2008
SOROS FOUNDATION-MOLDOVA 2008 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS
MISSION STATEMENT 3
MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 4
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Higher Education Support Program 6 Step by Step Educational Program 8
YOUTH PROGRAMS National High School Debate League 9 Youth Initiatives Support Program 10
INFORMATION PROGRAM 11
CIVIL SOCIETY PROGRAM 12 Subprogram 1: Strengthening the Non-governmental Sector in Moldova 14 Sub- program 2: Travel Grants for NGO Representatives 19 Subprogram 3: Civil Society Development in the Transnistrian and Gagauzian Regions 21 Subprogram 4: CONTACT Resource Centers’ Network 22 Subprogram 5: Community Foundations 23 Subprogram 6: Public Opinion Barometer 24
GENDER EQUITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM 25
EAST EAST: PARTNERSHIP BEYOND BORDERS PROGRAM 26 Subprogram 1: Hosting and Bilateral Projects 29 Subprogram 2: Participating Projects 36
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM 38 Subprogram 1: Mental Health Initiatives 40 Subprogram 2: Palliative Care 42 Subprogram 3: Law and Health Program 44 Subprogram 4: Access to Essential Medicines 45 Subprogram 5: Media and Health Initiatives 46 Subprogram 6: Harm Reduction 47
CULTURAL POLICY PROGRAM 54
MEDIA PROGRAM 58 Subprogram 1: Improving the Media Legal Framework. Monitoring the Activity of Independent Media Institutions 59 Subprogram 2: Public Broadcasting Service. Cooperation Projects with ACC and Teleradio Moldova SB 60 Subprogram 3: Strengthening Good Governance via Support for Independent Media Development 64
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM 69 Subprogram 1: Transparency and Accountability 71 Subprogram 2: Public Policy and Advocacy 73 Subprogram 3: Technical Assistance and Expert Support for LGs 74 Subprogram 4: Support to the Decentralization Process 75
LAW PROGRAM 76 Subprogram 1: Judicial Development 78 Subprogram 2: Access to Justice 79 Subprogram 3: Criminal Justice 80 Other Projects 81
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EUROPEAN INITIATIVES PROGRAM 82 Subprogram 1: NGO Capacity Building 85 Subprogram 2: Increased Awareness and Knowledge 87
2008 EXPENDITURES 91
SFM NATIONAL BOARD AND PROGRAM BOARDS 92
SFM STAFF 94
CONTACT INFORMATION 95
2 MISSION STATEMENT
The Soros Foundation-Moldova (SFM) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 1992 by philanthropist and financier George Soros to promote open society values in Moldova. The Foundation contributes to the democratization of the society by developing and implementing programs in various areas, such as cultural policy, judiciary reform, public administration and good governance, independent media and access to information, civil society and public health.
3 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
In 2008, the Soros Foundation–Moldova made significant contributions to human rights, good gov- ernance, access to justice, media independence, and the health rights of underserved populations. The foundation promoted European values and strengthening ties with neighboring countries.
The foundation’s Public Administration and Good Governance Program changed its format in 2008 to place greater emphasis on monitoring and advocacy activities. The launch of a local budget monitoring project in several towns marked the change. At the national level, the foundation supported the development phase of the Civic Initiative for a Clean Parliament, which will monitor voter lists and provide the public with accurate information about candidates in the 2009 Parliamentary elections. The foundation also addressed good governance issues by working with OSI’s Media Program and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to sustain a network of regional radio and TV stations. During the year, the network of 23 stations added two new independent stations, broadening its coverage to the entire Trans- nistrian region. Network members worked together to create an Internet based File Transfer Protocol site that allows them to download and exchange programs and news stories.
To end the isolation of children with mental disabilities, the foundation, OSI’s Mental Health Initiative, two human services NGOs, and the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child signed a memorandum of understanding in May. The agreement commits the ministry and its NGO partners to a four-year project to end any further institutionalization of mentally disabled children in large residential facilities and to develop community-based services to replace residential institutions. The agreement includes pilot projects and the development of monitoring mechanisms to ensure the long-term stability of the reforms.
The foundation worked with OSI’s Law and Health Initiative and Human Rights and Grants Gov- ernance Program to make human rights an essential part of the country’s response to HIV/AIDS by supporting NGOs that monitor and document human rights violations against people living with HIV/ AIDS. During the year, one foundation grantee, The Institute for Human Rights from Moldova, in partnership with service provider organizations, brought several cases to Moldova’s national court. One of them relates to the HIV positive status disclosure of a pregnant woman by a family doctor, and the second case involves a non-resident married person who cannot obtain the Moldovan citizenship because of his HIV positive status. Both cases are under examination in court.
After several years of effort, the foundation’s legal aid reform partnership with the Ministry of Justice began to see results. A new legal aid law which took into account the foundation’s analyses of legal aid in Moldova came in to force in 2008. It immediately began providing indigent criminal defendants with competent, engaged legal assistance. The law also created the Council for State Guaranteed Legal Aid, which will oversee the administration of assist- ance, monitor the quality of services, and advise the ministry on policies. The law calls for the government to establish a paralegal system to provide legal aid in noncriminal cases by 2012.
Moldova’s legal structure encourages the involvement of civil society in local and national level decision-making processes. Yet participation is hindered by lack of information, low levels of professionalism among public servants, and citizens’ general distrust of decision makers. The foundation addressed these problems in 2008 by supporting NGO representat- ives and officials from the Chisinau government who studied successful initiatives in Romania and Ukraine to increase public participation in governance. During the year, the project began implementing the lessons learned and officials and civil society groups reported a positive shift in public attitudes toward local government. The project also published a guidebook for officials, activists, and citizens interested in increasing public participation in local governance.
The foundation followed up on the passage of a new freedom of assembly law in 2007 by supporting NGOs working to raise awareness about it. The NGOs held meetings for appeals court judges in Chisinau and four other towns on national and European standards regarding freedom of assembly. Roundtables organized by NGOs highlighted the law for
4 representatives from local governments, NGOs, and groups focusing on legal policy. Four cases of violations of the law were identified; several citizens were pressed charges on the basis of protesting illegally. The defendants were represented in court by a lawyer who worked for one of the implementing organizations – the Promo LEX NGO– a foundation’s grantee. All the cases were solved in favor of the defendants.
As part of a larger partnership project between five NGOs and local public schools, the foundation helped train a group of 40 children on children’s rights in several regions of the country. A training of trainers’ course was carried out for a group of 10 children who later trained other 30 peers on children’s rights, using the peer-to-peer technique. The project also produced a movie that featured children from the project and highlighted children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The movie consisted of short stories revealing children’s rights from the UN Convention. The plot of each story was written with the full participation of children and the acting was done exclusively by them. The project distributed the film to a number of schools throughout the country. This was a good opportunity for children, their parents and teachers to express their opinion about the content of the movie and learn, at the same time, about children’s rights. Their comments and suggestions were taken into consideration while improving the quality of the movie. The project activities, which also included several national and regional exhibitions of children’s drawings and photographs reflecting their rights, were made public mostly by means of broadcast and written media. As a further step, the implementing organization will advocate for accepting the movie produced within the project as part of the school curriculum all over the country.
These are just a few major initiatives implemented with SFM’s support in 2008. I invite you to get familiar with our activity in detail by reading this report.
Victor URSU Executive Director
5 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM (HESP)
In 2007, the Higher Education Support Program phased out its activity. However, during 2008 it continued to monitor the multiannual grants offered to major universities from Moldova during the previous few years. At the same time, the program continued its collaboration with HESP OSI-Budapest and Central European University (CEU), offering support to university departments in the framework of the Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) and short-term internships for young academics organized by the Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) in Budapest. Starting with July 2008, the CRC activities are coordinated by the Educational Advising Center from Moldova (Email: [email protected]).
In 2008, the Program provided support for the implementation of the following activities: - Merit Scholarship Competition - CRC Training Sessions for Young Academics - Academic Fellowship Program
Program Director: Ana COREŢCHI, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Jana MIDONI, Email: [email protected] Total HESP expenditures: $36,104
Merit Scholarship Competition www.eac.md
The Educational Advising Center (EAC) received financial support from the Soros Foundation-Moldova for the organization of the Merit Scholarship Competition, carried out by EAC under the aegis of the Council of Rectors of the Republic of Moldova. This initiative was co-financed by Moldova Agroindbank and ORANGE Moldova. Within the 2008 contest, 385 applications were submitted, out of which 62 students from 19 universities were awarded merit scholarships. First degree scholarships were awarded to 3 students; second degree scholarships - to 19 students; and third degree - to 40 students.
