDS. The findings of the final evaluation show that slow progress has been made and that there are certain implementation achievements in the three areas/general objectives of the CSDS. Still, the main finding and general conclusion is that most of the commitments made under the CSDS have not been fully implemented (either have not been completed or have not been started). Hence, the level of implementation of the CSDS is modest, i.e. under the expected level. In the evaluator’s view, there is a number of key factors that have affected the implementation of the CSDS for 2012-2015, and namely: 1) Lack of a structure responsible for the cooperation with the civil society that would bring together representatives from the executive and the civil society, and the weak coordination of the efforts of the state players and of the civil society in the implementation of the CSDS. 2) Disagreements between the executive state authorities and the CSOs as well as the mutual allegations of insufficient involvement (see the reports of the Government and of CSOs). 3) Insufficient funds and lack of financial commitments from the state budget for the implementation of the CSDS (except for the grants program of the MYS). 4) The national context and political instability in Moldova between 2012 and 2015 affected some achievements at the policy level; however, for most of the commitments, the persons responsible for the implementation were the same and not appointed on political criteria15 The achievements of the implementation of the CSDS per each general objective are presented below.

General objective #1: Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and implementing public policies. Achieving this objective implied a number of initiatives, including developing institutional mechanisms of cooperation between the public authorities and the civil society by setting up a unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society in view of strengthening the relation between the Government and the CSOs and by amending the concept of cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society in view of strengthening the cooperation between the legislative authority and CSOs.

15 See the list of persons from the central public administration authorities and State Chancery responsible for coordinating the implementation of the CSDS.

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The table below shows the achievements under this general objective of the CSDS, which indicates that circa 36% of the actions planned have been implemented, other 9% are in process of implementation, and 55% of actions have not been implemented. Table 1: Chart of achievements of General Objective #1 of CSDS 2012-2015 –Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies.

According to the Action Plan, a feasibility study was supposed to be carried out in 2012 on setting up a structure for the cooperation with the civil society, which was to be followed by the setting up of the unit as such. The State Chancellery was made responsible for implementing this action. The evaluation found that the study had not been developed and the unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society has not been set up. In this sense, a number of meetings and debates took place but the main argument invoked by the state public authorities was the lack of funds to cover the costs. Subsequently, after a number of rounds of meetings between the NGO Council and the State Chancellery, it was decided that a focal point (one person) from the State Chancellery be made responsible for this cooperation with the CSOs. The focal point in his job description indicated many other responsibilities and tasks in the area of transparency in decision-making and is not able to assure an efficient cooperation with the CSOs, which is confirmed by many representatives of the civil society and of the state public authorities consulted during the evaluation. His involvement implied receiving the information from the state public bodies for preparing the activity report, sending out some information to ministries about certain events and eventually organizing some of them, e.g. the working group on the draft 2% law and training of some civil servants. The Parliament, via the Information Analytical Division, started consultations in 2013 with the Moldovan civil society. The Secretariat of the NGO Council involved active CSOs that made recommendations for improving the Cooperation Concept. ECNL also provided recommendations for enhancing the cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society. And yet, the Concept of Cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society has not been adjusted and the recommendations made have not been incorporated as provided by the PA of the CSDS 2012-2015. Neither the study of the efficiency of the cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society, provided in the PA of the CSDS was conducted. The Parliament periodically organized various consultations with the civil society as well as annual conferences “The Parliament and the civil society,” including the recent meeting of 27 April 2016

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that reviewed the achievements of the CSDS based on the reports submitted to the Government and CSOs as well as the perspectives of cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society. The central public authorities periodically and systematically cooperate with the CSOs in decision- making and public policy making by setting up various topical working groups, advisory meetings, debates16 with the participation of the representatives of CSOs. Also, consultations take place and online publications are produced (www.particip.gov.md). Many representatives of the civil society consulted during the evaluation and implementation of the CSDS stated that sometimes the publication of draft policies by the authorities took place a few hours before the meetings and the public consultations, and that practically it was impossible to study them. Each ministry has its own database of key CSOs that are consulted but the lists of the respective organizations are not published and it is not clear if they are updated. The recommendations received from the civil society as well as from various ministries are introduced into divergences tables as provided by the legal framework of transparency in decision-making and indicate: the recommendation – the author of the recommendation – the decision on accepting or not accepting the public authority and the respective arguments. The evaluation finds that, on the one hand, in most cases, the state public authorities do not publish the divergences tables and, on the other hand, the CSOs consulted during the evaluation do not have the possibility to follow which of their recommendations have been accepted and which ones have not and why. As a result, it is not clear to what extent the opinion of the civil voice is incorporated in making policies, in other words, the public authorities consult with the civil society but do not publish their decisions. The existing legal framework does not expressly require the authorities to publish the table of divergences in addition to the other documents in policy making. No training curricula for participation and transparency in decision making was developed but they acted based on the current regulation., i.e. state orders were placed from the State Chancellery to the Public Administration (as it happens every year) for the training only of those civil servants who are students at the Academy. Hence, the Academy of Public Administration did not hold any common trainings for the representatives of the state authorities and of the civil society but only for the students of the Academy, civil servants, who benefited from trainings in the area of transparency in decision-making and involvement of citizens in decision-making: public policy making and assessment; legal drafting and coordination; project development and management; management and strategic planning. On the other hand, a positive example and a good practice that, in the opinion of the evaluator could be replicated by other education institutions is the joint training of the representatives of state authorities and CSOs17 in a graduate training course for security and national defense specialists. The course was organized in 2014 by the Military Academy of Armed Forces “Alexandru cel Bun”. During 2012, a number of CSOs, such as ADEPT or “Acces-info”, developed various studies on improving the normative framework on transparency in decision-making. In June 2014, the

16 E.g. Public consultations of the draft National Action Plan for implementing the Association Agreement; NPC consultations on the draft Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2014–2020; the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership; the National Health Forum; Public debates on the draft National Strategy for Agricultural and Rural Development for 2014–2020; Public consultations on the creation of the Civil Society Platform under article 442 of the Association Agreement; the Action Plan for an Open Governance for 2014-2015 (prepared only for 2014) etc. 17 Promo-Lex; the Association for supporting the security and military art; Center for Analysis and Prevention of Corruption; and the NATO Information and Documentation Center.

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Moldovan Parliament approved amendments to the Law no.239/2008 on Transparency in Decision- Making that aimed at remedying the gaps found in the implementation of the law and for which the NPC came with a number of proposals that were partially taken into account. As to the creation of national innovation mechanisms for promoting the participation of CSOs in decision-making, the achievements are insignificant. Exception from this is the Ministry of Economy that set up a new platform for promoting the participation of the civil society in decision- making – the Advisory Council, made up of representatives of the private sector and NGOs (mainly of mutual benefit from the economic sector). A counter performance is the suspension of the activity of the NPC that participated actively in policy making and monitoring. The NPC ended its mandate in March 2014 and this affected the implementation of the commitments, especially of the General Objective 1, because the main partner in implementation became inactive, by having its activities suspended. The Government during one year did not take measures to select another composition of the NPC. It is remarkable that in 2014- 2015 Moldova had a politically unstable context followed by frequent Government changes and a political crisis. Still, in June 2015, the Government, through the State Chancellery, launched an unsuccessful initiative of selecting new NPC members but it failed due to an insufficient number of applications received. Since then, no other attempts have been made and, at present, there has been set up a working group for developing a number of options for recovering the mechanism for the participation of the civil society in decision-making, which is examining the possibility of creating an advisory structure similar to the NPC. It has been agreed for the working group to provide a set of recommendations on that subject by 5 July 2016. There is no information available about the achievements under the expected result “At the local level there are set up mechanisms that enable access to information about draft decisions, synthesis of recommendations and the participation of CSOs in decision-making.” There is an online platform (Registry) www.actelocale.md set up in 2011 by the E-Governance Center. Nonetheless, the Registry is not used in a sufficiently functional way and very many local public authorities do not publish their decisions on this platform. Besides, the Registry only allows publishing local acts (one way communication) and does not give the possibility for the civil society to comment or give feedback to the decisions of the local authorities. The central state authorities, when making public policies, periodically organize various consultation events, working meetings, round tables, seminars and conferences on the topic “Social protection of the persons with disabilities” with disability organizations18 that made various recommendations. There is no public information available regarding the accepted and non-accepted recommendations. As a result of the above said, one may conclude that under this objective, some progress has been achieved in fulfilling certain commitments, and three examples of good practices: 1) A joint training course for the representatives of the state authorities and CSOs at the Military Academy of Armed Forces “Alexandru cel Bun” and 2) an Advisory Board, body for consultations in policy making, set up by the Ministry of Economy (MoE), and made up of MoE representatives, the private and associative sectors; and 3) amendments to the legislation on the activity of civic associations made on 12 June 2014 by the Moldovan Parliament that approved the amendments to the Law no.239 of

18 Union of Disabled of Moldova; Alliance of the Deaf of Moldova; Society of Blind of Moldova; Association “Motivație”; the Association for the Persons with Intellectual Disabilities “Humanitas”; the Center for Legal Assistance for the Persons with Disabilities.

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2008 on transparency in decision-making. The amendments aimed at remedying the gaps discovered in the implementation of the said law. In conclusion, one may say that this general objective has a high level of achievements as compared to the other CSDS objectives, with obvious progress made by the central public authorities regarding “decision-making participation and transparency.” Not the same can be said about the achievements at the local level, the publishing of the table of divergences by the authorities or the setting up of the unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society. These and other actions have not been honored yet and they are the subject matter of future commitments in this sense.

General Objective 2: Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society This objective during the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS proved to be the most sensitive one, which faced the biggest resistance from the central public authorities caused by divergent opinions between them and the representatives of the civil society as well as by the lack of their political will. Therefore, the progress is slow and the achievements as a whole are under the expected level, although there are certain examples that can be assessed as good practices and should be replicated. The chart below shows the achievements under this general objective of the CSDS, as follows: about 19% of actions have been implemented, other 13% are ongoing, and 68% of actions have not been implemented. Table 2: Chart of achievements under General Objective #2 of the 2012-015 CSDS – Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil society

The progress, findings and key conclusions of the evaluation under this general objective of the CSDS are described below. An important catalyzing factor of this process that deserves noting is the fact that the development of SMEs and of social entrepreneurship accordingly was included into the priorities and commitments from the Association Agreement between EU and Moldova and in the respective road map, which served as an impetus for fulfilling this commitment.

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Initially, in 2013 a working group was set up for preparing a draft law on social entrepreneurship. The association “Motivație", member of the NGO Council, was the promoter of this initiative. After many rounds of debates and consultations with the civil society and representatives of state authorities, including the Ministry of Economy and with the help of a consultant, a draft law on social entrepreneurship was prepared that was accompanied by the comments of ECNL. The initiative was supported by FHI 360. The draft law on social entrepreneurship was submitted to the Ministry of Economy that reviewed it and stored it, and then rejected it for several reasons. A reason mentioned by some of the constituents consulted during the evaluation was that the draft law was not cost-efficient and that its text included very many provisions from the law on small- and medium-sized enterprises. Another reason was the insufficient knowledge about the concept of social entrepreneurship. Some constituents consulted during the evaluation (both representatives of the state authorities and CSOs) said that “at the beginning we did not even know what social entrepreneurship meant and the resistance and dissentions appeared also due to the lack of knowledge.” A third reason acknowledged by several persons interviewed was the lack of will of certain decision-makers who caused the delay in this process and the failure of the draft law. Apparently, it was an unsuccessful, blocked initiative. Later, after many rounds of debates, in November 2015, this situation was unblocked19 and this subject was re-launched by a newly created working group on social entrepreneurship that works under the coordination of the Minister of Economy. An important catalyzing role in this sense was played by the National Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, organized in Chisinau in October 2015 by the Eco-Razeni Association with the financial support of SOIR Moldova, FHI 360 and other donors20. This event put social entrepreneurship back on the agenda and launched the idea of a social entrepreneurship platform of the civil society that continued with the setting up of the said working group. Thus, the working group decided that the social entrepreneurship regulations be developed and integrated in the existing legal framework. About 11 normative acts21 will be amended through the social entrepreneurship angle. The evaluator believes this is a positive example that can be assigned to the “good practices” when after an initiative was not approved, the mixed working group of CSOs and state authorities managed to identify a solution acceptable to all the players involved and it is about to be finalized by the end of April 2016 and submitted for endorsement to the Government and then to the Parliament. Hence, this commitment, although not honored by the deadline specified in the PA of the CSDS, is being finalized now by the Government and is to be approved by the Parliament in order to become a law. The provisions related to the designation of a part of the income tax (2%) of individuals and legal entities to the noncommercial organizations holders of the public benefit status proved to be very disputed during the implementation of the CSDS, the progress is slow and the expected results are being late. In this connection, a feasibility study was conducted and it looked at the Hungarian model of percentage designation and examined its feasibility for Moldova. Based on the findings, the

19 Order no.176 of 23 Nov 2015 "On training the Working Group for preparing the draft law for amending and completing legislative/normative acts on social entrepreneurship" 20 National Conference on Social Entrepreneurship in Moldova, Chisinau, October 2015. 21 E.g. the Law no.845-XII of 3 Jan 1992 on entrepreneurship and enterprises; Law no.837-XIII of 17 May 1996 on Civic Associations; Law no.58l-XIV of 30 July 1999 on Foundations etc.