SFM contribution: $6,000
Curriculum Research Center (CRC) Training Sessions for Young Academics
The Program offered travel grants to young academics for participation in the training sessions organized by the Curriculum Research Center of the Central European University. The 2008 Spring Sessions were organized in various fields and on different topics, each session being held during one week.
Nationalism Session, February 23 - March 2 Elena ŞINCARIOVA, lecturer, State Institute for International Relations $483
Teaching Cultural Policy Session, March 1-9 Adelina ŞTEFÂRŢA, lecturer, Alecu Russo State University from Bălţi Irina GRABOVAN, lecturer, Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University of Moldova $865
Gender Studies Session, March 8-16 Irina BURLACU, lecturer, State University of Moldova $425
CRC advertising and other expenditures: $218 Total CRC expenditures: $1,991
6 Academic Fellowship Program (AFP) http://www.soros.org/initiatives/hesp/focus/afp
AFP Moldova Country Coordinator - Eleonora DUPOUY, Associate Professor, Technical University of Moldova (Email: [email protected] )
The Open Society Institute’s International Higher Education Support Program launched the Academic Fellowship program (AFP) in 2004, building on HESP’s experience as a core funder of education in the region. The AFP aims to contribute to reform processes in institutions of higher education in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia and to help build inclusive academic networks locally, regionally and globally. AFP focuses on both educational institutions and individual scholars by helping reform-minded departments to achieve world- class academic status, becoming a model platform for innovation and reform in the region and by assisting promising local scholars, encouraging their return home, their positioning within university, and their continued professional development.
In 2008, three departments of state universities of Moldova were involved in the AFP activities as follows:
World History Department, Ion Creangă State Pedagogical University AFP Returning Scholars: Iulia CAPROŞ, Andrei CUŞCO, Igor CAŞU, Marin CERCEZ, Victor TAKI Nonresident International Scholar: Mark SANDLE, United Kingdom
Social Work Department, State University of Moldova AFP Returning Scholars: Irina BURLACU, Corneliu BOLBOCEAN, Petru NEGURĂ Nonresident International Scholars: Ann Marie GRAY, Northern Ireland; William David HARRISON, USA
Psychology Department, State University of Moldova AFP Returning Scholar: Violeta MAHU Nonresident International Scholar: Ivana MARKOVA, United Kingdom.
AFP faculty members contributed to the implementation of curriculum reform-oriented projects, aimed at the development of new Master’s Degree Programs and new courses and modernization of subject area contents at Bachelor’s Degree level. They organized workshops and roundtables on innovative approaches in teaching, student assessment methods, research methodology and requirements to Master’s theses. AFP also offered support for the development of departments’ libraries and for attending international conferences by local faculty members. The Program also provided assistance to academia staff in applying to OSI/HESP faculty development programs, such as CRC sessions, Course Development Competition, and organizing inter-regional subject area group meetings.
Total AFP expenditures: $28,104
7 STEP BY STEP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Executive Director: Cornelia CINCILEI, Email: [email protected]
In 2008, in accordance with its strategic goal to promote democratic changes in the education system of Moldova and community development, with special emphasis on equal access to quality education in partnership with family and community, Step by Step developed its activity in the following programmatic directions:
Child-centered Methodology Implementation The NGO promoted quality child-centered practices through providing accessible trainings to vari- ous categories of educators and school administrators, through on-going methodological support to teachers, and advocating for changes in the systems of pre-service and in-service teacher training. The content and the format of the trainings are continuously developed, based on the ongoing assessment of the needs of teachers from the network of kindergartens and schools implementing the Step by Step Program (404 Step by Step pre-school classrooms and 1085 Step by Step primary school classrooms), as well as of all interested teachers and managers. Thus, the Step by Step team of trainers and experts provided 109 days of training for school teachers, including 97 days of central and regional trainings and 12 days of transition training on-site, 27 training days for preschool teachers, and 3 roundtables for regional and central educational authorities. 818 primary teachers and 146 preschool teachers and administrators were trained and 65 Step by Step teachers received technical support during site visits to their classrooms.
Being concerned about the quality of the classroom implementation of the child-centered methodo- logy, the Step by Step Program with the support of the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) implemented mechanisms of teacher mentoring and international certification based on ISSA Pedagogical Standards. In 2008, 16 teachers participated in the certification process, from which 7 teachers, including 3 pre-school and 4 primary received ISSA certificates and 9 teachers are getting mentor support; 20 new national mentors were trained; 87 teachers, besides certification, participated in mentoring programs; 4 roundtables and workshops were organized for regional inspectors, methodologists, school administrators on ISSA Pedagogical Standards as a tool for promoting child-centered practices. As a result of a broad dissemination, ISSA Pedagogical Standards are used by Step by Step teachers as a self-evaluation tool in their classroom practice and in preparation for the country accreditation process as part of their portfolio. Step by Step offered expert assistance to the State University of Moldova, the leading partner, for the development of course modules promoting child-centered methodology for pedagogical universities, colleges and in-service training institutions, and trained faculty on the basis of the materials developed with UNICEF support.
Community Schools as Catalyst of Community Changes The aim of the Program within this direction was to assist schools, mostly rural, to turn from recognized academic authorities in their communities into promoters of consistent social develop- ment, of civic society building, and of community empowerment for the sake of improving the quality of life. In 2008, through an open competition, 11 new Community Schools were added to the network. Thus, the total number of Community Schools in Moldova is now 43. A series of training courses were organized on-site to support schools’ inner transformation into democratic learning communities, to help them build school-community partnerships around local projects (64 training days). Technical assistance to each Community School was provided in identifying loc- al community needs for educational and social projects, including programs for pre-school children and their families. The project is implemented through joint support of Ch.S.Mott Foundation, Soros Foundation-Moldova, Open Society Institute-London, and Helping Hand Moldavia, Netherlands.
Budget: $130,000 for a four-year implementation period: 2007-2010 2008 budget addition: $2,000
8 YOUTH PROGRAMS
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE LEAGUE (NHSDL)
Analysis of Community Problems through Debates – an Imperative for the Development of Civil Society Project manager: Iulia MOLDOVAN, Email: [email protected]
Debate is a democratic exercise meant to increase the participation of high school and university students in the process of identifying and solving community problems.
In 2008, the NHSDL implemented the project Analysis of Community Problems through Debates – an Imperative for the Development of Civil Society, which aimed at developing high school students’ competence in analyzing the problems their community faces, as well as finding the best solutions to them. Throughout project implementation, topics regarding environment, management of aquatic resources and providing access to safe and clean drinking water, as well as issues related to Moldova’s neutrality and economic security were debated.
Other activities implemented during 2008 were: 6 regional and 1 national seminar for teachers; 18 local seminars; 1 Training of Trainers seminar for high school students; 1 seminar on arbitration; 12 regional debate competitions; 77 public debates. The activities involved 2,400 beneficiaries from 62 debate clubs-participants in the NHSDL’s activities. The regional seminars took place in all the regions of the republic and were designed both for Romanian and Russian language speakers.
During 2008, the national team participated in the international debate tournament in Bulgaria (IDEA Youth Forum); 2 high-school student teams along with their teachers participated in the Youth Forum in New York hosted at UN Headquarters and 2 NHSDL members participated in the Summer Debate Institute held in Turkey.
The NHSDL created partnerships with REC Moldova and the Department of Public Relations of the NATO Center in the framework of the project. Besides this, the debate clubs developed cooperation relationships with local public authorities. This result was achieved due to the importance of the problems addressed by the debate clubs.
During 2008, the activity of the debate clubs, the importance of debates and their impact in society were covered in more than 20 articles.
Project time frame: 2007 – 2009. 2008 budget: $45,900
9 YOUTH INITIATIVES SUPPORT PROGRAM
The Program organized a set of activities that aimed at informing youth from the Republic of Moldova about the importance of civic involvement in the community. Several meetings in Chişinău, Bălţi and Cahul were organized where different groups of youth met the representatives of the Albanian Youth Movement “Mjaft!” who familiarized the youth about models of civic involvement of youth from Albania.
The Civil Society Program financially supported the participation of 2 persons -- Cristian ZILIBERBERG, CreDO Human Rights Resource Center, and Alina SECRIERU, Association of International Volunteerism from Moldova, in the Bar Camp organized in Istanbul, Turkey. The event took place in June 21-22, 2008 and had as objective the development of a non- formal meeting of young activists from different countries in order to exchange good practices regarding youth civic involvement for conditioning quality change in society. $2,072
Youth Action Fund Grantee: Youth Development Center Project manager: Corneliu CIRIMPEI, Email: [email protected]
The Youth Action Fund (YAF) was launched at the end of 2008. YAF represents a program initiated by the Open Society Institute and has as goal to identify and support youth initiative groups that can mobilize and influence a big number of fellows in order to promote the ideals of an open society. Except for Moldova, this program is simultaneously taking place in several other countries: Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Nepal, Serbia and Uganda.
The Youth Action Fund supports the following types of actions: • Skill development and peer education events—open, participatory workshops and trainings, whose content is provided by youth participants; • Activism aimed to raise awareness and address open society issues – youth campaigns, youth mobilization projects; • Media related projects aimed at increasing the flow of information or uncovering issues not addressed in the mainstream media; • Innovative projects aimed at raising awareness about human rights.
Applications within this Program are submitted via an online application system at www.soros.org/youth and their evaluation is done by a group of 3 experts. $25,970
10 INFORMATION PROGRAM
The Information Program was phased out in 2007. However, during 2008, the Program continued to monitor the implementation of the ongoing projects supported financially during the previous few years.
Building e-Governance in Moldova -2 Grantee: United Nations Development Program Project manager: Vitalie VREMIŞ
Extending Access to Networking Training Courses for Local IT Specialists Grantee: DNT Association Project manager: Roman DAMIAN
Promotion and Facilitation of Open Source Software Use Grantee: Foundation for Digital Development in Moldova (FDDM) Project manager: Victor PAPANAGA
Sustainable Development of AITCCs by Strengthening the Organizational Capacities of AITCC Alliance of the Republic of Moldova Grantee: CONTACT National Assistance and Information Center for NGOs Project manager: Victor KOROLI
National Collective Shared Catalogue Grantee: National Library of the Republic of Moldova Project manager: Alexe RĂU
The Access to Information and Training Community Centers established with the financial support of the Foundation were assisted in fundraising and implementation of projects that aimed at diversifying the information resources and services provided for community members.
Program Director: Dumitru CHITOROAGĂ, PhD, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $ 21,575
11 CIVIL SOCIETY PROGRAM
Vision: An open and democratic society in which essential rules of civil society function effectively: respect for human rights, free association, freedom of opinion and initiatives, separation of public and private spheres, as well as the presence of certain mechanisms of public influence and control of the society over the state and its institutions.
Objectives: - to support NGO projects that represent groups of organizations and to influence social policy through coalition-building; - to strengthen the institutional and financial sustainability of non-governmental organizations - to support the democratization process through civil society development in the Transnistrian region; to develop civic accountability and encourage civic initiatives of involving different groups in activities at the community level; - to support advocacy activities initiated and run by civic organizations; - to support cooperation between NGOs and public authorities, contributing to the solution of social problems
Context: In 2008, the Civil Society Program supported the development and consolidation of NGO unions by supporting NGO advocacy initiatives through the Strengthening the Nongovernmental Sector Program co-financed by the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency. Financial assistance was offered for NGOs’ coalition building and for supporting 8 advocacy projects covering the following topics: enhancing the quality of medical services offered to citizens from the rayon of Soroca through active involvement of community members in the process of decision-making in public health institutions; promoting principles of equal chances for men and women within the 2009 electoral process; development of a practical framework of exercising the right to the freedom of assembly in the Republic of Moldova; guaranteeing the respect of human rights under the new Law on Mental Health; improving the situation of persons with disabilities from the Republic of Moldova through their involvement in the process of promoting, adopting and monitoring policies that regard them with NGOs’ support; enhancing the process of implementation of the Convention regarding Child Rights in the Republic of Moldova through empowering children to monitor the observance of their own rights and to undertake advocacy actions in this area. Besides existent coalitions, several intersectorial partnerships emerged during the implementation of advocacy projects.
The program continued to offer support for the development of partnerships among nongovernmental organizations at the local and national levels. In 2008, 5 partnership initiatives involving several nongovernmental organizations were supported. The objectives addressed by the financed partnership projects were: dissemination of good practices and consolidation of capacities of the members of the Alliance of Community Centers of Access to Information and Training; organization of the Fifth edition of the NGO Forum; promoting children’s rights through a range of diverse methods; consolidation of capacities of the organizations-members of the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Area of Social Protection of Children and Family.
An issue of special concern and importance was the consolidation of the non-profit organizations from the Transnistrian and Gagauzian regions, capable of taking part in public policy design and protection of citizens’ and NGO sector’s interests. Through the CONTACT Center, the SC Program offered assistance for the development of a series of community initiatives in both regions. The organization continued implementing the internship program due to which, during 2008, over 20 NGO representatives from the Transnistrian region became involved in the activities of national nongovernmental organizations.
In 2008, the Civil Society Program continued to support the CONTACT Regional Resource Centers from Chişinău, Cahul, Comrat, Bălţi and Soroca, which provided information, training and technical assistance services to the associative sector.
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The three-year project targeting the consolidation of NGOs’ financial sustainability continued to be implemented in partnership with UNDP and MSIF. During this period, the main efforts were focused on the discussions and finalization of the draft of the “Two Percent Law”, the “Law regarding Nongovernmental Organizations” and the draft “Law on Non-commercial Organizations of Public Utility”, as well as the development of community foundations.
In April and October, the traditional Public Opinion Barometer was carried out, a by-annual public survey program monitoring the social, political and economic life in the Republic of Moldova which was initiated in 1998.
Program Director: Elena LEŞAN, Email: [email protected] Program Assistant: Dorina BALTAG, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $36,285 Total Program expenditures: $517,748
List of Acronyms:
CF Community Foundations SFM Soros Foundation-Moldova MJ Ministry of Justice NGO Nongovernmental Organization ACCAIT Alliance of Community Centers of Access to Information and Training UNDP United Nations Development Program CS Program Civil Society Program Sida Swedish International Development Agency MSIF Moldova Social Investment Fund
13 SUBPROGRAM 1: STRENGHTENING THE NONGOVERNMENTAL SECTOR IN MOLDOVA In May 2006, the Civil Society Program of the Soros Foundation-Moldova, with co-financing from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency, started the implementation of a new program entitled Strengthening the Nongovernmental Sector in Moldova. The program includes an open grants competition with several components, as well as training courses for the NGOs involved in advocacy projects. The program goal is to improve the level of influence and impact of civil society actors in Moldova in promoting democratic changes at community, institutional, social and policy level.