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argument was that the implementation of the percentage mechanism in Moldova is feasible with the respective recommendations.22 The concept of percentage designation has been introduced into the law, and namely, the right of only individuals to designate a part of their income tax, up to 2% to noncommercial public benefit organizations and religious groups and their component parts23. The right of legal entities to designate a part of their income was not included in the legislation and this idea is being vehemently rejected by some representatives of the state authorities, including by the Ministry of Finance. The final evaluation finds that the 2% law was passed but the mechanism for its implementation does not exist, although the cross-sector working group set up in February 201324 was required within six months to present the mechanism for approval to the Government. The Ministry of Finance blocked the initiative for a long period of time, failing to approve the inclusion of religious organization as beneficiaries. The representatives of the Ministries of Justice and Finance, of the Tax Inspectorate and CSOs in 2013 benefited from study visits to Slovakia and Hungary that proved to be useful, as one of the representatives of the state authorities mentioned: “I understood the 2% mechanism only when I traveled to Hungary and Slovakia and saw how it works.” Subsequently, a draft law was prepared to amend the Tax Code to introduce the percentage mechanism (for legal entities it was to be implemented as from 1 January 2014 and for individuals, as from 1 January 2015). The draft was consulted with the civil society but its promotion was suspended. Nor is there progress in the implementation of the commitment to enhance the donation deduction mechanism and having it extended to include individuals (Activity 2.1.2). The evaluation found progress regarding the commitment “Enhancing access to and civil society participation in the implementation of state policies via social contracting.” The NPC, with the financial support of the East-European Foundation and Pontis Foundation, hired a consultant who developed a study on the mechanism for state contracting of social services. The study made useful recommendations in the area. The Law on Social Services was passed in 2012 and it established the accreditation of social service providers. With the support of the East-European Foundation and of the Pontis Foundation, the representatives of the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family (MLSPF) and CSOs benefited from study visits to Belgium and Slovakia and a study on social contracting was conducted under the FHI 360 program with the involvement of ECNL–Budapest. The visits contributed to developing the capacities of the authorities that implement social contracting. The mechanism for the social contracting of CSOs was developed by the working group set up under the guidance of the MLSPF and amendments were prepared to the Law on Public Procurements that includes CSOs as potential providers. The staff of the authorities that implement social contracting and promote the good practices in social contracting has not been trained.

22 The report on Percentage designation based on Hungary’s model. Maybe this is what makes the difference in Moldova? Andrei Brighidin. Chisinau 2013. Link: http://www.fhi360.md/docs/Desemnarea_procentuala_in_baza_modelului_Ungariei_poate_acesta_face_o_diferent a_in_R.Moldova.pdf 23 Law no.158/2014 on Transparency in Decision-Making 24 Government Decision no.17 of 12 Feb 2013

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Some nongovernmental organizations, e.g. the International Center “La Strada” (Chișinău) or the Social-Medical Assistance CASMED (Bălți) benefit from social contracting for social services, such as a trust telephone line and social-medical assistance. Nonetheless, many NGOs do not know the legal provisions included. But the failure to establish quality standards and, respectively, the non- accreditation of social providers are the most important aspects that generate difficulties in this sense. For the actions included under the Specific Objective “Setting up mechanisms for having CSOs supported by the state,” the Ministry of Finance requested an extension of the implementation period, based on the level of complexity of the action. Hence, the tax policy has not been revised to provide for VAT payment incentives for the CSOs having the public benefit status. The commitment “Introducing additional institutional mechanisms for supporting the CSOs (specialized funds and/or the National Fund for supporting the civil society)” was not brought in the discussions between the state authorities and the CSOs, nor was the feasibility study conducted. Some CSO representatives consulted during the evaluation think that it was a mistake of the civil society that it insisted too much on the 2% mechanism and overlooked this commitment. The evaluator supports this opinion. In 2014,25 the national accounting and reporting standards for CSO activities were adjusted in the context of the requirement for mandatory application of the new accounting standards and new General Chart of Accounts as from 1 Jan 2015. The national accounting and reporting standards reflect the work of CSOs and the methodological guidelines developed are useful. Activity 2.4.2. “Introducing a grace period for CSOs regarding the compliance with the accounting standards without being imposed fines or penalties for previous errors” was not carried out. The donation deduction mechanism was included into art 36 of the Tax Code of Moldova by passing of the law no.71 of 12 April 2015 that reduces the ratio of donations of individuals and legal entities from 10% to 2%. The Ministry of Finance issued an informative note on 14 Jan 2016 that explains these aspects. FHI 360 held a number of relevant trainings for the NGOs funded by USAID on this topic. The actions for the promotion of the Code of Ethics and Conduct of Noncommercial Organizations, setting up of an Ethics Board in the National NGO Council, carrying out of a national information campaign for the Code of Ethics and Conduct of Noncommercial Organizations, or the examination of cases and complaints by the Ethics Board have not been carried out. In view of enhancing the CSO accountability and transparency, a working group was set up at the Ministry of Justice to amend the legislation on assuring CSO transparency and accountability. Meetings and consultations were held and then in 2014 the Government passed amendments but they were not approved by the Parliament. In conclusion, the progress made under this objective is modest. Although certain actions have taken place according to the Action Plan, most of the commitments have not been fulfilled, they are either implemented with a delay and are now being implemented, or they were never started.

25 By order of the Ministry of Finance no.188/2014

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General objective 3: Developing active civic spirit and volunteering. The state authorities assigned responsible for this objective were the MYS, Ministry of Education (ME), and the MLSPF. The Volunteering Coalition was designated the main partner for the implementation of the CSDS. The evaluation finds that this objective of the 2012-2015 CSDS had a modest level of achievement but there is clear progress in place regarding the regulation and recognition of volunteering. Although there have been dissensions, the cooperation between the MYS and the Secretariat of the Volunteering Coalition is an example of integration of volunteering issues into the legal regulations and that can be assigned to the good practices and replicated in the future. However, there are many actions in the AP that have not been implemented. It is worth noting that this objective has the highest number of detailed commitments assumed. Below is the chart of achievements under this general objective of the CSDS that shows that about 26% of actions have been implemented, other 6% of actions are ongoing, and 68% of actions have not been implemented i.e. either were abandoned or were never started. Table 3: Chart of achievements of General Objective #3 of the 2012-2015 CSDS – Developing the active civic spirit and volunteering

Further on, there is a description and review of the corresponding results and weaknesses under this Objective. The legal framework on volunteering has been amended constantly during the implementation of the CSDS and, as a whole, this can be perceived as a success story. In particular, the Law on Volunteering26 and the regulations on enforcing the law on Volunteering have been passed e.g. the Regulation on the Operation of the Commission of Certification and Control on the fulfillment of the minimum quality standards by the host institutions.27 Important regulations were introduced into the legislation regarding acknowledging volunteer work as length of service, which is an important incentive for promoting volunteering. Also, the regulations on the accreditation of host organizations for volunteering, sample certificates for the host organizations and ID templates for volunteers were developed. The initiatives were

26 The Law on Volunteering no.121 was approved on 18 June 2010 27 ORDER of MYS No.525 of 15 July 2014

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supported by USAID. Circa 60 CSOs are already accredited, having obtained the status of a volunteering host organization. After a number of common efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration and by some CSOs, such as AISEC, CNTM, TDV for adjusting the related normative framework in order to set up mechanisms for enabling foreign citizens to provide volunteer work. In this connection, in 2013 the Government approved a draft law on the foreigners required to have a visa and the foreigners exempted from the requirement of having a visa when crossing the state border of Moldova. But this draft law was not examined by the Parliament and did not become effective. The adjustment of the normative framework on the participation of students in European and international volunteering activities and the implementation of volunteering promotion activities among the students did not take place. The development of mechanisms and statistical forms for reporting on volunteering work for the host institutions did not take place, although progress has been made in the volunteering statistics. The International Labor Organization made efforts to integrate the volunteering statistics in the statistical system of Moldova and to enable the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Thus, the NBS has accumulated expertise in the area of measuring volunteer work and conducted the ‘Volunteer Work Survey’. Still, the NBS has not included yet into the existing quarterly reports columns about the volunteer work of ten host institutions.28 Setting up a structure for developing volunteering and planning increasing their number did not take place due to the fact that the number of host organizations is still insignificant (about 60). In addition, TDV had an attempt to set up a Coordinators School but this was not possible due to lack of funds. The creation of the National Volunteer Center and of regional centers did not take place for the above-mentioned reasons. Integrating volunteering subjects into the educational system, as it was provided in the CSDS, did not take place, although the Secretariat of the Volunteering Coalition had a number of initiatives in this sense that were not supported. Certifying the training of volunteer coordinators in the national Volunteer Coordinators School is not feasible provided that the school was not created due to the lack of funds. The National Volunteer Platform (www.voluntar.md) was created by the Secretariat of the Volunteer Coalition/TDV with the support of the MYS and of the Polish organizations FERSO and RITA after a number of failed attempts of getting financial support.29 The platform was conceived to promote volunteering in Moldova but is not regularly updated and has not been finalized, many links do not open. It is little likely that it will be connected to other databases of the National Employment Agency and of the MLSPF, as the platform authors supposed. The actions in this sense are not monitored. Nor were there media campaigns organized in view of involving volunteers in various areas. Adjustment of legal mechanisms and of the normative framework on the exemption of volunteers from the payment of the income tax and reimbursement of costs related to volunteering did not take place, although the Volunteering Coalition made substantial efforts in this sense. Thus, the Coalition prepared a draft Government Decision for completing the Regulation on the delegation of staff of Moldovan entities and on including Moldovan volunteers in addition to the staff. The Ministry of Finance and the Tax Inspectorate were reluctant to do this. The amendments and recommendations

28 According to the provisions of the Regulation on Enforcing the Law on Volunteering no.121 of 18 June 2010 29 TDV unsuccessfully applied to the US and Czech Embassies, NED and the World Bank

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prepared by the Secretariat of the Coalition oscillate between the MF and the MYS and have remained unapproved. The Volunteers Code of Ethics has been developed but has not been approved yet. The drafting of the Code of Good Practices in Volunteering was postponed by the MYS that invoked that the regulations in the area of volunteering became excessive and bureaucratic. This concern was also expressed by about 30% of CSOs representatives and by the state who think that significant progress has been made in volunteering regulations while overregulating volunteering would create bureaucratic impediments and not incentives for developing volunteering. The arguments invoked in this sense are that some volunteers e.g. the elderly usually do not need legal incentives for volunteer actions because the reasons for their getting involved are others. While, the youth would truly need sometimes such incentives e.g. to have volunteer work recognized as length as service. The final evaluation of the CSDS implementation confirms that state public authorities promote and support volunteering and the benefits of this activity. In this sense, there are periodically organized public events for promotion of volunteering, such as the Volunteers Festival, the National Volunteers Week, National Conferences on Volunteering etc. The costs of the initiatives were covered by the MYS, UNFPA, and USAID via FHI 360. However, the lack of a state authority that would manage the development and implementation of volunteering policies was noted by the constituents as one of the factors that affected the development of volunteering in Moldova. The cooperation with the MYS only partly covers this aspect, especially in case of teenagers and youth, while a significant number of volunteers are from the elderly, with the respective policies being managed by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family. This duality has created confusion in regulating volunteering. Other deficiencies are related to the studies regarding the input of volunteering in fighting and reducing poverty or in promoting public policies in the area of volunteering, which were not conducted. Tangible achievements were registered in civic education, supported by the Ministry of Education through the provision of continuous training to teachers. The school curriculum was completed with additional hours for education on gender equality, tolerance, citizen-government relation etc. while the syllabus of the Bălți University included subjects on volunteering for the youth and social work. Still, the curriculum of civic education was not assessed from the prospect of transparency in decision-making and access to information. The study on compliance of school curricula with the principles of democratic participation was not conducted. Other unimplemented actions are related to the promotion of the involvement of the media in the facilitation of transparency in decision-making and especially the training of journalists in the area of transparency in decision-making; a study on the timeliness of publication by the media of the information about starting consultations on the draft decisions; and promotion of the practice of publication in the media of the information on transparency in decision-making. The issues related to establishing a system of acknowledgment and promotion of non-formal education and especially conducting a study on the international practices of recognition of non- formal education; creation of the respective legal framework – were not implemented.