Objectives: - to develop the abilities and capacities for implementing efficient advocacy activities of at least 20 NGOs - to develop at least 5 advocacy coalitions, within which NGOs could analyze problems, formulate solutions and make joint efforts for reform - to support the transfer of knowledge and experience from the most experienced national NGOs to at least 50 local NGOs - to support the campaigns led by NGOs on major areas of interest related to democracy, human rights and quality of life in Moldova - to include the NGOs from the Transnistrian region in the information flow and activities specific to the civil society in Moldova
The three components of this subprogram are: - Strengthening NGOs’ capacities - Grants for advocacy projects - Grants for partnership projects
1. Strengthening NGOs’ Capacities
Activities Aimed at Improving the Skills of NGO Representatives Throughout May – June 2008, the Civil Society Program, in cooperation with the nongovernmental organization “Develop the Leader within You”, organized 4 regional training courses that were aimed at improving the knowledge and abilities of NGO representatives in the following areas: principles of NGO good governance, NGO transparency and accountability towards the constituents and the public, strategic development and financial management. The training courses took place in Bălţi and Chişinău with the participation of 51 NGO representatives from different regions of the country. $13,507
Training Program in Advocacy for Nongovernmental Organizations A complex training program in advocacy was carried out during July-December 2008 within the Strengthening the Nongovernmental Sector subcomponent. It consisted of three modules, 4-5 days each: • Advocacy: Strategic Approaches in Changing Public Policies. Advocacy Methods and Techniques (September 9-12) • Strategic Approaches in Changing Public Policies. Lobby (October 8-11) • Development and Implementation of Advocacy Campaigns (November 17-21) The training program was conducted by two trainers from the Romanian Training Institute with a rich experience in training and diverse advocacy activities. As a result of an open competition, largely advertized, 22 representatives of local and national NGOs active in the field of human rights, youth, minorities, gender and good governance were selected as trainees. The training sessions were focused on specific practical aspects of advocacy activities, thus contributing to a better understanding of the concept of advocacy and helping potential applicants in the process of development and implementation of projects submitted within the open competition for advocacy grants. The topics covered during the training were chosen after identifying the advocacy training needs of the NGO representatives. As a result, the following issues were discussed: introduction in advocacy, public policy cycle, key-concepts in advocacy, methods and techniques in advocacy, coalitions and partnerships, management of coalitions, access to
14 public interest information and to the decision-making process, advocacy campaigns, legislative process, modification of legislation, principles of good regulation, analysis of stakeholders, etc. In December, a final 2-day event was organized, where representatives from central and local public authorities were invited as guest-speakers. They expressed their point of view on issues regarding certain aspects of the policy cycle. The aim of this event was to summarize the results of the training program that has been held during the last 3 years. $39,630
2. Grants for Advocacy Projects
Advocacy for the Promotion and Implementation of the Law on Volunteerism II Grantee: Youth for the Right to Live Association Project manager: Eduard MIHALAS Summary: This project is a follow-up of the project “Advocacy for the Development and Promotion of the Law on Volunteer Work and of Volunteer Activities” financed in 2006. The project aims at developing durable models for implementing the Law on Volunteer Activities. The Coalition will develop the web-page that aims at promoting volunteer work and volunteer activities in the Republic of Moldova; will develop the “Guide for Volunteer Coordinators”; will organize several events including: the National Conference regarding volunteer activities, the 2008 Festival of Volunteer Activities, the National Week of Volunteer Activities 2009 (3d edition), etc. Continuous trainings for volunteers will be held and internships for volunteers within state institutions will take place. Thus, the basis for implementing the Law regarding volunteerism will be created. The Coalition will also be responsible for creating a database of NGOs that develop volunteer programs and for publishing a brochure on best practices in volunteer activities. Project in progress $25,000
Children Monitor the Observance of Their Own Rights Grantee: Child Rights Information Center of Moldova Project manager: Cezar GAVRILIUC Summary: The project aims at enhancing the process of implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Republic of Moldova through empowering children to monitor the observance of their own rights and to undertake advocacy actions in this respect. As end result, the project foresees the creation of a system of monitoring children’s rights through publishing the guide “Monitoring Child Rights” and holding workshops on the guide’s implementation, publishing the pocket-guide “How to Defend My Rights”, etc. and developing children’s capacities to monitor their own rights through conducting trainings and thematic workshops. An annual “Child’s Rights” Gala will take place and an annual report regarding the observance of children’s rights will be published. TV and radio shows will be held in order to reach a broader awareness of project activities and results. Project in progress $23,630
Campaigning for the Ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Grantee: Center for Legal Assistance for People with Disabilities Project manager: Vitalie MESTER Summary: The main goal of this project is to enhance the situation of people with disabilities through the involvement of NGOs that promote and monitor the policies that regard this category of citizens. The result of this campaign aims at the ratification of the Convention by the Parliament, the adjustment of 75 percent of normative acts from the field to the standards of the Convention and the promotion of a positive image of people with disabilities by the media. Besides this, while implementing project activities, 60 percent of NGOs active in the area of people with disabilities will gain experience in undertaking activities of public policy advocacy and monitoring and cooperating in a coalition. The Coalition targets at gaining support for Convention ratification from 30,000 citizens and civil society representatives. Project in progress $24,900
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See It! Hear It! Say It! Grantee: National Center for Prevention of Child Abuse Project manager: Daniela POPESCU Summary: The main purpose of this project is to reduce violence against children, especially in cases when physical and humiliating punishments are applied to children. As a result of the project, a public awareness campaign will take place in the capital for 6 months, where 20 TV and radio reports will be broadcasted, 20 articles in newspapers will be published, around 30 city-lights will be placed in the capital, other 30 - in rayon centers, etc. The project will end in organizing a roundtable, with the participation of representatives of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova and other high rank authorities, in order to discuss about the adoption of national legislation that will interdict children’s physical punishment. Project in progress $24,989
Advocacy for Respecting Human Rights in Psychiatric Institutions Grantee: The Institute of Human Rights from Moldova Project manager: Vanu JEREGHI Summary: The major goal of this project is to guarantee the respect of human rights under the Law on Mental Health. Throughout project implementation, cases of abuse and infringements of human rights will be monitored; the situation regarding the Law on Mental Health in psychiatric institutions will be evaluated; decision makers will be informed about the cases of abuse of human rights of the institutionalized persons in psychiatric institutions. In order to reach a broader awareness of project activities and results, citizens will be informed about the cases of human rights infringement in psychiatric institutions and decision makers will be requested to be accountable for the cases of human rights infringement. Project in progress $24,972
Developing the Formal and Practical Framework for Exercising the Right to the Freedom of Assembly in the Republic of Moldova through Adjusting It to European Standards of Human Rights Grantee: The CreDO Human Rights Resource Center Project manager: Sergiu OSTAF Summary: The project aims at enhancing the practical framework of exercising the right to the freedom of assembly in the Republic of Moldova and adhering to European human rights standards. Upon realization of project activities, the project will produce: individual reports for each assembly and thus will inform the public about them; final analysis and report of data and qualitative and quantitative information resulted from monitoring the exercising of the right to the freedom of assembly throughout January – June 2009. The conclusions and recommendations of these reports will be used to inform decision makers and the general public so that the situation regarding the right to the freedom of assembly is taken stock of. Project in progress $25,000
Building a Gender-Equal Electoral Process for the 2009 Parliamentary Elections Grantee: Partnership for Development Center Project manager: Daniela TERZI-BARBAROSIE Summary: The main purpose of the project is to contribute to the respect and promotion of the principle of equal chances by political parties in the 2009 parliamentary elections and inclusion of gender equality dimension in their electoral platforms. The project activities will be directed towards determining political parties and media institutions to publically engage in active promotion of principles of equal chances and gender equality in the electoral process; in developing the internal capacities of political parties for including the gender dimension in their electoral offers and active promotion of equal chances in the electoral process; in increasing the degree of citizen's awareness regarding the importance of gender equality in the electoral process. The monitoring and evaluation of 2009 elections will be done through the gender dimension. As end result, the Code of Conduct on Gender Equality will be developed and adopted by at least 10 political parties; 5 local awareness campaigns will take
16 place throughout the country; technical assistance will be provided for 5 political parties and 5 media institutions. Project in progress $23,500
Medical Services for Everyone Grantee: Soarta Association Project manager: Asea RAILEAN Summary: The goal of this project is to make the public medical institutions accountable through actively involving the citizens from Soroca in the decision making processes of these institutions. Thus, the objectives of the project aim at promoting and protecting the rights of patients from the rayon of Soroca by creating the Association of Beneficiaries of Medical Institutions and including a representative of the Association of Beneficiaries of Medical Institutions in the Administrative Council of two public medical institutions from the rayon of Soroca. As end result, the project foresees establishing the Association of Beneficiaries of Medical Institutions; monitoring the process of decision-making in medical institutions; at least 15,000 citizens from the North of the republic constantly informed about project activities through different media channels; setting up a green-line and offering free-of-charge consultancy to citizens; creation of Consultative Councils that will ensure the cooperation between the Association, medical institutions and other interested parties involved. Project in progress $24,927
3. Grants for Partnership Projects
Towards a Sustainable Partnership through Dissemination of Good Practices Grantee: Alliance of Community Centers of Access to Information and Training (ACCAIT) Project manager: Valeriu RUSU Summary: The project seeks to contribute to the realization of the fundamental right of each citizen to communicate and be informed through granting universal access to informational and communication resources and consolidation of the ACCAIT Alliance. Throughout project implementation, 3 study visits will be organized; a documentary on best practices will be broadcast; an on-line Travel Journey Journal will be developed and 7 thematic blogs regarding ACCAIT’s positive experiences will be created. Articles will be published in local newspapers, TV programs will be broadcast and information bulletins will be disseminated via different media channels for broader public awareness. Project in progress. $8,000
Child’s Rights are Your Rights Grantee: INTECO Association Project manager: Victoria MATVEEV Summary: The project aims at promoting child’s rights in the Republic of Moldova. The partners of the project will engage in organizing a School of Skills for Young Trainers active in the field of promoting child rights; in producing of the movie “Know Your Rights”, in holding focus groups and seminars for high school students; in organizing photo exhibitions that reflect the child’s rights issue. All project activities will be largely covered in the media. Project in progress. $7,423
Re-launching of the NGO Forum and Council Grantee: Young and Free Resource Center Project manager: Antonina FONARI Summary: The project goal is to create a favorable framework for a sustainable development of civil society organizations through their involvement in the process of debating, launching, and/or monitoring of public policies that influence NGO activity and cooperation with state and private institutions. The partners of the project will organize the NGO Forum where the NGO Council and Secretariat will be elected and the Code of Ethics for NGOs will be approved. The project activities will involve local, regional and national NGOs in advocacy activities for
17 influencing public authorities (Parliament, Government and Local Public Authorities) in order to create the mechanisms for a durable development for civil society organizations. Project in progress. $ 7,978
My Family Grantee: ARTIStudio Association Project manager: Larisa GLINCA Summary: The project aims at providing children and youth with knowledge and necessary abilities for expressing themselves freely through cartoons, photography and digital technologies in order to promote children's rights, in particular the right to have a family and participation in social life. As end result, children and teenagers will obtain abilities in cartoon production; will be able to develop their photography capacities, offering them a vision of the modern family; will learn techniques of editing video materials using digital technologies, etc. All project activities will be largely covered in media. Project in progress. $7,996
Developing Partnerships within the Alliance of NGOs Active in the Area of Social Protection of Children and Family Grantee: Center of Resource Development in the Area of Family and Child Protection Project manager: Mariana IANACHEVICI Summary: The goal of this project is to develop capacities of 16 NGO members of the NGO Alliance in Family and Child Social Protection through promoting competencies in offering qualitative services based on respect of child’s rights and application of modern methodologies of assistantship in different categories of children. Throughout the project, the partners will work on developing 4 training curricula for 16 NGO members taking into consideration NGO's necessities, level of preparation and practices developed so far. As end result, the theoretical and practical competencies of 16 NGOs will be developed in accordance with the criteria established within coaching sessions and trainings, Project in progress. $8,000
Total Subprogram 1 expenditures: $ 284,328
18 SUBPROGRAM 2: TRAVEL GRANTS FOR NGO REPRESENTATIVES
Youth Roma Meeting within the Bartin University from Turkey Grantee: Anatolie RADIŢA, Bahtalo Rom Association Place: Bartin, Turkey Date: January 17 - 22 $349
Roma International Parliament Grantee: Dumitru DANU, Roma Social Movement Place: Murska Subota, Slovenia Date: February 22 - 24 $785
Conference on Advocacy for Access to Knowledge: Copyright and Libraries Grantee: Silvia GHINCULOV, eIFL Direct Moldova Consortium Place: Istanbul, Turkey Date: April 4 - 5 $500
World’s Movement Fifth Assembly “Making Democracy Work: From Principles to Performance” Grantee: Ion MANOLE, PROMO-Lex Association Place: Kiev, Ukraine Date: April 6 - 9 $805
Conference on Prevention and Torture Grantee: Ludmila POPOVICI, Memoria Center of Rehabilitation of Torture Victims Place: Dublin, Ireland Date: April 8 - 10 $685
Training in Conductive Pedagogy Grantees: Lidia IVANOVA, Motivation Association, Victoria TUGUI, Veronica ANDRONACHE, Ludmila HAJEVSCHI, Ana ZINCOV, Vasilisa MICOTINA, Angela RUDENCU, Tatiana SILISTRARU, Nicolae BESLIU, Natalia TERTEAC and Tatiana VASIAN, Place: Zamosc, Poland Date: May 5 - 9 $1,421
Internship at the Archive and Multimedia Center within the IMPAKT 2008 International Film and Art Festival Grantee: Maxim CUZMENCO, KSA: K Center for Contemporary Art Place: Utrecht, Netherlands Date: May 7 – 16 $920
Conference on Enhancing a Global Dialogue or ICT Supported Community Development Grantee: Ion BRAGA, Alliance of Community Centers of Access to Information and Training (ACCAIT) Place: Szazhalombatta, Hungary Date: May 23 – 25 $717
19 Third European Congress on Family Science Grantee: Olesea CRUC, Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives Place: Vienna, Austria Date: June 12 - 14 $699
Training in Art-therapy Methods in Social Work Grantee: Olga ŞCIOGOLEVA, Lariola Women Defending Children’s Rights Association Place: Sankt-Petersburg, Russian Federation Date: June 11 - 14 $210
International Scientific Conference “Roma of Ukraine: from Past to Future” Grantees: Gheorghe MARŢIN, Roma Tradition Association; Ivan FÎRIMA, Anatolie RADIŢA Place: Kiev, Ukraine Date: June 9 - 11 $165
“No Child without a Family” Conference Grantees: Dina ECHIM, Raisa GAVRILITA, Maria ROTARU, Association of Adoptive Parents Place: Sankt-Petersburg, Russian Federation Date: June 26 – 28 $1,434
European Institute of Journalism Grantee: Irina IURCIŞIN, Center for Young Journalist from Moldova Place: Prague, Czech Republic Date: July 5 - 12 $340
Training in Modern Technologies in Drug Dependency Rehabilitation Grantee: Vitalii RABINCIUC, Youth for the Right to Live Association, Bălţi Place: Sankt-Petersburg, Russian Federation Date: July 18 – 20 $380
International Relations Conference 2008 Grantee: Adrian LUPUŞOR, Center for European Initiatives Support from Moldova Place: Oxford, Great Britain Date: July 27 – August 02 $675
AIDS 17th Edition International Conference Grantee: Anna PLACINTA, Positive Youth Association Place: Mexico City, Mexico Date: August 03 - 08 $203
Total Subprogram 2 expenditures: $10,508
20 SUBPROGRAM 3: CIVIL SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT IN THE TRANSNISTRIAN AND GAGAUZIAN REGIONS
Increasing Citizens’ Participation in Public Life at the Local and Regional Levels in the Transnistrian and Gagauzian Regions Grantee: CONTACT Center Project manager: Pavel CERNOCAN Summary: The project intends to increase the participation of citizens in public life at the local and regional levels in the Transnistrian and Gagauz regions. Eleven community initiatives will be funded in 12 rural communities from the rayons of Camenca, Rezina, Ribnita, Dubasari, Grigoriopol and Slobozia which will contribute to tackling the problems identified in the relevant localities. In addition, the project will develop the institutional capacities of 10 community-based organizations in the Transnistrian region that will benefit from training and consulting in the field. Besides this, a study visit of community-based organizations from the Transnistrian region to communities from the right riverbank will be organized. In the Gagauz region, the institutional capacities of 4 NGOs will be consolidated and 5 roundtables in Ceadir-Lunga, Vulcanesti, Copceac and Comrat will be organized in order to promote the associative sector in the region at the level of local public authorities and businesses. Project in progress. $44,385
Participation of NGOs from the Transnistrian Region in the Associative Life of the Republic of Moldova Grantee: CONTACT Center Project manager: Serghei NEICOVCEN Summary: The project represents an internship program which aims at strengthening the capacities of 20 NGO leaders from the Transnistrian region by getting familiar with the practices and knowledge of nongovernmental organizations from the right bank of the Nistru River. To achieve this goal, the beneficiary will organize internship programs with a duration of two weeks each, 2 study visits to 4-5 NGOs from the Republic of Moldova and 2 training courses in the field of management of organizations. An important objective of this project is to connect NGOs from the Transnistrian region to the informational flow of the nongovernmental sector from the Republic of Moldova. Project in progress. $35,501
Total expenses for Subprogram 3: $ 79,886
21 SUBPROGRAM 4: CONTACT RESOURCE CENTERS’ NETWORK
The Network of CONTACT Resource Centers operates in Chişinău, Bălţi, Soroca, Cahul and Comrat and supports the democratic processes in the society and strengthening civil society by encouraging civic initiative, promoting and implementing the ideals of an open society. The centers offer support to nongovernmental organizations by creating a strong and viable NGO network, advocating for a real and open dialogue among the representatives of the third sector and state institutions, and contributing to information exchange.
In order to achieve its goals, the Network of Contact Resource Centers provided various information, consulting, training and technical assistance as follows: - CONTACT electronic newsletters. Every regional center developed its own edition of the electronic newsletter. A total of 72 newsletter editions were disseminated to 2256 subscribers. Besides this, other 2075 beneficiaries received the hard copy of the newsletter upon request. The content of the newsletters referred to events from the third sector at local, regional and national level. It also included NGO success stories, funding opportunities, scholarships and other topics. The CONTACT newsletters encompass the following columns: Announcements, Media, NGOs in Action, Community Development, Trainings and Scholarships, Grant Programs, Foundations, etc. In 2008 a new column was introduced – “NGO Lex”, where topics and news regarding the legal framework that governs the activity of the NGO sector were addressed. - Information boards placed in the CONTACT Center offices are open to the public. In 2008, a total of 7 information boards were placed within the CONTACT Centers. The materials placed on the boards included current information about funding programs, CONTACT newsletters, announcements, public events, and pictures from the events that highlighted NGO achievements and other useful information for NGOs. - 3 websites - www.contact.md, www.contact-balti.org and www.contact-soroca.org - were maintained and updated on a regular basis.