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It is important to note that there is a considerable number of elderly volunteers in Moldova30 who provide various social-medical services on a volunteer basis, being associated in various community CSOs in the entire territory of Moldova. A part of them are found in the network of HelpAge International-Moldova31 and/or in the Active Aging Platform.32 The evaluation of the implementation of the CSDS found that the amendments to volunteer regulations under Pillar 3 are less relevant for this category of the population and of volunteers who usually have time and are open to get involved in the active life of their community. In fact, the amendments made to the legislation are not perceived by the elderly as being an important incentive. On the other hand, those considered as giving an impetus to volunteering among the elderly are if volunteer work in some host organizations would provide for an increase (even a minor one) to their pensions. These issues have not been included into the current legal framework on volunteer regulations. The evaluator thinks this is a gap to be tackled in the future. Based on the findings on the achievement of the general objectives of the 2012-2015 CSDS and AP, one may conclude that the level of implementation of the CSDS as a whole is of about 27% actions implemented, 9% being implemented (ongoing), and 64% of the actions have not been implemented. The table below shows the findings of the final evaluation on the results of the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS, as a whole.

Table 4: Chart of achievements of the 2012-2015 CSDS

Cooperation and partnerships The partnership and cooperation between CSOs and the executive public authorities represent a mixed picture. During the implementation of the CSDS there can be identified different forms of effective cooperation within public consultations and working groups e.g. the Working Group for drafting the legal framework on social entrepreneurship, coordinated by the Ministry of Economy; the Volunteering Coalition and MYS (in some) etc. This has contributed to the joint development of

30 There is no official accurate statistics about the number of volunteers among the elderly in Moldova 31 According to the reports of HelpAge International (HAI) – Moldova, the network HAI-Moldova brings together 14 organizations of the elderly from 10 districts with a total number of about 330 volunteers. 32 The platform was created in December 2015 with the support of the UNFPA and brings together 16 organizations from the area.

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various public policy projects e.g. regulations, amendments to legal acts, mechanisms of implementation of laws etc. Another form of cooperation was the holding of various common public events (or support with their implementation) of state public authorities and CSOs e.g. national festivals or other types of activities for the promotion of volunteering. It is worth noting that the state public authorities and CSOs often had the occasion to benefit from simultaneous support in strengthening capacities e.g. during study visits (to Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary etc.) organized for the representatives of the civil society and state public authorities. The evaluation also finds cases when the cooperation between CSOs and the public authorities (ministries and the State Chancellery) was less efficient and the initiatives got stuck e.g. the mechanism for enforcing the 2% law, the code on good practices in volunteering etc. Both the state authorities and CSOs expressed their cooperation dissatisfaction accusing each other of insufficient involvement in certain initiatives of examination of draft normative acts.33 In the evaluator’s opinion, the cooperation between the Parliament and the civil society was satisfactory, taking into account the periodicity of monitoring events and the debates in the implementation of the CSDS, public consultations organized by the Parliament and the involvement of CSOs in them. In the evaluator’s opinion, the State Chancellery was insufficiently proactive in coordinating the involvement of the key players in impelling the implementation of initiatives while CSOs not every time reacted to the public consultations initiated by the State Chancellery and did not make a consolidated lobbying in view of implementing the AP activities. Some CSDS actions did not enjoy the attention either of the state authorities or of the CSOs e.g. the actions related to the non-formal education, involvement of the media in the process of facilitation of transparency in decision- making, creation of a specialized fund for supporting the civil society etc.

3.3 CSDS Efficiency The cost-effectiveness evaluation of the CSDS is problematic because there are no relevant data available regarding the funds allocated and consumed during the implementation of the CSDS. The costs planned for implementing the CSDS have been only partially estimated,34 with 34 actions out of 88, with the total amount of MDL 4,190,000. This amount was fully assigned to “other sources of funding”, without any commitments from the state budget (that section reads MDL “0”). The table shows the partial costs planned per each general objective of the AP of the 2012-2015 CSDS. Estimative Financially Total partial General objective estimate actions budget, actions planned MDL 1. Strengthening the framework of participation of the civil society in 1.165.000 10 22 developing and monitoring the implementation of public policies. 2. Promotion and strengthening of the financial sustainability of the civil 965.000 19 32 society.

33 See the reports of the State Chancery/Government and the reports of the NGO Council 34 See the AP of the CSDS for 2012-2015

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3. Developing the active civic spirit and volunteering. 2.060.000 15 34 Total 4.190.000 34 88 Due to the lack of information, the actual budget consumed in the implementation of the CSDS cannot be established; hence, the ratio of resources allocated versus outcomes achieved, either as a whole or per each general objective, cannot be reviewed. The reasons for this vary. First of all, no monitoring of the resources allocated was conducted and none of the bodies coordinating the implementation of the CSDS has such information, in fact, there is no coordination body in place. Secondly, some of the organizations that provided financial support in the implementation of the CSDS do not have their resources structured by its general objectives. Third, some of the funds were allocated from the state budget e.g. through the small grants program managed by the MYS. As a whole, the evaluation finds that the CSDS actions were supported by USAID via FHI 360; the Swedish Government/SIDA via the East-European Foundation, DANIDA, the MYS (the small grants program) from the state budget sources, the UNFPA, Pontis Foundation, FERSO and RITA organization of Poland. The National NGO Council’s report35 specifies: “In organizing the events of the National Volunteering Week “Come join the volunteers’ squad!” (Oct 2015) 95 sponsors and donors got involved, most of whom are individuals.” There are no data available about the amount of the support of the donors and sponsors and so, as it was noted above, it is impossible to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the CSDS. Another aspect of the efficiency of implementation of the CSDS is the implementation of the actions assumed within the deadlines established. The findings of the evaluation show that 27% of the actions of the AP of the CSDS were implemented within the timeframe established, 9% of actions are implemented with a delay, and 64% of actions were either suspended or were never started. Another conclusion is that circa 36 of actions or 41% of the actions that have been implemented required funds that were not available, so this issue must be taken into account when drafting a new strategy. The findings of the final evaluation about the weaknesses in the planning, coordination and reporting of the resource management, as mentioned above in this section, can and should constitute corrections for subsequent commitments.

3.4 Sustainability of achievements The sustainability of the outcomes achieved by the 2012-2015 CSDS can and will be reviewed from the prospect of their sustainability at the level of policies, institutional sustainability and financial sustainability. Another separate aspect that will be examined is the ownership of the commitments made and of the outcomes achieved. As to the sustainability of the achievements at the level of public policies, this is a consistent one because the CSDS provides for multiple interventions at the level of public policies. The results of the interventions at the level of public policies are found in all the three components/general objectives of the CSDS, materialized through amendments made to the existing legal framework e.g. the Law on Transparency in Decision-Making, the Law on Volunteering etc. and the mechanisms (developed or being finalized) for implementing various laws, e.g. the 2% Law, Volunteer’s Law etc. The sustainability of such interventions and results is assured by having them

35 Reporting period May 2014- April 2015

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integrated in the Moldovan legal framework and, with this, the mandatory character of their applicability. As to the institutionalization of the outcomes achieved, the evaluation finds that they are insignificant, one of the exceptions being the setting up of the Commission for Certifying the status of volunteering host organization (Pillar 3). Most of the actions set out in the CSDS that contained elements of institutionalization have not been implemented e.g. the setting up of the unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society (Pillar 1); setting up of an Ethics Board within the National NGO Council (Pillar 2); setting up of a Specialized Fund for supporting the Civil Society (Pillar 2); setting up of an Independent National Volunteer Center and of National Volunteer Coordinators School (Pillar 3); developing three regional volunteer centers (Pillar 3). Hence, the institutionalization of structures relevant for the development of the civil society represents one of the weaknesses of the CSDS implementation. The financial sustainability of the results of the implementation of the CSDS greatly depend on their institutionalization and ownership issues. If the institutionalization of the results of the CSDS implementation is insignificant, the issues of their financial sustainability become irrelevant and in the best case, minor. The CSDS was developed in a participatory manner by consulting the civil society and the Government, and the latter was made responsible for its implementation. The Government’s Action Plan (2012-2015) was adopted by the Government Decision of 7 May 2012 i.e. prior to the adoption of the CSDS 2012-2015 and contains 3 objectives: 1) Creation of a legal framework adequate for developing the civil society as mediator of the citizens’ interest and partner of the public authorities in the public policies; 2) Developing the institutional framework for an efficient cooperation between the public authorities and the civil society, and 3) Creation of conditions for assuring the financial sustainability of nongovernmental organizations. A fast analysis shows that, for the most part, the CSDS objectives match the ones from the Government AP, if the first two objectives merged and became Pillar 1, Objective 3 would become second and “Volunteering” would be completed. The PA contains six actions. 1. Adjust the legal framework regulating the activities of noncommercial organizations to the international norms. 2. Institutionalize the participation of CSOs in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies, including by setting up clear and efficient mechanisms of consultation and participation in decision-making. 3. Complete the legal framework regulating the cooperation between the state and the civil society. 4. Reform the legal framework on philanthropy, sponsorship and social entrepreneurship in view of assuring the sustainability of NGOs and the increase in the level of their independence. 5. Develop the legal framework necessary for social orders for NGOs in view of producing community interest services and activities. 6. Set up an efficient mechanism for the implementation of the national CSDS. Practically, all these commitments we found in the CSDS for 2012-2015; however, as it was said, they did not increase the level of implementation of the CSDS, nor did their sustainability prospects excel.

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The evaluation found certain conceptual disparities between the civil society players and the governmental structures regarding the responsibility for its implementation and the financial commitments. Thus, about 60% of the representatives of the governmental structures interviewed perceive the CSDS as a product of the civil society and therefore the civil society should be responsible for its implementation and for mobilizing the resources, while CSOs say it is the responsibility of the state to support and to invest in developing the civil society. Such disparities were evident and visible, and were felt during the CSDS development36 and CSDS implementation,37 and affected the CSDS ownership and achievements. Regarding ownership, the evaluation found an ambiguous situation. On the one hand, both the state public authorities and CSOs (both on a righteous basis) assume the merits for the outcomes achieved. On the other hand, both invoke the insufficient involvement of the other as one of the reasons for the failure to fulfill the other commitments.

36 See the request for the reendorsement of the 2012-2015CSDS and of the AP issued by the State Chancery 37 See the monitoring and progress reports of the CSOs and of the State Chancery

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Part 4: LESSONS LEARNED and GOOD PRACTICES

The development and implementation of any project, program or strategy represents an excellent opportunity to learn certain lessons from what did not work and to note the good practices that worked and could be replicated in the future. In this sense, the development and implementation of the CSDS for 2012-2015 requires the need to learn some lessons. First, when making commitments account must be taken of the implementation capacity and the human and financial resources available, at least of the financial commitments, to be specified later. Ambitious commitments are welcome but they must be realistic. In drafting the 2012-2015 CSDS and AP, it was (more or less) clear that state authorities would not make certain financial commitments to support the implementation of the CSDS. As argument can serve the fact that the CSDS text mentioned that the funds would come from various sources, including from the state budget, and the AP, in column “budgetary funding sources” does not show any figure and does not mention anything about when the allocation of resources from the state budget would take place. It was clear from the beginning that the expectations were that such resources would have to come from external sources, although as noted above, some resources had been allocated from the MYS and they represent a good practice worth replicating. As a representative of the state executive authorities, consulted during the evaluation, mentioned: “....the intention was for us to approve your commitments and to help you implement them while you find the funds and go ahead and implement them.” So, from the beginning it was little likely for many of the actions planned to be honored due to the insufficient financial resources and involvement, especially of state public authorities. Secondly, it is important to realize that the fulfillment of some complex cross-sector commitments, such as the civil society development ones, imply a more consistent involvement from the state public authorities, CSOs and donors community (of various rank and level) that interacts with the civil society. The evaluator thinks that each of such components could do more and involve more actively in implementing and supporting the initiatives derived from the CSDS. The state authorities and the CSOs could have sensitized and involve more actively the donors community active in Moldova that proved to be insufficiently informed and involved in supporting the development of the civil society, except for USAID, SIDA and some other donors. It was the mission of the state authorities and CSOs to prove commitment, consistency, perseverance, tangible achievements and to request more insistently support from the donors community. It is true that some CSOs tried on their own to mobilize some resources but they often failed and became disappointed, some of them even withdrew from the implementation of the CSDS. It is remarkable that a considerable input came from the projects coordinated by FHI 360 and EEF that can be considered champions. But even so, their support was insufficient because the implementation of the CSDS require a more active involvement of the donors’ community that could have supported various actions approved by the Parliament and the results would have been probably been bigger and more tangible. The evaluation found that many of the funding organizations that during the years have supported numerous initiatives of CSOs, including their enabling, do not know the content and priorities of the CSDS and when asked by the evaluator to share their opinions about the implementation of the CSDS they admitted not having been informed. Such a finding is a drawback in the right of the authors of the CSDS implementation and to some extent reflects the effects of the insufficient promotion.