The staff of the Network of CONTACT Resource Centers provided consulting services on the following issues: legal framework, NGO management, fundraising, project writing, financial management, development of financial and analytical reports, accounting for NGOs, strategic planning, etc. In 2008, 1143 consultations were offered to 1535 beneficiaries. Within the framework of the Continuous Training Program, the CONTACT Resource Centers organized 45 training seminars for the representatives of the nongovernmental sector throughout the country, on the following topics: leadership, management of volunteer activities, project management, project writing, PR in NGOs, fundraising, self-funding, etc. The total number of beneficiaries reached 606, including representatives of NGOs, local public administration, public institutions and initiative groups.
The total number of persons who benefited from the services provided by the Network of CONTACT Resource Centers reached 6472. Total Subprogram 4 expenditures: $30,000
22 SUBPROGRAM 5: COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
The development of community foundations was included as a component of a larger collaboration project between SFM and UNDP – Increasing the Financial Sustainability of the Civil Society Organizations from the Republic of Moldova. The project was planned to be implemented during three years, 2008 being the final year of implementation.
The Ministry of Justice registered five community foundations in Bălţi, Soroca, Orhei, Ungheni and Cahul. The project promoted actively the positive image of community foundations by producing and distributing promotional materials, media coverage of the launch of the foundations, offering consultations in communication strategies. CF established collaboration relationships with local authorities and business sector. Out of 5 community foundations created, 3 carried out fundraising campaigns al local level. The community foundations in Bălţi, Soroca and Ungheni successfully implemented 2 rounds of a grant making program, through which 52 projects were funded with a budget ranging between $500 and $2000.
Another objective of the project “Increasing the Financial Sustainability of the Civil Society Organizations from the Republic of Moldova” was to create a favorable legal and fiscal environment for the development of civil society organizations. In order to achieve this objective, the implementing team got actively involved in the elaboration of the Civil Society Development Strategy. The objective and actions of the document aims at the enactment of modifications and/or bills of the following documents: the two percent law, the law regarding non-commercial organizations of public utility, the necessity of modification of the law regarding philanthropy and sponsorship, etc. The draft law regarding the public use of 2 percent from the income of the natural and legal residents of the Republic of Moldova and the draft law regarding non-commercial organizations of public utility were finalized and sent to the Committee for Legal Issues, Appointments and Immunities in order to be reviewed and presented to the Parliament as a legislative initiative. The project involved over 300 nongovernmental organizations from the whole country in the process of discussing the two draft laws.
Total Subprogram 5 expenditures: $50,000
23 SUBPROGRAM 6: PUBLIC OPINION BAROMETER
In order to promote proper and transparent mechanisms of reflecting social, political and economic life in the Republic of Moldova and, equally, mechanisms of access to information for civil society, the Soros Foundation-Moldova launched in 1998 a program of public opinion research – The Public Opinion Barometer. It conducts surveys on a regular basis through basically the same questionnaire, using a national representative sample.
Since year 2000, the Public Opinion Barometer is implemented in collaboration with the Institute for Public Policy. Two surveys using a fixed questionnaire and a national representative sample are conducted yearly within this program. The research topics include political options, the popularity and reputation of the main political parties and personalities, living standards and the quality of life; economic and social policy of the government; other issues of major interest. The Program is supervised by a specialized board. The survey results can be viewed on the website www.ipp.md.
In 2008, an opinion poll was carried out by the CIVIS Center for Sociological, Political and Psychological Research and Investigations from Chişinău. The results of the survey were verified by C.B.S. – AXA Center for Sociological Investigations and Marketing from Chişinău. The survey was carried out during March 23 – April 14, on a sample of 1435 respondents from 117 localities, representatives of the adult population of the Republic of Moldova (except the Transnistrian region). The sampling error for the poll was ± 2, 6 percent.
The second opinion poll was carried out during September 26 – October 20, by the CIVIS Center for Sociological, Political and Psychological Research and Investigations from Chişinău. The results were verified by the Magenta Consulting Company from Chişinău. The survey was carried out on a sample of 1100 respondents from 76 localities, representatives of the adult population of the Republic of Moldova (except the Transnistrian region). The sampling error for the poll was ± 3 percent.
Total Subprogram 6 expenditures: $23,247
24 GENDER EQUITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (GE&EOP)
In 2005, after a thorough evaluation process, the National Women’s Studies and Information Center (NWSIC) became the Institutional Partner of the Gender Equity and Equal Opportunities Program of the Foundation (GE&EOP), envisaging a gradual delegation of Program’s responsibilities to the Center over the next four years. In March 2006, the NWSIC was registered at the Ministry of Justice with a new promotional label: “The Partnership for Development Center” (PDC). Starting from January 2007, the funds allocated by the Open Society Institute and the Foundation were transferred directly to the Center.
In 2008, the GE&EO Program continued to monitor and evaluate the activities implemented by PDC, providing assistance when needed. During this year, the PDC fulfilled its mission through the implementation of the initiative Resource Development for Gender Equality Advancement in the Republic of Moldova. The general goal was to develop and consolidate resources aimed at equal empowerment of women and men in order to ensure and safeguard gender equality in the Republic of Moldova. PDC managed to become a resource and policy- generating organization for Moldovan NGOs acting in the field of women’s and gender issues, advocating for a coherent approach to policies and decision-making processes in the following priority areas: economic development, legal empowerment, community participation, political empowerment, and gender education. For more information about the PDC, see the following website: www.progen.md Total program administration expenditures: $6,352
Program Director: Ana COREŢCHI, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Jana MIDONI, Email: [email protected]
25 EAST EAST: PARTNERSHIP BEYOND BORSDERS PROGRAM (EE: PBBP)
Vision: An efficient partnership between Moldova and other countries of the world, in particular from Central and Eastern Europe, promoting cooperation and identifying regional and global experiences, expertise and innovative practices to solve social problems which the new democracies are facing.
Context: In 2008, the EE:PBBP continued to support regional and international initiatives, partnerships and social activism through a comparative perspective; facilitated the exchange of ideas and information and the study of relevant development models and practices; encouraged active engagement of civil society into dialogue, thus contributing to building an open society in Moldova.
The majority of initiatives implemented in the framework of the EE: PBBP were developed in collaboration with the most representative NGOs, think tanks, media and public institutions from Central and Eastern Europe, and former soviet countries, promoting democratic changes throughout the region.
Among the projects supported within the program preference was given to initiatives that addressed issues of European integration and cooperation with the new EU-member states and the EU eastern neighbors to leverage EU accession experiences in Central Europe to EU Eastern neighbors, including the Republic of Moldova. To this end, several valuable initiatives were launched with partners from Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc. In 2008, about 25 new or on-going hosting projects were implemented, through which about 270 Moldovan experts participated in various events held abroad and at the same time, Moldovan experts had the opportunity to attend various international and regional events organized through the participating program. Not less important is that with the program support more than 200 foreign experts from various countries of the region participated in a variety of events held in Moldova and more than 700 local experts/participants attended regional initiatives carried out in Moldova. They were direct and indirect beneficiaries of the events that took place in our country in the framework of the EE: PBB Program, including roundtables, seminars, and meetings during study visits, etc.
The latest developments in Moldova, in particular the declared pro-European strategic direction undertaken by the Moldovan society through the established consensus on major prospects for Moldova’s future, as well as the EU-Moldova Action Plan that was finalized in April 2008, managed to challenge public opinion and the entire civil society, being supported by the EU openness to start talks on a future agreement with Moldova in 2009. Although European integration is declared by the authorities as the main country priority for up-coming years, the major sectors are still in need of significant structural changes. The EE:PBBP addressed these issues through several supported initiatives, contributing to their solving by bringing international and regional expertise to the country and by offering the Moldovan civil society the opportunity to learn from other experiences, both positive and negative, specifically on how to act efficiently and enforce changes in the societal environment. At the same time, the Moldovan civil society managed to accumulate experience in monitoring the actions of the decision-makers on the most pressing areas of transformation. This valuable experience raised attention in other ENP countries which signed similar agreements with EU. Thus, Moldovan experts were solicited to share their experience on EU Action Plan monitoring with Azerbaijani and Georgian experts interested in learning from our lessons gained so far.