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Third, the common vision, political will, availability of involvement, commitment and ownership should not be underestimated because during the implementation of the CSDS, such elements or, better to say, their lack substantially affected the performance. The disagreements and conditioning, mutual allegations of noninvolvement or insufficient involvement, invocation of various excuses and/or contexts to veil the insufficient commitment and the poor results only affect the achievements, reduce the credibility and the ownership. As a result, no one has to win, everyone only has to lose, it becomes a “lose-lose” situation. Regarding the political will of the public authorities, shortcomings were found here because some commitments, especially the ones from Pillar 2 have been affected and could be implemented if there had been will. The Parliament could have had a more active involvement by impelling the implementation of the CSDS and by budgeting the necessary resources. Fourth, half measures usually do not work and do not generate plausible and sustainable results. E.g. the failure to create the unit responsible for the cooperation with the civil society and the attempt to solve the problem with a focal point that has tens of other tasks in addition to the cooperation with the civil society proved to be unsuccessful and did not work. This is one of the reasons why the cooperation between the civil society and the state executive public authorities was adverse as a whole, with some exceptions that can serve as good practices. (See below). Fifth, the CSDS authors (CSOs and state public authorities) became convinced (if it still was the case) that the biggest debates and resistance, on the one hand, and the fewest actions implemented, on the other hand, happened in Pillar 2 (financial sustainability). Some actions started progressing, after study visits to Hungary and Slovakia etc. that strengthened the capacities both of the state authorities and of the CSOs. Although this pillar has many backlogs yet to deal with, the effects of the study visits cannot be neglected and including certain actions with high likelihood of increased resistance should be duplicated with capacity strengthening. Finally, a sixth lesson could be the fact that in order to integrate the CSDS achievements at the local level, it is necessary for the local CSOs and local public authorities to be informed and involved in the implementation of the commitments and promotion of CSDS achievements and benefits. Or, this has not happened and so, there was no way for the expected results to be achieved under the corresponding commitments. As to the good practices identified during the final evaluation, the implementation of the CSDS stressed several good practices that would require replication because they proved to be productive, such as amendments made to some normative acts e.g. to the law on transparency in decision-making or accounting and financial reporting issues. One of the good practices is the redressing of the approach in the Social Entrepreneurship Subcomponent, where initially the draft law was rejected and seemed a blocked initiative but after a number of rounds of debates in 2015 the situation was unblocked and the newly created Working Group on Social Entrepreneurship that works under the coordination of the Ministry of Economy re-launched the subject. This is a positive example that can be attributed to the “good practices” when after the failure to approve an initiative, the mixed working group of CSOs and state authorities managed to identify a solution acceptable to all the stakeholders and is about to be completed and submitted to the Government for endorsement and further submission to the Parliament. Another example that can be attributed to good practices is the productive cooperation between the Volunteering Coalition Secretariat and the MYS, and the amending of the legal framework on volunteering, recognizing volunteer work as length of service, as well as the inclusion of other

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provisions. The development of accreditation regulations, setting up of the respective commission and the proper accreditation of about 60 CSOs as host institutions as well as the development of IDs for volunteers is another argument in favor of perceiving this situation as “good practices” worth replicating. Such achievements are worth classifying as success stories.

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Part 5: RECOMMENDATIONS

This final section of the report presents the recommendations of the final evaluation of the CSDS implementation as a result of the evaluator’s findings and conclusions. The recommendations of the evaluation are shown in the chart below that presents the general framework. They are set out by order of importance.

5.1 General framework of recommendations REC Recommendations of the final evaluation Strategic recommendations Rec. 01 Develop a new Civil Society Development Strategy for 2017-2020 Rec. 02 Keep in the CSDS 2017-2020 the priority areas of the CSDS 2012-2015. Rec. 03 Enhance accountability for the implementation of the CSDS. Recommendations for the general objectives Rec. 04 Reformulate and adjust the general objective #1 of the CSDS. Rec. 05 Strengthen the efforts on the general objective #2 of the CSDS. Rec.06 Gradually withdraw from the General Objective #3 and refocus efforts on the general objectives #1 and #2 of the CSDS. Conceptual recommendations Rec. 07 Revitalize the National Participation Council. Rec.08 Use findings, conclusions, and eventually the recommendations of various studies in developing and monitoring the implementation of the CSDS. Rec.09 Evaluate CSDS implementation costs and budget them. Rec.10 Map the active NGOs and potential donors and involve them in supporting the implementation of the CSDS. Rec.11 Make grant provision to NGOs transparent. Rec.12 Promote the CSDS more actively, including at the local level and involve more actively the local public authorities and the local NGOs. Rec.13 Create and interconnect a number of dialog platforms between the civil society and the state public authorities. Rec.14 Translate the CSDS, including the AP, and its monitoring and evaluation reports to Russian. Operational recommendations Rec. 15 Develop reporting templates and report against updated progress indicators. Rec. 16 Carry out an interim evaluation of the CSDS.

5.2 Detailed recommendations The recommendations of the final evaluation are explained below and they could contribute to enhancing the implementation of the further commitments of civil society development in Moldova. The order of presentation of recommendations does not indicate to their importance but rather serves as a logical framework for expressing and assimilating them.

5.2.1 Strategic recommendations Rec. 01 Develop a new Civil Society Development Strategy for 2017-2020

Although this recommendation seems to be obvious and natural, during the evaluation, several representatives of the state authorities and of CSOs suggested that in fact it was not necessary to

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develop a new CSDS but to extend the timeframe of the 2012-2015 CSDS and to deal with the existing backlogs under the commitments made in 2012. The evaluator thinks that it is not enough simply to extend the timeframe and automatically transform the backlogs into a new Action Plan. It is recommended that CSOs and state public authorities reflect on the achievements, good practices, shortcomings and the lessons to be learned from the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS. Additionally, the pending actions (that were not started or that were started but then abandoned) should again be reviewed, updated and then reassumed. Also, certain adjustments are necessary regarding the manner of tackling commitments, involving the players, promotion, monitoring and reporting.38 That is, there are many aspects that require adjustment and if the players decide to act as a result, there some recommendations below that could be useful in this sense.

Rec. 02 Keep in the CSDS 2017-2020 the priority areas of the CSDS 2012-2015

The evaluator thinks that is necessary to keep the priority areas of the 2012-2015 CSDS and integrate them into a new strategy paper. This recommendation is the more so obvious since about 73% of commitments have not been implemented. The general objectives established proved to be truly relevant for the development of the civil society and therefore it is necessary to keep the current objectives in the new strategy, with some adjustments to the activities and actions under all the objectives, and eventually reformulate them. A generally valid recommendation for the future CSDS is reduce the number of actions and activities, have a deeper approach and a better focus on the primary aspects of the general objectives. In other words, reducing and prioritizing the initiatives and focusing on their full implementation. A more consistent emphasis is needed on the General Objective #2 (financial sustainability) both due to its importance for the sustainability of the civil society and since this extremely important objective has the most modest and more resistant achievements. Also, it is recommended to have a gradual exit strategy from the General Objective #3. See below some recommendations per each general objective.

Rec. 03 Enhance accountability for the implementation of the CSDS.

This recommendation is important because in the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS one of the reasons invoked both by the CSOs and the state authorities was the insufficient accountability assumed by the players involved and in fact the passing of the responsibility by the state authorities to CSOs and vice versa. The evaluator thinks that the annual meetings under the aegis of the Moldovan Parliament and the reporting on the CSDS achievements did not significantly contribute to making the decision-makers more accountable for respecting the commitments made. Therefore, it is necessary to have other accountability strategies that would be more efficient and more rigorous. The allocation of resources from the state budget would be one of them because it would enhance the accountability of recipients and of the players, also a more rigorous monitoring/based on CSDS

38 These may take place during the first meetings of the working groups set up of the representatives of the public authorities and CSOs.

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implementation results, requesting explanations with arguments from the responsible bodies, a more active involvement of the State Chancellery etc. could represent solutions for making the players involved more accountable. The state public authorities (both the Moldovan Parliament and the Government) and the CSOs could develop a more consistent set of measures in this sense.

5.2.2. Recommendations for general objectives Rec. 04 Reformulate and adjust the general objective #1 of the CSDS.

It is recommendable to reformulate the General Objective/Pillar #1 into “Participation of the civil society in decision-making and in monitoring the implementation of public policies.” This implies not only changing the name but (especially) the content. It is important that this Pillar include not only the commitments of participation of the civil society in decision-making but equally in monitoring the implementation of the public policies developed in various areas e.g. enforcement of the legal framework that affects the key elements of the civil society, the use of public funds etc. In this connection, it is recommendable to have cooperation between the Division for Policy Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation (DAMEP) and CSOs and common trainings on result-based monitoring. It is important to set up the unit of cooperation with the civil society that would be funded from the state budget and would coordinate the implementation of the CSDS. It is also important that the unit monitor the implementation of the CSDS and serves as liaison between the state public authorities and the civil society. The European experience of similar units described by the ECNL and studied by the public authorities and CSOs during the study visits should be applied. The other actions unimplemented from this Objective, reflected in the AP, are to be debated upon in the working group and if their relevance is reasserted, they will be reassumed. It is important that they are realistic from the point of view of human resources, time and likelihood of mobilization of financial resources (if necessary).

Rec. 05 Strengthen the efforts on the general objective #2 of the CSDS.

As mentioned in the evaluation report, this general objective involved the biggest and most sensitive disputes, and also generated the most modest achievements. At the same time, the elements of this objective are of major importance for strengthening and securing the development and sustainability of the civil society, which represents the ‘actual face of things’. The findings of the final evaluation show that certain aspects of this section never came to be discussed by the representatives of the state authorities and of the civil society. Hence, it is necessary that the representatives of the state authorities and of the civil society continue the efforts of implementation of the initiatives from the development process e.g. the mechanism for implementing the 2% law, the regulation on the social entrepreneurship and start implementing the actions that were assumed but never started. Of course, as said above, this should be preceded by a repeated review of the performances and backlogs as well as of the reasons for them.

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Gradually withdraw from the General Objective #3 and refocus efforts on the Rec. 06 general objectives #1 and #2 of the CSDS. During the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS, under this objective, important achievements were obtained related to the integration and regulation of volunteering in Moldova, which was presented by the evaluator as a “thin success story,” given the amendments made, the institutionalization of a specialized accreditation body and the accreditation of host organizations, although as in the case of the previous general objectives, many actions have remained unimplemented/unstarted. The gradual exit of Objective #3 does not imply abandoning it. The prioritization and implementation of some actions lagging behind that are further relevant as well as including incentives to promote volunteering among the elderly e.g. recognizing volunteer work as length of service in calculating any increases, even minor, to their pensions. The monitoring of the application of the legal framework on volunteering would represent a necessary action that would be compiled with the provisions of the General objective #1 on the monitoring of public policies. The implementation of the other volunteering initiatives could represent the subject-matter of the Strategic Plan of the Volunteering Coalition and could be supported also by other players additionally to the existing ones e.g. the international organizations Active Aging Platform, the network of HelpAge Internațional etc.

5.2.3 Conceptual recommendations Rec. ss07 Revitalize the National Participation Council.

It is important for the Government to decide on the National Participation Council. In the evaluator’s view, it is necessary to revise the procedure and the conditions for its creation and functioning. Also, based on the above recommendations, it is necessary to restructure and rename the NPC into NPMC (National Participation and Monitoring Council). Thus, the NPMC would not only play a consulting role in developing public policies but would also get involved in monitoring them, would present and debate on the monitoring reports and make further recommendations, would eventually take advocacy actions. The NPC inactivity also affects the implementation of some other international commitments e.g. those related to the Open Governance Partnership (the Moldovan Government did not prepare the 2015-2016 AP mostly due to the lack of the NPC).