The last local elections held in 2007 proved that a considerable part of local councils throughout the country became more open to community problems and that there are more attempts to involve citizens in the decision-making process at local level. However, in many cases, they lack experience and don’t have enough skills to adequately respond to these challenges. Currently, there are signs that the Moldovan society is in the process of accumulation of what is hoped to bring changes in upcoming future. In that sense, the EE: PBBP was able to respond to new challenges by providing opportunities for sharing/acquiring
26 experiences in the management of local affairs to the newly elected bodies. Thus, the Chişinău Municipality Government had the opportunity to learn from the experiences of several European capital cities including Riga, Vilnius, Bucharest and Bratislava through study visits, roundtable discussions, face-to-face meetings that facilitated establishing direct cooperation between different branches of urban management. Due to program support, the LPA and NGO representatives became acquainted with positive models of management and governance available in other countries, got familiar with recognized best practices through identifying regional experiences and expertise for sustainable development, improving their knowledge and facilitating access to information for actors of the public, private and civil society sectors.
The challenges of the European Neighborhood Policy offered new opportunities that has actively explored by the program during the last five years. Since 2007, when the Republic of Moldova gained the status of a EU neighbor country, this became a favorable context for re- thinking relations with our neighboring countries in terms of building new contacts and partnerships to enable Moldova to come closer to European requirements. In that sense, the first call for proposals in the framework of the Open Competition for Public Partnership Projects Moldova-Romania-Ukraine was announced in 2005, this field becoming as a mainstream on program agenda for the next few years. Taking into consideration the increased interest of Moldovan NGOs and local authorities in the development of partnership initiatives with neighboring countries, Romania and Ukraine, the third round of the Trilateral Partnership Promotion Competition was launched in 2007. The project proposals received as a response to this call passed through a complex process of selection, from which 12 proposals were recommended for support and 10 of them were successfully implemented during 2008.
The program also supported a few of relevant initiatives developed with the assistance of the Open Estonia Foundation, Stefan Batory Foundation Poland, Open Society Fund (Slovakia), Soros Foundation-Latvia, Open Society Fund (Czech Republic), and others. An important outcome of the collaboration established during the previous years between Moldovan counterparts and those from EU member states was the implementation of projects with Polish, Czech, Latvian and Estonian partners. These projects targeted, in particular, the young generation as a promoter of change, being focused on preparing young people for an independent life by exploring Polish solutions in the field of “activation” of unemployed or marginalized people. Additionally, these projects contributed to strengthening youth abilities to help access the labor market and developing entrepreneurial skills necessary to initiate businesses through acquiring Romanian and Estonian experiences. Another relevant initiative was focused on raising public awareness on youth inclusion in participatory activities based on Latvian experience aimed to develop participants’ leadership skills. Not less important was the collaboration with the Czech partners that led to the development of a joint Czech- Moldovan policy paper in the field of economic development that assessed the current stage of economic cooperation between these two countries and proposed strategies to eliminate barriers in its further development, presented publicly to authorities and civil society from both countries.
Program Director: Ana COREŢCHI, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Jana MIDONI, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures - $28,716, including: core: $10,216 and network: $18,500
TOTAL EE: PBBP Expenditures: $300,675
List of Acronyms
EE: PBBP East East: Partnership Beyond Borders Program IDIS-Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (Institutul pentru Dezvoltare şi Iniţiative Sociale Viitorul) INRECO Conflict Resolution Institute from Moldova (Institutul de Rezolvare a Conflictelor din Moldova)
27 EU European Union ENP European Neighborhood Policy LPA Local Public Administration NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NGO Nongovernmental Organization OSF Open Society Fund
28 SUBPROGRAM 1: HOSTING AND BILATERAL/TRILATERAL PROJECTS
Experience Transfer of Romanian European Integration Skills to the Civic Societies of Moldova and Ukraine Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Cutezătorul Association from Făleşti, Moldova; Youngsters without Borders Association, Romania; Donetsk City Public Organization Alliance, Ukraine Project director: Vitalie CIMPOIEŞ, director, Cutezătorul Association Date and place: February-July; Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Summary: An initiative for young people and nongovernmental organizations and civil servants working with young people in disadvantaged small towns and villages in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, aimed to promote the development of youth leaders in Ukraine and Moldova through capacity building and knowledge transfer about European integration processes. It also encouraged young people to engage in local community development and influence reforms as empowered partners of local administrations based on Romanian experiences, specifically in European integration area. $10,684
Building Capacities of Civil Society in Strengthening Partnerships with Local Public Authorities Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: INRECO Institute for Conflict Resolution, Moldova; Agency for Information and NGOs Development from Timişoara, Romania; Economic Development Association from Ivano-Frankovsk, Ukraine Project director: Veaceslav GUŢUŢUI, executive director, INRECO-Moldova Date and place: February-May; Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Summary: An initiative for representatives of local public administrations and non- governmental organizations of Chişinău, Timişoara and Ivano-Frankivsk municipalities, aiming to encourage social activism of local nongovernmental organizations and civic activists of citizens, to improve capacities of civil society for promoting good governance at local levels and to enforce NGOs’ engagement in participatory democracy and decision-making in local community development. $17,146
Regional Trends and Approaches to Migration and Asylum Challenges Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Save the Children-Moldova; Romanian National Council for Refugees; Bukovynian Perspectives Association and Chernivtsi Regional Union, Ukraine Project director: Vasile BATCU, director, Save the Children-Moldova Date and place: March-May; Romania, Ukraine, Moldova Summary: An initiative for nongovernmental and governmental representatives, aiming to analyze experiences of Romania’s accession to the European Union, in particular migration and asylum regulations, standards and challenges; to explore opportunities to harmonize best practices among Romania, Moldova and Ukraine on reform of migration policies, including combating trafficking of human beings, and to formulate recommendations for regional approaches to international migration and engaging civil society activists in decision-making. $11,295
New Prospects for Rural Communities’ Development in Moldova and Ukraine in the Context of Romania’s Integration into the European Union Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Cross-border Cooperation and European Integration Agency, Moldova; Regional Center for Sustainable Rural Development, Romania; Lower Danube Euroregion Regional Cross-border Cooperation Agency, Ukraine Project director: Iacob AJDER, president, Cross-border Cooperation and European Integration Agency Date and place: February-December; Moldova, Ukraine, Romania Summary: An initiative designed for local community development and nongovernmental organizations in the south of Moldova, southeast of Romania and Odessa region of Ukraine, to develop and strengthen cross-border cooperation among rural communities by increasing public participation in decision-making processes, aiming to solve community issues and to
29 build the capacity of local NGOs in Moldova and Ukraine by engaging in projects for sustainable development of rural communities, using experiences of Romania’s accession to EU. $7,560
Children’s Rights Protection: Overcoming Trafficking, Abuse and Exploitation of Children Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Făclia Community Association and Regional Resource Center for Youth, Ungheni, Moldova; Save the Children Iaşi, Romania; Association of Economic Development of Kolomyia, Ukraine Project director: Angela CIOCÎRLAN, director, Făclia Community Association Date and place: May-November; Moldova, Ukraine, Romania Summary: An initiative for nongovernmental organizations and local authorities from Romania, Moldova and Ukraine aimed to formulate efficient interventions meant to prevent and eliminate violations of children’s rights through promoting local best practices through cross-border approaches. It was also designed to improve the capabilities of NGOs to promote and protect children’s rights. The project partners joined their efforts for developing collaborative strategies to overcome trafficking and exploitation of children and to mobilize public institutions to take action in protecting children at risk of exploitation. $10,251
Implementation of European Standards of Quality in Child Protection: NGOs and Local Authorities Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Agapedia Foundation, Moldova; Agapedia Foundation, Romania; International Women’s Consortium, Ukraine Project director: Mirabela OSADCI, program coordinator, Agapedia Foundation Date and place: April-October; Moldova, Ukraine, Romania Summary: An initiative for nongovernmental organizations and local authorities aimed to enhance partnerships to improve standards of quality in child protection services; to explore existing good practices and innovative models of child protection in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine and to formulate solutions for child protection needs which may be adjusted in order to be implemented effectively. $8,398
Public Monitoring of Regulatory Activities of Local Governance in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania in the Context of Their Adjustment to EU Requirements Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Small Euro Business International Association of Small and Medium Business from Bălţi, Moldova; National Association for Lobbying and Negotiations, Romania; Bukovynian Perspectives Association and Chernivtsi Regional Public Union, Ukraine Project director: Andrei BALÎNSCHI, president, Small Euro Business Association from Bălţi Date and place: June-October; Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Summary: An initiative for representatives of local self-government, public authorities and nongovernmental organizations from Ukraine, Moldova and Romania, aimed to monitor the regulatory activity of local self-government bodies in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania; to identify ways of improving their regulatory activities to comply with EU standards by bringing the context and forms of regulatory activity of local self-government to European models based on experiences available in Romania. $9,924