Use findings, conclusions, and eventually the recommendations of various studies Rec. 08 in developing and monitoring the implementation of the CSDS. This recommendation is related to the use of findings, conclusions and recommendations made to different players, regardless of whether such studies or research had been done prior to the development of the CSDS or during its implementation. For this, it is important that the CSOs and the state public authorities are responsive and flexible.

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Such a relevant study could be the CSOs Sustainability Index39 that examines the general favorable environment for the Moldovan civil society, with emphasis on the legislative framework of CSOs, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, infrastructure and public image. The Index supplies important consolidated findings and conclusions in the above-mentioned areas, which represents a vaster range than the subjects set out in the CSDS. However, there are two areas, such as the legislative framework of CSOs and financial viability that are found in both strategy papers and this information from the Index could be useful both in developing and in monitoring the implementation of the CSDS because it reflects the trends and initiatives that take place.

The Moldovan CSO Sustainability Index

Rec. 09 Evaluate CSDS implementation costs and budget them

This recommendation is valid for several reasons: for evaluating the necessary resources to be mobilized, for identifying the potential sources of funding, the donors, and for estimating the feasibility of the commitments analyzed for being included into the CSDS text. To note that some initiatives of the AP of the 2012-2015 CSDS include a cost estimation and others do not (see the Efficiency section of the report). It is also important that the CSDS implementation costs are supported by a respective budget, from the state financial resources that would cover at least partially the estimated costs, with the other funds provided from external funding sources.

Map active NGOs and potential donors and involve them in supporting the Rec. 10 implementation of the CSDS. As it has been mentioned in the evaluation report, in the evaluator’s view, the donors community could have supported the implementation of the 2012-2015 CSDS more actively. In this connection, it is recommendable to have a mapping of the potential donors40 or of the development partners interested in supporting the development and strengthening of the civil society in Moldova and in their more active involvement in supporting the implementation of the CSDS. Such donors/development partners could be both those who support the development and strengthening of the civil society in Moldova, as a whole, and the organizations/institutions that support certain topics subsections of the associative sector e.g. children, gender, youth, human rights, disabilities, community development etc. The mapping of active NGOs in various areas would provide better knowledge about them and enable more consistent involvement in the making and monitoring of both national and local public policies.

Rec. 11 Make grant provision to NGOs transparent.

39 The CSO Sustainability Index is an important analytical tool that has been measuring the progress of the civil society sector from the regions of Central and East Europe and Eurasia and following the development of the civil society sector in 29 countries. The index was developed by USAID in partnership with local organizations of each of the countries analyzed. 40 By ‘donor’ I mean any governmental, intergovernmental, nongovernmental or private institution/organization that is available to provide financial or technical support (expertise) in the implementation of the CSDS.

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This important aspect fits with making the funding of NGOs transparent and refers especially to the donors community but also to the state public bodies that provide (mini)grants and this was noted both by the state authorities and the NGOs consulted during the evaluation of the strategy implementation. It is remarkable that some donors publish the list of grants provided and of the respective winners, while others, for unknown reasons, still do not do it. The evaluator thinks that the implementation of this recommendation would enhance both the credibility of NGO funding and the image of donors and grant recipients, and this should not be underestimated because it is a democratic, non-corruptible and public indicator.

Promote the CSDS more actively, including at the local level, and involve more Rec. 12 actively the local public authorities and the local NGOs This recommendation comes in response to the final evaluation finding that the 2012-2015 CSDS is very little known (practically unknown) at local level not only to the public at large but also by active local or regional CSOs. Hence, it is important that the new CSDS is known more by the civil society, especially by the one from outside Chișinău. Therefore, it is important to organize various round tables for promoting and presenting the Strategy as well as its achievements and drawbacks. This is the more so important as the CSDS includes commitments to be implemented at the local level with the involvement of the local public authorities and local organizations. Cooperating with the Local Public Authorities Congress (CALM) would facilitate the implementation of this recommendation and would enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, and this should first of all be in the interest of the CSO representatives who will take active part in developing and implementing the civil society strengthening commitments. As a result, this would increase not only the representativeness of the commitments, involving a higher number of CSOs but would also impel the necessary changes at the local level i.e. an effect of the waves created from the Chișinău epicenter. Of course, in such conditions, the effects of the amendments to the legal framework or of institutionalizing mechanisms for developing the civil society as well as the achievements and the success stories will appear at the local/community level.

Create and interconnect a number of dialog platforms between the civil society Rec. 13 and the state public authorities. The dialog platforms between the civil society and the state authorities are beneficial because they contribute to reviewing the problems and difficulties in developing the civil society and in identifying the solutions to the respective problems as well as channel the common efforts of state authorities and of NGOs in this sense. Hence, such platforms are welcome and could represent the interconnection with various forums present in Moldova e.g. the Environment Organizations Forum, the Youth Organizations Forum, the Active Ageing Platform etc. Involving such forums, on the one hand, and promoting CSDS subjects, on the other hand, would enhance the visibility, relevance, presence and representativeness in CSDS implementation as well as the ownership of its achievements.

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Translate the CSDS, including the AP, and its monitoring and evaluation reports Rec. 14 to Russian.

Moldova is a country with a significant number of ethnical minorities, which account for about 22% of the population, according to the 2004 Census, including two ethnic groups (the Gagauz and the Bulgarians) who live compactly in a number of communities in the south of the country, especially in the Gagauz Yeri Autonomous Region and that traditionally have faced a linguistic barrier since they do not speak Romanian. 41 It is important for the civil society and the public authorities of those communities also to be integrated in the national civil society development process and having the CSDS and its AP, monitoring and evaluation reports translated to Russian, as well as involving them in developing and monitoring the implementation of the CSDS would represent an important step in avoiding their marginalization.

5.2.4 Operational recommendations Rec. 15 Develop reporting templates and report against updated progress indicators.

This recommendation comes as a result of the finding that the narrative reports or the progress/monitoring reports of the CSOs or of the State Chancellery are different both in content and structure, and often include contradictions. There is no template in place that would structure the reporting process. The State Chancellery reports for the most part are positive but do not follow the structure of the AP, they mainly report on the actions implemented while the unimplemented or unsstarted actions usually are less mentioned.42 It is difficult to use them as basis for a review of things planned versus implemented i.e. it is more difficult to review the progress. The CSO reports are more structured according to the actions planned, more critical and reflect the logic of the AP intervention, although sometimes they also fail to show the unimplemented actions. Hence, some actions shown in the AP cannot be found in the reports of the State Chancellery or of the CSOs.43 The CSO reports vary by structure and do not have a single format. Some CSO monitoring reports contain “comments/reactions to the reports of the State Chancellery” and recommendations. Sometimes, the information in the CSO reports is set forth more emotionally. Both types of reports, of CSO and of the State Chancellery include excuses for the failure to get involved but the most important thing is that neither the State Chancellery nor the CSOs report based on the indicators provided in the AP but based on the activities implemented. Hence, there is no information set out according to the indicators nor was the final evaluation possible based on progress indicators because there are no data available according to the indicators.

41 The data of the 2014 Census have not yet been processed and published 42 Except for the report of the State Chancery (March 2014 – February 2015) that contains some of the implementation difficulties 43 Organization of prize awarding events for CSOs and media that promote the participation/participate in decision making as well as the authorities that progressively assure transparency in decision-making (Act. 1.2.2.1); Setting up the mechanism for notifying NGOs about draft decisions (Act. 1.3.2.2); Setting up an Ethics Board within the National NGO Council (Act 2.4.3.1) etc.

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Therefore, the recommendation in this sense would be to develop single reporting templates and reporting based on progress indicators updated and reflected in the AP.

Rec. 16 Carry out an interim evaluation of the CSDS.

An interim independent evaluation would be able to identify sooner the achievements and drawbacks in implementing CSDS actions and would enhance the chances of having it adjusted via the corresponding recommendations, unlike the final evaluation that finds the issues after the planned period has been consumed. The final evaluation of the CSDS, in addition to the issues set out in this report, would also evaluate how the recommendations of the interim evaluation were implemented. This would contribute to enhancing the implementation of the commitments made.

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Monitoring Report No. 2

Elements of Propaganda, Manipulation of Information and Violation of the Rules of Journalistic Deontology in the Domestic Mass Media February 1st, 2016 – April 30th, 2016

The report was developed by the Independent Journalism Center within the Media campaign against false and biased information, conducted by the Association of Independent Press (API), Independent Journalism Center (IJC) and Association of Independent TV Journalists (ATVJI).

I. GENERAL INFORMATION During the period from February 1st – April 30th, 2016, the Independent Journalism Center monitored 12 media institutions – news portals and TV channels, to identify whether the broadcast journalistic materials contained violations of deontological rules and elements of informational manipulation. It was analyzed how these media reflected the events of public interest in politics, economy, and foreign policy, if there were respected the journalistic rules on verification of information from several sources, diversity of opinions, in order to ensure the balance of the conflict news, etc. Invoking the Journalist’s Ethical Code and the scientific reference works allowed to detect methods and techniques used by Moldovan media to influence the wide public by spreading manipulating messages.

The purpose of monitoring To establish whether the media, in addressing issues of public interest, respected the professional ethics or used procedures of manipulation, and to identify those processes. The monitoring was aimed, as well, to expose the mistakes of journalists, deliberate ones or not, in fact stating, so as that case studies and reports would have an instructive role. Another purpose of the monitoring was to help to increase vigilance of the media consumers when it came to risks of unsafe information sources. Thus, the monitoring helps consumers to understand how the media can manipulate, to be able to distinguish between a manipulator journalistic product and a product that reflects equidistant reality, and to encourage them to consult several sources of information when they have doubts in credibility of information. Criteria for selecting the monitored press institutions:

•Coverage area – national and regional •Language – Romanian and Russian • Impact – circulation and audience Print press: Ziarul National, Panorama (online versions of these publications); Audiovisual: Publika TV (website publika.md), Prime TV, Jurnal TV, Accent TV, RTR Vesti, Ren TV; Online press: Gagauzinfo.md, Novostipmr.com, Sputnik.md, Deschide.md;

Methodology There were selected political, economic and social events of major public interests, which occurred during the monitoring period, and based on the rules of Journalist Code of Ethics and the techniques for information manipulation, there was studied the way to reflect those events in the media. Also, there was analyzed a number of topical subject, such as court examination of the corruption case opened against the former Prime Minister . There was analyzed the language and images used by journalists, the mode of selecting events for reflection, accuracy of source quoting, tone of exposure etc., in terms of the Journalist’s Ethical Code1, of the guidelines and recommendations in

1 http://consiliuldepresa.md/fileadmin/fisiere/documente/cod_d_rom.pdf

the field of quality and responsible media 2 and notions of manipulation and propaganda in the sense offered by the Dictionary of Sociology3. Manipulation is defined as ‘the act of making a social actor (person, group, community) think and act in a manner compatible with the interests of the initiator and not with his/her interests, by using persuasion techniques that intentionally distort the truth giving the impression of freedom of thought and decision. Unlike the influence of the rational persuasion type, manipulation is aimed not to a more accurate and deeper understanding of the situation but to imprinting in the mind of a convenient understanding, falling back both on the misleading by using forged arguments and on the emotional non-rational levels’. Propaganda is defined as ‘the systematic activity of transmission, promotion or dissemination of doctrines, theses or ideas from the standpoint of a particular social group and ideologies, in order to influence, change, form concepts, attitudes, opinions, beliefs and behaviors. The propaganda is performed in such way as to lead to the realization of the goals and interests of the group it serves, and there is no value-neutral or objective propaganda’. The main subjects monitored during the period from February 1st to April 30th, 2016 are:

 Voting the Law on Prosecution (February 23rd and February 25th)  Peace Conference in Munich (February 13th)  Release of ‘Petrenco group’ (February 22nd)  General Assembly of Judges (March 11th)  Manifestations Organized on March 2nd to Commemorate the 24th Anniversary of the Outbreak of the Dniester War (March 2nd)  Protests of Drivers and Owners of the Vehicles Registered Abroad (March 29th and March 30th)  Protest Organized by the Party ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ on April 24th  Court Examination of the Corruption Case against the Former Prime Minister Vlad Filat (Month of April)

II. GENERAL TENDENCIES Monitoring data shows that some journalistic materials were made with deviation from the deontological rules and with presence of characteristic elements of propaganda and informational manipulation practices, among which we should highlight: Selective presentation of the facts – Deviation observed in particular in the news about protests in Chisinau on April 24th on Publika.md, Sputinik.md, Newspmr.ru. Unilateral presentation of the facts – News from a single source were posted on the website of Publika.md, Deschide.md and aimed mainly to the hearings involving the LDPM leader Vlad Filat.

Using anonymous sources without verification of information from independent sources – Deviation recorded at the publication of news about defense witnesses in the case of Vlad Filat on Deschide.md, Publika.md, Accenttv.md, Rtr.md. Exacerbation of the facts – unjustified emphasis, artificial intensification of facts and exaggeration of the scale of feelings, in order to promote certain messages or discredit individuals or groups.

2 Style Guidelines Containing the Ethical Rules for Journalists, API http://www.unicef.org/moldova/Ghid_Etica_Jurnalist_RO.pdf 3 Catalin Zamfir, Lazar Vlasceanu, Dictionary of Sociology, Bucharest, 1998, p.332, p.457. http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/nccmn/images/1/1c/Dictionar-de-Sociologie-Catalin-Zamfir-Lazar- Vlasceanu.pdf/revision/latest?cb=20150813042511&path-prefix=ro

Such methods were used by Jurnal TV in the news edition on April 24th, when they talked about the manifestation organized by the party “Platform of Dignity and Truth” against the leadership. Elimination of conflict subjects from the agenda of the media4 – The method was applied to discussions and adoption in Parliament of the final version of the draft Law on Prosecution on Publika TV and Publika.md. Interpretation/commenting of the facts – Violation of the Journalist’s Ethical Code, by which the journalist imposes its own opinion in informative materials on RTR, Sputnik.md, REN TV. Elements of propaganda – Deviation observed in the topics about the Munich Security Conference on RTR and some subjects about the criminal case, in which the defendant is Vlad Filat, on Publika.md. Inaccurate quoting and interpretation of source messages – Technique, by which the messages of the sources are selectively quoted and nuanced by journalist’s formulations, so as that the overall transmitted message would meet the interests of the transmitter on; method used by Publika.md in news about the protest in the center of Chisinau, on April 24th. Quoting the anonymous experts and repeating a false idea to confer it credibility. These processes are identified in most news about the protest in the center of Chisinau, on April 24th, placed on Publika.md. Labeling – applying pejorative nicknames or marks or those ones of other nature, in order to weaken the authority of a person or to discredit such a person. The labeling was applied by Jurnal TV at the address of the politician Vlad Plahotniuc; by Publika TV when talking about businessmen Viorel and Victor Topa and by Ziarul National with regard to the businessman Ilan Sor. Headings/images, video and audio effects – some media institutions selected photos and videos to put a negative spin on such subjects or groups, or used images that were only tangentially related to the topic of the article, but helped to emphasize the idea promoted in the text and, hence, to amplify the negative message they wanted to transmit to the public (Publika.md, Sputnik.md, ZiarulNaţional.md). Emotional manipulation using music and lyrics in the newscasts on April 24th, placed on Jurnal TV.

III. DATA ANALYSIS Subject 1. Voting the Law on Prosecution (February 23rd and February 25th, 2016)5 On February 23rd, 2016, at the meeting of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Issues, Appointments and Immunities, there was discussed the draft Law on Prosecution and the package of laws to reform the system of declaration of incomes and interests of public officials. The two documents had a major relevance, involving reforms in the judiciary system and in the prevention of corruption, and their adoption was one of the conditions set by foreign partners of Moldova to continue borrowing to our country. Publika TV completely ignored the subject of contradictory discussions within the Commission, where the democrat deputy Sergiu Sirbu and the Prosecutor General of that time Corneliu Gurin

4 Techniques for Manipulation of the Electorate through Marketing Research, PhD Thesis, Transilvania Universityhttp://www.unitbv.ro/Portals/31/Sustineri%20de%20doctorat/Rezumate/Vierasu.pdf 5 Case study, http://www.media-azi.md/ro/node/316974

proposed some amendments criticized by the authors of the project. The channel reported in two news and in the show Newsroom on the same day of February 23rd about another fact of the meeting of the Parliamentary Commission, namely, that the Ministry of Justice headed by the Minister from the Democratic Party submitted to the Parliament a draft Law, which provided for deprivation of mandates of those deputies, who did not declare properly their wealth and interests:‘REVOLUTIONARY PROJECT: DEPUTIES RISKING LOSING THEIR JOB IF NOT DOING THIS’. In this case, they used the manipulation technique called ‘elimination of conflict topics from the agenda of the media’6, in order to pass off the existing issues and the really relevant topics, substituting them with other positive and less stringent ones. Specifically, a relevant topic of public interest was replaced by one, wherein the representatives of a party, DP, appeared against an exclusively positive background. On February 25th, 2016, when the Law on Prosecution was voted in final edition in the Parliament, without the amendments proposed by Sergiu Sirbu, since he withdrew them, Publika TV treated the subject briefly reserving 1.20 minutes for this news in the edition of Newsroom, which also included a video of Andrian Candu’s statement. However, there were reserved 2.31 minutes for another subject of the Parliament session – adoption of a declaration of intentions of the Legislative Body ‘on stability and modernization of the country’, which included a report from the Parliament, four videos of the deputies’ statements and a studio discussion with a Publika TV reporter. There was outlined the intention of blurring and replacing the relevant issues of public interest with others of less actuality. Ziarul National treated multilaterally the subject, however, presentation of the facts was affected by tendentiousness manifested mainly by the heading and images, in one of the cases. That referred to the news headed ‘Babbling in the Parliament. Sirbu’s Way to Justify Why He ‘REJECTS’ the Troublesome Amendments to the Law on Prosecution’, which exposed the explanations of the PD deputy, related the fact that he quitted a few amendments to the draft Law on Prosecution he had proposed the day before. It became clear even from the heading that the news was not a neutral one and the reporter used ironic ‘rejects’ instead of neutral verb ‘give up’. In the text, there were used such expressions as ‘ Sirbu tried to redeem a faux pas’, ‘Sirbu was quick to explain’, ‘Sirbu tried to justify’, which had a pejorative connotation and should not be used in a neutral text. Similarly, the photo used to illustrate the text showed Sergiu Sirbu appearing with such a position of his lips that would suggest that he was in a state of confusion, in order to reinforce the message transmitted by the heading. Thus, the reporters nuanced the things they exposed by words and phrases, to demonstrate their attitude toward some subjects of the news. The news broadcasted on Jurnal TV on February 23rd, 2016 and related to the discussions of the Parliamentary Commission for Legal Issues on the draft Law on Prosecution at that meeting, fell within the standards of equilibrium. The material lasted more than four minutes and contained video inserts of the statements of , Raisa Apolschi, Corneliu Gurin and Vlad Gribincea. Also, it was found a failure of separating facts from opinion by the statement ‘in defense of amendment PD deputy jumped general prosecutor’. However, both the news ‘Scandal Related the Reform of the Prosecution’ and the news headed ‘Law on Prosecution Voted’ broadcasted on February 25th lacked the background or contextual information. The consumers were not informed why a new Law on Prosecution was necessary, why the deputies voted it exactly then, how long adoption thereof had been delayed, etc.

Subject 2. Munich Security Conference (February 13th)7

6 http://www.unitbv.ro/Portals/31/Sustineri%20de%20doctorat/Rezumate/Vierasu.pdf 7 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-conferinta-de-securitate-de-la-munchen-reflectata- de-posturile-rusesti-retransmise-republica-moldova/

The news program ‘Saturday News’ broadcasted by RTR Russia on February 13th, 2016, at 08:00 p.m., contained a topic related to the Munich Security Conference, traditionally held every year and attended by the heads of state and Governments of different countries. The material broadcasted by Russian journalists was drafted in the style of an editorial and contained comments, appreciations and value judgments but did not comply with the requirements to the news, which should be based solely on the facts. Here is a fragment from the presenter’s text: ‘However, the incumbent president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko was obviously extremely nervous and sweaty, sitting at the panel of discussions in Munich, more due to some other reasons. Which? Our version is, possibly unexpected, that Poroshenko was influenced by the teachings of George Soros’. The reportage included numerous fragments of speeches of the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov but the only video inserts less favorable for Moscow were those ones of the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite. The subject lasting about 13 minutes or so comprised the author’s opinions, which took the time almost equal to that one of the facts. The balance of sources was not respected, as well. Despite the fact that Petro Poroshenko attended the event, the reporters failed to insert into the topic any fragments of his speech or statements. This was despite the fact that, as we found out from other media, Poroshenko made an appeal to the Russian President at Munich: ‘Mr. Putin, there is no civil war in Ukraine, it is your aggression. There is no civil war in Crimea, there are your soldiers, who occupied my country. There is no civil war in Syria, there you bomb the civilian population!’ As a conclusion, the Munich event was used by RTR to propagate the official policy of the Russian Federation to impose the point of view of its authorities, to hit into the opponent, to discredit him and to mislead people, not to inform the viewers. The channel journalists managed to do all this by selecting fragments from speeches and including them in the news, as well as by selecting the information about the event, intentionally breaking rules for assurance of the news balance, commenting the facts and launching accusations without any proofs. Ren TV channel covered the event too, inclusively on its website, inserting 14 news on the topic, a majority of which contained ironical appreciations, expressions and opinions of the journalists, on the first conference day. Example: ‘The American politician voiced the requirements in an incomprehensible manner: it seems that Russia should ensure access of humanitarian cargoes in the districts of conflict and to release the hostages. Kerry, as usual, did not say anything concrete. It is not clear what humanitarian access he spoke about and what Russia has to do with this, as well as it is not clear what kind of ‘prisoners’ our country must free’. In other news, Ren TV selected fragments from the speeches of some speakers, mostly on US-Russia and NATO-Russia relations, and broadcasted them shortly, unilaterally and in an unbalanced way, thus ignoring other subjects and opinions expressed at the conference.

Subject 3. Release of ‘Petrenco group’ (February 22nd, 2016)8 On February 22nd, 2016, Riscani Sector Court of Chisinau municipality released six participants of the September 2015 protest in the front of the Prosecutor General’s Office, including the former communist deputy Grigore Petrenco, from the detention center and placed them under house arrest, under the ‘guarantee of socialist deputies’. They were released after the Socialist deputies submitted a guarantee to the court. Jurnal TV echoed the accusations against the democrat Vlad Plahotniuc in its news lasting about four minutes and headed ‘Petrenco Group, under House Arrest’, even if Vlad Plahotniuc has no apparent relation to that subject. The structure of the news violated the principle of balance: it gave

8 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-eliberarea-din-arest-grupului-petrenco-argumentul- emotiei-locul-informatiei-obiective-etichetare-tendentiozitate/

priority to some sources against others. The author included two inserts of the statements of Petrenco, two more of the group’s lawyer Ana Ursachi, one of and an insert of the statements of a ‘former party colleague’ of Petrenco, Alexandr Petcov. All of them expressed the same opinion – the group had to be released earlier, and two of the speakers accused the justice of acting ‘against Vlad Plahotniuc’s order’. The fact that journalists gave in their news an important space for accusations against Plahotniuc and did not make enough efforts to find the objective reality, such as to ask Igor Dodon why the guarantee was not submitted earlier, while ‘Petrenco group’ was in custody for six months, but only on the day when the prisoners were to meet the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as Petrenco himself accused in his statement, indicated that the news was aimed, besides information sharing, to launch the accusations against Plahotniuc. Thus, the news was transformed into a tendentious product built by the techniques similar to those ones of manipulation, not of objective journalism. Publika TV treated that subject in the news headed ‘Igor Dodon, the Guarantor of Antifa Leader. Grigore Petrenco under House Arrest’ and using the images taken from the Socialist leader’s Facebook page but lacking the relevant details, such as a planned visit to the prison of the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, or the answer to the question why namely then the socialists submitted a guarantee for those six detainees. Instead of this, the text repeated several times the phrase ‘extremist movement’ that Petrenco allegedly led. Since the authors offered no other information about that movement, the viewer would remember only that it was an extremist one, a notion that might be associated with ‘danger’, ‘hate’, ‘violence’. Thus, release from custody, which by itself was an informational opportunity for the news, was presented alongside with labeling of the central person, and that procedure resulted in creation of antipathy and rejection. The label ‘leader of the extremist movement’ was neither proven, nor necessary in the news, since Petrenco and his colleagues were accused of riots but not of extremist activities. On the website of Accent TV, the subject was treated in three news: ‘Socialist Deputies Claiming for Release of Petrenco Group, at Their Own Risk’, ‘Petrenco Group Released under the Guarantee of Socialist Deputies’, ‘Dodon: Release of Political Prisoners as Another Step to Victory’. So, Igor Dodon and Socialist deputies were presented as positive heroes fighting for release of ‘political prisoners’, however, the reporters failed to ask for a response to the accusations made by the released himself, who said that release was an attempt to keep away the group members from meeting the rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The journalists did not ask Igor Dodon why they claimed for release exactly then, given that Petrenco and his colleagues had been in custody for a half a year. Instead of this, one of the news quoted a touching message written by Igor Dodon on Facebook: ‘Today, these guys will be at home with their relatives and loved ones. They will hug their mothers, wives and children. They will have dinner with their relatives. Finally, the children will see their fathers for the first time during a half a year. It is our main success for this moment’. This was the way to revoke the ‘argument of feeling’, a process of manipulation appealing to emotionality, in order to give more credibility to a message, to the detriment of presenting the objective information and that one of rational nature.

Subject 4. General Assembly of Judges (March 11th, 2016)9 The traditional General Assembly of Judges was held at the Republican Palace of the capital on March 11th, 2016, and in the course thereof, there were totaled the 2015 activities of the judiciary system and were highlighted the branch-wise problems. The president of the Superior Council of

9 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-adunarea-generala-judecatorilor-prestatia- ministrului-justitiei-vs-vocea-neauzita-magistratilor/

Magistracy Victor Micu, the Minister of Justice Vladimir Cebotari and some judges came with speeches about the challenges in that sector. Since that was an annual event, given the fact that the Republic of Moldova was frequently criticized for corruption in the judicial system and for the lack of progress in the development of reforms in that sector recently, that topic was one of public interest. Publika TV reported about the event in the news headed ‘The Ministry of Justice Working to Restore the Confidence in the Judicial System’ and based on the initiative of the Minister of Justice to sanction the judges and other public figures guilty of the fact that the Republic of Moldova had lost lawsuits at the European Court of Human Rights. This was despite the fact that the subject was older, i.e. the measures for recovery of damages incurred by the state due to losing certain cases at the Strasbourg Court were launched on January 27th, 2016, a month and a half before the event, hence, that information was related only tangentially to the Assembly. There was a change of emphases and a camouflage of other acts produced during the event, especially of the criticism uttered by some judges from the rostrum, with regard to political influence over the justice and to the corruption in the system. So, the audience was unable to find out what really happened there: who and what speeches uttered, what the magistrates thought about the problems in the system or the way how they responded to the accusation of the lack of trust or integrity. Sputnik.md treated the subject in a similar manner, reproducing fragments of the speech of the Minister of Justice without balancing the news, as required by the journalistic standards10, with the reaction of the second sources, i.e. representatives of the criticized system (Superior Council of Magistracy, Supreme Court of Justice, courts). Prime TV based the news on the initiative on recovery of the damages suffered by the state due to the actions of judges and other dignitaries too. Being headed ‘Reform of the Justice Scaring the Magistrates’, the news began with the statement ‘The initiative of Minister of Justice to make financially responsible those, who were guilty of sentencing of Moldova at the ECHR, upset some magistrates’. Both the heading and the phrase misled the consumers because it did not seem from that what followed that the reform would frighten or upset the magistrates. Ziarul National and Jurnal TV focused on criticisms addressed to the system and to the opinions expressed by the judges and court presidents. Ziarul National headlined ‘Harsh CRITICISM at the General Assembly of Judges. Minister of Justice Announcing the NEWS in the System’ and quoted there the magistrate Tatiana Raducanu, who talked about the bad image of justice and urged the colleagues not to yield to any pressure when judging certain cases, as well as the Minister Cebotari with the information about innovations he wanted to introduce in the court administration. Jurnal TV aired the news lasting about five minutes, posted on the website and headed ‘Taking Potshots at the Court of Justice’. The reporters of this channel offered more space to oral interventions of judges, including in the news a piece of the speeches of four magistrates, who had critical opinions about the Ministry of Justice and the Superior Council of Magistracy and talked about corruption in the system. When it came to the Minister of Justice, it was only announced that ‘both the Minister of Justice and several magistrates’ contradicted the SCM President, who said that quality of the justice acts had improved in 2015. Reflecting such an event expressing several relevant opinions, the journalists had the task to quote sources so as to respect the balance of opinions and to present the facts in a manner as closer to the reality as possible. However, the information was presented to the public selectively, depending on the editorial policy of the media channel.

10 http://ijc.md/Publicatii/resurse/jurnalistica_grigoryan_ro.pdf

Subject 5. Manifestations on March 2nd, to Commemorate Those, Who Fallen in 1992 in the Course of the Dniester War11 On March 2nd, 2016, there took place several events to commemorate those, who lost their lives in the course of the 1992 Dniester war, including a meeting, which took place in Chisinau, with participation of the Government representatives. The veterans of the armed conflict laid the flowers and marched till the Memorial Complex in Pantelimon Halippa Street. In its news bulletin at 07:00 p.m., Jurnal TV broadcasted the six-minute news placed earlier on the web-site under the heading ‘Candu booed by the Combatants’. The first video sequence in the news comprised the final part of the speech of the Parliament chairman Andrian Candu and the moment when the meeting participants were shouting ‘It’s a shame!’. Further, the journalists informed about the fact that the officials and veterans laid the flowers. Then there followed a grouping of voices of the participants of the Dniester war, saying that they were unsatisfied with their living conditions, but some of them explained why they had responded to Candu’s speech in such a way. ‘The nation’s leadership turned their backs on us and does not respect us anymore. They reduced our benefits and everything else. They forgot about us. They forgot to give us apartments, they forgot to render us assistance…’, – said one of the participants. The reporters did not ask those interviewed what pension they had, so as that the TV audience would be able to assess whether it was small or big; what benefits had been annulled and when, during what Government. The veterans’ opinions were presented so as that to render an impression that namely the actual leadership was responsible for annulment of benefits and for small pensions, although the actual leadership had been holding the power for less than two months… For the purpose of right information sharing, the journalists had to publish the official data about the amount of pensions and allowances, which the veterans and disabled servicemen of the Dniester war benefited from, which would comply with the deontological rule stipulating verification of the information. The same news included two video clips lasting, in total, for a minute or so, where two of the leaders of the party ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ Andrei Nastase and Alexandru Slusari criticized the leadership and made public statements. Hence, the journalistic material lacked equilibrium and that very event was used to promote some political actors and, respectively, to smear some others, whose opinion was not included at all. There were prevailing the accusing opinions addressed to the leadership and the used sources transmitted the information, which was not checked by the reporters. In the course of the day, Publika TV informed about commemorating events and the journalists combined the actions that took place in two localities – Cocieri, a village where battles took place in 1992, and Chisinau, in their materials broadcasted in the news bulletin at 07:00 p.m. The reporters discussed with three veterans, who narrated about the moments from the battle but did not refer to their actual life or to the county situation. That reportage also included a fragment from Andrian Candu’s speech and the images were edited so as that there was ignored the reaction of those, who listened to him. As it was seen from other media sources, the veterans shouted ‘It’s a shame!…’ Thus, there was reflected only a part of the facts. Accenttv.md announced in those two news reflecting the subject about the fact that there would take place a march, and referred to the commemorating action organized by the Party of Socialists (PSRM)on the bridge over the Dniester river in the locality of Vadul-lui-Voda. The journalists informed just in the first proposition that the PSRM representatives laid the flowers on the bridge, and reproduced in the remaining part of the text the statements of the leader Igor Dodon with regard to the Dniester conflict and his promises related to settlement of the Transnistrian conflict through

11 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-manifestatiile-din-2-martie-selectarea-faptelor-si- promovarea-politica/

federalization of the Republic of Moldova, in case if the socialists took the power. The text was accompanied by photographs and a video sequence with Igor Dodon’s statements. We may deduce from the way the event was reflected in, that the authors did not followed the goal to give the complete information to the consumers but contented themselves with a unilateral and selective approach. Moreover, the facts were used as a trigger for political promotion of the Party of Socialists and its leader.

Subject 6. Protests of the Motor Vehicle Owners against Road Tax Increase (March 29th and 30th, 2016)12 Several media sources informed on March 29th and 30th that tens of drivers blocked with their cars the access roads to Cahul-Oancea customs point, since they had a grudge against a provision from the budgetary and tax policy approved by the Government and related to increase of the road tax for the owners of the motor vehicles registered abroad. The owners of the motor vehicles registered in the Republic of Moldova took part in the protest too, claiming for non-increase of the fuel excise duties and taxes for car import. The program Newsroom dated March 30th on Publika TV dedicated 10 minutes to this subject and included therein a reporter’s live standup on the site, the news and the studio discussion with a journalist of that channel. Nevertheless, the material lacked one of the mandatory sources: protesting drivers. The journalists narrated about that event, however, they ignored the initiators and protagonists. The subject, in its essence, referred to a conflict between two parties – leadership and a group of people. The reasons of a party were ignored but the reasons of their adversaries were emphasized. Thus, there took place a selective and unilateral presentation of the information. This means that, according to the Journalist’s Ethical Code, a journalist shall ask for opinion of all subject-related parties. The reporters forgot to inform about the fact that another reason for protests was increase of the tax on vehicle import but the indignation due to increase of the fuel excise duties was announced in passing, in a journalist’s live standup on the site. The studio discussion with the journalist Aleksandr Barbov, as well, was focused on dissatisfaction of the owners of the motor vehicles registered abroad, however, without mentioning the planned increase of the fuel excise duties, which would affect the entire population. The invitee presented several arguments for the Government’s proposals and accused the owners of the motor vehicles registered abroad. As a consequence, Newsroom presented that protest in a manner favorable only for a part - leadership. Jurnal TV offered more details about the protest, however, the news had the signs of disequilibrium, since the only source used was the drivers. The reporters neither included in the news the reasons of the Ministry of Finance for increase; nor the response of the authorities to the protest and to the accusations made by the participants was requested, although one of the accusations referred to the fact that ‘increasing the taxes, the leadership tried to recover the billion stolen from the banking system’. However, there was included, as a response, a background phrase saying that some days ago ‘the Minister of Finance Octavian Armasu declared that the authorities were trying to find solutions for this case, but gave to understand that they would NOT renounce increase of the vignette’. Subject 7. Protest Organized by the Party ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ on April 24th13 On 04.24.2016 Sunday, in Chisinau, there took place a protest action organized by the ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ and claiming for, amongst other things, conduct of early parliamentary elections

12 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-nemultumirea-proprietarilor-de-autoturisme-fata-de- majorarea-taxei-de-drum-protest-fara-protestatari/ 13 Case study http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-protestul-din-24-aprilie-de-la-chisinau-manipulare- si-dezinformare-en-gros/

on the same day with the presidential election on October 30th cy. The manifestation started in the Great National Assembly Square but thereafter, the protesters surrounded the building of the Government. After that, they marched till the residence of the democrat Vlad Plahotniuc in Bulgara Street and to the location of GBC Company belonging to him, in Cantemir Avenue. There were confrontations in both places, between the demonstrators and the policemen, who formed the protective cordons but somebody from the crowd threw eggs and stones into the public order defenders. On the second day, the Minister of Internals announced that there had been open a criminal case on mass disorders and that 17 policemen had been wounded. The elements of fact concealment, mixture of truth and lies, and selective presentation of facts may be distinguished in the news broadcasted on the April 24th eveningby Publika TV.Example of the text: ‘In some minutes, the protesters broke through the police cordon besides the building of the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office in Bulgara Street’. As a matter of fact, the protesters went to Bulgara Street, in order to picket the house, where Vladimir Plahotniuc lived. The police cordon was there namely due to that reason, but not in order to protect the building of the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office, as it became known from the news. The journalists concealed the reason why the column of demonstrators had been exactly in that place. The fact that the information with the motifs was ignored in the news, might mislead the consumer and create an impression that the uncontrolled crowd had been destroying everything in their way and attacking the policemen. Another example: ‘Another group of protesters went to an office building, broke through the police cordon, threw stones and tried to roll over a bus’. An office building was not an object, whereto the demonstrators went accidentally, it was the headquarters of Global Business Center Company belonging to the politician and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc, whom the demonstrators accused of capturing the state. There was also concealed the fact that the protest leaders had been calling the crown for calming down and stopping the acts of violence, and had been speaking of the risk of existence of some provocateurs. The news on Publika TV also lacked other relevant information on the protest, such as approval of a resolution, vindications formulated by the protesters, accusations of the Government, etc. Thus, the consumer found nothing but selective information about that event. The majority of news about the protest, broadcasted on April 24th morning hours by Publika TV and Publika.md repeated the phrase ‘The experts qualify this manifestation as an action of launching of the electoral campaign of the party ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’, which is led from behind by the oligarchs Victor and Viorel Topa’. Despite this, there was quoted none of the concrete experts, who would formulate that idea. Thus, there was made an attempt to pass off the protesters’ vindications and, meanwhile, to establish credibility in the idea that there took place an electoral action. Other news on Publika operated with an inexact quotation, and this resulted in distortion of the initial message: ‘CReHR Observers: Protests in the Capital Center Being the Acts of Severe Hooliganism’. The President of the Center for Resources for Human Rights Sergiu Ostaf listed in a Facebook post the preliminary conclusions of the CREHR observers on protest and said that throwing stones in policemen, i.e. an action taking place in Bulgara Street and in Cantemir Avenue, might be qualified as ‘severe hooliganism’. The journalists divorced the qualification ‘severe hooliganism’ from the context and used it in the heading, extending it throughout the whole manifestation. In other words, the protest in the Great National Assembly Square was marked with no acts of violence. This procedure of manipulation through heading is acknowledged by the specialists as one of the most wide-spread, particularly, within the online medium, where the majority of consumers read and remember only headings. The similar, i.e. defective, manner was used to quote, as well, a worker of the Delegation of the European Union to Chisinau, who wanted to keep the anonymity and who spoke to a reporter of Newsmaker.md, wherefrom it was taken by Publika.

Invoking RIA Novosti, Novostipmr.cominformed only about the reason for the protest and about the fact that the demonstrators surrounded the building of the Government. The other part of the facts – picketing of those two buildings and clashes with the police, was ignored. Some news of Sputnik.md, broadcasted on April 24thcommented thefacts and gave the value judgements so as that the texts would reveal the authors’ opinion. Example: the news ‘Protest Organizers Preparing their Alibi’ attested: ‘A TV-channel close to the ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ is preparing the site for the Sunday protest organizers to get off with a whole skin, in case if the manifestation overflows into violence’. The presence of the reporter’s opinion in the news contradicted the Code of Ethics binding the journalists to present the facts in a neutral manner and without appreciations. The news on Jurnal TV ‘New Large-Scale Protest in the Capital’ showed a leader of the ‘Platform of Dignity and Truth’ naming from the rostrum the chairman of the Supreme Court of Justice Mihai Poalelungi ‘the most corrupted judge in the Republic of Moldova’, without asking for a response from the person viewed. Both Publika TV and Jurnal TV used the labelling ‘oligarch’ in all the news, wherein there was mentioned, respectively, the politician and businessman Vlad Plahotniuc, the owner of this channel, and the businessman Victor Topa, the owner of Jurnal TV channel, presently staying in Germany. Labelling was aimed to diminish credibility and to weaken authority of the persons viewed, and, as a consequence, might develop speech clichés and, later, thinking clichés. The elements of emotional manipulation through use of music and lyrics were identified, as well, onJurnal TV. The news bulletin on this channel at 07:00 p.m. broadcasted a video fragment that had the generic role, before and after the news block about the Sunday protests on April 24th. Against the background of the images with the crowd gathered in the Great National Assembly Square, there was heard the ‘Song of Sunrises’ by Alexei Mateevici, a composition having a pronounced message calling to revolts. The music and lyrics was appreciated as the means to generate the emotions and to manipulate emotionally the wide public. Use of such a procedure is accepted in case of movies, entertainment shows or documentaries but not in case of news bulletins. In this event, Jurnal TV channel substituted the protest organizers with itself and became a rostrum to call the people to manifestation. The same news bulletin on Jurnal TV at 07:00 p.m. bore a sign of another technique of manipulation with the elements of propaganda – exacerbation of facts. This presupposed unjustified emphasizing, artificial intensification of the fact breadth and exaggeration of feelings, in order to promote certain messages or to discredit a person or groups. The same program dedicated 45 minutes of the total number of 49 minutes to the protest conducted in Chisinau. So, the rostrum speakers and their adherents in the crowd benefited from an extended space on Jurnal, even if many of them expressed them same ideas.

Subject 8. Court Examination of the Criminal Case Open against Vlad Filat14 Several court hearings of the witnesses in the criminal case on influence traffic and passive corruption, open against the former Prime Minister Vlad Filat took place in April 2016. Since that was a subject of major public interest, i.e. it was the first time when a former Prime Minister was on the dock in the Republic of Moldova, the hearings were followed by the media, despite the fact that they were closed ones.

14 http://mediacritica.md/studiu-de-caz-examinarea-instanta-dosarului-penal-deschis-pe-numele-lui- vlad-filat-putine-surse-si-mult-dat-cu-parerea/

On Publika TV and Publika.md, some news related to this subject was based on the only source – prosecutor of that case, without verifying her affirmations and without presenting the lawyer’s reaction. An example would be the news ‘New Witnesses Heard in the Case of Vlad Filat: ‘Subject of Accusations Being Fully Confirmed’dated April the 9th. The text said that there was heard Iurie Leanca, , Veaceslav Ionita and Victor Barbaneagra, and that the prosecutor declared: ‘The subject of accusations of Vlad Filat wasfully confirmed, as a consequence of witnesses’ statements, particularly – the influences he had exerted on those people holding the senior positions in 2013, when there took place an additional issue of Banca de Economii shares’. Other sources were not presented in the news. The journalists did not make any efforts to check and to prove the prosecutor’s words by interviewing the people she spoke about, i.e. the witnesses themselves, some of which made the remarks to reporters just after leaving the hearing. We might deduce from such an ignorance that the reporters wanted to render the only point of view – that one of the part of accusation, but deliberately forgot to interview the direct sources and the opposing side. The facts were presented unilaterally, this being a violation of clause 2.2 of chapter II of the Journalist Code of Ethics stipulating that ‘a journalist should ask for opinion from all subject-related parties’. On the same day of April 15th, Deschide.md published the news15 headed ‘Exclusively. List of the Witnesses Vlad Filat Reliant on’ and reproducing a list of 18 people, who were attested to be the defense witnesses but whose names were allegedly divulged by anonymous sources. Neither Deschide.md, nor media institutions taking this news – Publika.md, Accenttv.md, Bloknot- moldova.md, wherefrom it was taken from Rtr.md, made any efforts to verify the information or to ask the lawyer about the reaction. The news ‘Source: Administrator of Filat’s Facebook Page – Angela Gonta’ was taken from an anonymous source too, presented as ‘very informed source’ and published on Rtr.md. It was taken from Sputnik.md and the text comprised a quotation of the prosecutor Adriana Betisor saying that the law-enforcement officers had identified the administrator of Filat’s Facebook account, however, his/her name was not divulged. The anonymous source, which said that such an administrator was the politician’s wife Angela Gonta, completed in such a way the prosecutor’s words. We should mention here that use of anonymous sources is not a practice of the quality journalism but, to the contrary, often serves to distribute false information16. Use of the information from the anonymous sources should be accepted only under certain conditions with a mandatory check in other independent sources. On April 19th, when a new court hearing in Vlad Filat’s case took place, Publika TV broadcasted the news placed on the website under the heading ‘Prison or Luxury Hotel? Conditions for Vlad Filat to Wait for a Sentence‘. Basing on an image taken from the portal Today.md, there was open the cell, wherein the former Prime Minuster Vlad Filat was kept, and it was compared with a hotel: ‘Vlad Filat lives alone in a cell in Penitentiary no.13, but the conditions, which he has been expecting the sentence in, are more like a hotel, than a prison’. Thereafter, there was quoted a short statement of the accused’s lawyer, who told that the accused lived alone in the cell at that moment, and mentioned in passing that a new hearing in the relevant case took place that day. The consumers found from other media about the fact that on the same day, the deputies of the PLDM fraction tried once more, after several attempts of the same kind, to submit a guarantee for release of Vlad Filat, however, the court dismissed their motion. Ignorance of such information and change of the news accents from the attempt of his colleagues (insisting on arrest inopportunity) to release him, to presentation of the detention conditions as luxury ones, offered a

15 http://deschide.md/ro/news/politic/26398/EXCLUSIV--Lista-martorilor-în-care-pune-speranța-Vlad- Filat.htm 16 Case study. Stimulation of critical thinking in journalists. http://www2.cji.ro/userfiles/file/Gandirea_critica/2_%20Scandalul%20Monica%20Macovei%20la%20Costi nesti.pdf

distorted reality to the wide public. The consumer would be left with an impression that Vlad Filat was ensured preferential conditions at the penitentiary. On April 21st, when the judges extended Vlad Filat’s arrest warrant for a 30-day period, there appeared the news on Publika.md‘Vlad Filat’s Case: Chosen Defense Witnesses Not Hurrying to Come to Help the Former Prime Minister‘. Despite the fact that the information was presented again from the only source, i.e. the prosecutor, the reporters mentioned only in passing about real news – extension of the arrest warrant for another month, and focused on the information they had broadcasted earlier (that the defense would have problems with witness summoning). This might be understood as an ignorance and repetition for the manipulator purposes. Hence, there was made an attempt to pass off the fact that, despite the requests of the defense and party colleagues, Vlad Filat was still kept in custody, and, meanwhile, to establish credibility of the idea that the accused had nothing to defend himself with, since his witnesses did not want to bear testimonies. Some of the news about Vlad Filat’s proceedings, placed on Publika.md and Sputnik.md were accompanied by the photographs, wherein the former Prime Minister was caught with various grimaces that might be interpreted as expressing confusion, dissatisfaction, discomfort or non- esthetic positions. The video or photo images are used in journalism to witness from the scene, to establish credibility of some information or to help the consumer to understand the message better. When there are no images of the event, the journalists may use archive photographs or videos that are related to the subject, they narrate about. As for the above cases, although there was a possibility to place some photographs or video spots made before or after the court hearings, the journalists decided to attach to the texts some old photographs of Vlad Filat, some of them being made in Parliament but not transmitting any subject-related message and, to the contrary, presenting him in unfavorable circumstances. In the news referring to this subject and broadcasted by Ziarulnational.md on April 13th, ‘Court Hearings in Filat’s Case May Be Public. The Defense Witnesses Coming to the Court’, the businessman Ilan Sor was presented as ‘controversial Ilan Sor’. Labelling, especially in the news, is a practice not conforming to the deontological rules. The communication specialists include labelling within the techniques of informational manipulation, arguing that it contributes to creation of some speech clichés that, in their turn, would lead to thinking clichés17.

CONCLUSIONS

 A part of the monitored media institutions reflected the events that were the subject of this study, in a manner deviating from the Journalist Code of Ethics, namely: they transmitted information from the sole source, exaggerated the facts, presented commented information and used labeling, to the detriment of well-balanced information sharing and opinion pluralism. The cases of violation of the deontological rules and use of the techniques for informational manipulation were particularly stated when narrating about the internal events bearing the major political backgrounds and about the subjects of external policy related to conflict situations.

 The elements of informational manipulation and propaganda were stated in the news of Publika TV, RTR, REN TV, Jurnal TV, Sputnik.md, Accenttv.md.

17 Bogdan Ficeac, Manipulation Techniques, http://www.docfoc.com/bogdan-ficeac-tehnici-de- manipulare-5654bd36deb8d

 In the subjects related to the political sphere, a part of the monitored institutions looked with favor on some political actors but was malicious to others in the texts and images, thus presenting the facts in a distorted way.

 The institutions that broadcasted the Russian-language content, presented the events in Russia, Ukraine and Syria from a point of view that was exceptionally favorable for the Russian Federation (by selecting the subjects, formulating the text, combining the images and drafting the subjects and headings), without ensuring the complete and equidistant information sharing.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 When realizing the news and drafting the news editions as a whole, the media institutions should be governed exclusively by the rules of the Code of Ethics and by the quality standards in journalism, in order to reflect the reality in a proper way and to offer the objective, equidistant and clear information to the wide public.  The journalists should abandon the practices of: unilateral presentation of the facts; using the anonymous sources without verifying the information; and commenting the information, if such practices are not included in the opinion shows or rubrics.  The editors and proofreaders, who take and rebroadcast the news from other channels, should complete the information broadcasted and should verify it in independent sources, in the event if such news is not complete or comes from anonymous sources.  The media institutions should select the subjects, depending on the public interest but not on other criteria, such as political or any other interests of the media trust owners.  The media institutions should not substitute the political groups with themselves, when they criticize the situation in the country or call the people to manifestations or revolts. The journalists shall have the mission of narrating the facts in an equidistant and neutral manner.  The owners and heads of the media institutions should refrain from transforming the media means into tools of propaganda and manipulation with the public opinion.  The Coordinating Council on Audiovisual should monitor the way, in which the broadcasting organizations ensure the opinion pluralism and abide by the autochthonous laws, as well as to the European rules in the audiovisual sphere, when it comes to correct, objective and pluralist information sharing, and should make inquiries, if required.  The media consumers are recommended to get informed from several media sources, in order to avoid the risk of receiving erroneous and manipulating information.

This report was developed by the media expert Viorica Zaharia