Managing Migration in the Black Sea Region: Improving the Implementation of National Policies in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania through Regional Cooperation between NGOs Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: IDIS-Viitorul, Moldova; Institute for Public Policy, Romania; International Center for Policy Studies, Ukraine Project director: Mihail ŞALVIR, program coordinator, IDIS-Viitorul Date and place: September-December; Romania, Ukraine, Moldova
30 Summary: An initiative for civil society organizations, experts, policymakers, international organizations, media and think tanks from Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, designed to collaborate on an effective migration policy agenda at the national, regional and European levels. It finalized with a comprehensive policy research report on migration management containing recommendations on improving the implementation of national migration policies and on drawing up a regional migration policy agenda in the context of EU integration and intensified cooperation in the Black Sea Region. $7,208
Think Tanks’ Cooperation for the Societal Security Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Institute for Public Policy, Moldova; Centre for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, Romania; Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Ukraine Project director: Oazu NANTOI, program director, Institute for Public Policy Date and place: May-December; Romania, Ukraine, Moldova Summary: An initiative for analysts and researchers in Moldova, Romania and Ukraine aiming to evaluate threats to societal security in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine and to identify common approaches and specific solutions for Romania, Moldova and Ukraine based on EU experiences. It analyzed opportunities for developing an assessment of mechanisms, necessary reforms and updates to ensure societal security in Moldova and Ukraine utilizing Romania’s position as a member of the EU. The public policy paper developed through the joint effort of the trilateral expert team was presented publicly in Chişinău, Bucharest and Kiev to relevant authorities and civil society representatives. Project supported financially by OSI
Efficient Institutional Reaction to Combating Intolerance and Extremism in the Black Sea Region Public Partnership Promotion in Moldova, Ukraine and Romania Organizers: Institute for Public Policy, Moldova; Institute for Public Policy, Romania; International Center for Policy Studies, Ukraine Project director: Oazu NANTOI, program director, Institute for Public Policy Date and place: June 2008 – March 2009; Ukraine, Moldova, Romania Summary: An initiative for nongovernmental, governmental and international organizations, aimed to formulate a regional approach to overcoming intolerance and extremism in the Black Sea Region and to monitor institutional reaction to extremism in Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine, identifying potential common sources. The developed policy paper proposed viable solutions, including recommendations to EU and international bodies, designed to promote civil society engagement in overcoming intolerance and extremism. Project supported financially by OSI
Democratic Behavior in You(ths)! Organizers: AEGEE-Iaşi and AEGEE-Chişinău Project director in Moldova: Zoia COMAROVA, president, AEGEE-Chişinău Date and place: November 2007 - March 2008; Moldova Summary: An initiative for young people in Moldova and Romania aimed to facilitate experience exchange among young people in academic and associative life; to increase youth participation in social and civic environment in Moldova by offering space for analyzing motivational factors which influence youth behavior and interest in civic participation based on Romanian experiences; to discuss strategies for increasing civic engagement and participation in social life, particularly in universities from Moldova and Romania. $7,043
Moldovan-Slovak Cooperation: Best Practices in Sustainable Urban Development Organizers: Urban Development Institute from Moldova and Institute for Education and Regional Development from Slovakia Project director: Veaceslav BULAT, executive director, Urban Development Institute Date and place: December 2007 - March 2008; Moldova Summary: An initiative for local government representatives and civil society activists aimed to analyze issues and reform of urban development management in the municipality of Chişinău from the perspective of using experiences and good practices from Slovakia and
31 other EU countries by promoting sustainable local development through citizens’ engagement in local decision-making processes and monitoring local government accountability and transparency. $7,862
Monitoring Moldova – European Union Action Plan Study Visit of Representatives of Civil Society from Azerbaijan to Moldova Organizers: Association for European Training and Information from Moldova and Azerbaijan National Committee for European Integration Project director: Angela GRĂMADĂ, director, Association for European Training and Information Date and place: March 24 – 27, study visit to Moldova Summary: An initiative for civil society activists from Azerbaijan and Moldova aimed to exchange experiences in public monitoring of the ENP Action Plans in Azerbaijan and Moldova, to examine and compare the roles and responsibilities of civil society in engaging with decision-makers responsible for the implementation of Action Plans. $5,009
Strengthening Transnistrian NGOs’ Capacity through Sharing the Czech Experience on Building a Democratic Society Organizers: Încrederea Association in Support for Confidence, Peace and Stability from Moldova and People in Need from Prague, Czech Republic Project director: Oazu NANTOI, president, Încrederea Association Date and place: July 2006 - April 2008; Czech Republic, Moldova Summary: An initiative for civil society representatives and nongovernmental organizations aimed to promote international dialogue and partnership; to support collaborative initiatives drawing on experiences of NGOs from the Czech Republic and to encourage social and community activism among nongovernmental community from Moldova by building partnerships with civil society organizations from Ukraine and the Czech Republic. In 2008, the project idea was transformed in a bigger event with a regional level significance. Besides Ukrainian and Czech experts, a team of experts from Central and Eastern Europe attended the final International Conference organized in Chişinău which followed a study visit to Transnistria that allowed the invited experts to become familiar with the opinions of both parties in conflict and get informed on the situation from the first sources, facilitating a better understanding of the conflict causes and ensuring efficient debates. $18,580
Youth for European Integration: Lessons from Latvia Organizers: IDIS-Viitorul from Moldova and Latvian Institute of International Affairs Project director: Cristina GHERASIMOV, program coordinator, IDIS-Viitorul Date and place: December 2007 – April 2008; Latvia, Moldova Summary: An initiative for young leaders from Moldova and Latvia aimed to contribute to fostering European integration processes in Moldova by supporting a generation of young leaders in Moldova and by providing an opportunity to analyze European integration processes and experiences in Latvia. At the same time, it envisaged to promote relations and collaborative initiatives for public policy studies jointly in Latvia and Moldova and to enhance public perception and understanding in Moldova of advantages and disadvantages of European integration. $2,000
Prevention and Assistance to Abused Children: Enhancing Regional Cooperation Organizers: Child’s Rights Informational Center from Moldova Project director: Cezar GAVRILIUC, director, Child’s Rights Informational Center Date and place: November 2007 – June 2009; Moldova, Azerbaijan, Latvia Summary: An initiative for professionals and volunteers working with children and youth aimed to study models of raising awareness of child rights and sexual abuse against children; to analyze efficient methods and strategies used by professionals in order to assist children in risk of violence; to examine practices of efficient partnerships between state institutions and NGOs in providing quality assistance to abused children. $4,561
32
Entrepreneurship Centers against Unemployment Organizers: Third Millennium Generation Association from Făleşti, Moldova; Education for Democracy Foundation from Warsaw; Etalon Youth Social Center from Ivano-Frankivsk and Youth for Freedom of Speech Center from Kaliningrad, Russia Project director: Viorica HAREA, president, Third Millennium Generation Association from Făleşti Date and place: April 2008 – February 2009; Poland, Ukraine Summary: An initiative for representatives of nongovernmental organizations working with young people designed to provide training for establishing entrepreneurship centers in Ukraine, Moldova and Russia based on Polish experiences. It envisaged also to engage schools, employers and local authorities in entrepreneurship and local community development in disadvantaged regions and to promote public awareness of innovative solutions to challenges of local community development. $9,071
Productive Learning: Alternatives to Traditional Education Organizers: Center Education 2000+ from Bucharest, Romania and Pro-Didactica Educational Center, Moldova Project director: Viorica GORAŞ-POSTICĂ, deputy director, Pro-Didactica Educational Center Date and place: April-September, Romania Summary: An initiative for experts in education reform from Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova aimed to enhance the quality of cooperation among educational experts with the view to developing educational methodologies, promoting a new concept in the educational field for young students with disabilities in order to respond to their educational needs and interests and to compare models of Productive Learning curricula developed and implemented in Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova. $2,789
Building an Efficient Public Administration for a Modern Urban Development Based on Advanced Experiences from the Region Organizers: Business Consulting Institute-Moldova and Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments Project director: Mihai ROŞCOVAN, director, Business Consulting Institute-Moldova Date and place: April-October; Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova Summary: An initiative for representatives of local government from Moldova aimed to address complex issues of local development management in the Municipality of Chişinău from the perspective of applying experience and good practices from Riga and Vilnius, to ensure sustainable local development using modern management tools in urban governance, to facilitate the transfer of best practices of modern and efficient governance through implementation of information management systems used in EU capital cities, and to share knowledge about opportunities of financing municipal projects from European funds. $16,645
Developing Economies Locally through Action and Alliance: Learning from the Albanian Experience Organizers: IDIS-Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives, Moldova and Foundation for Local Autonomy and Governance, Albania Project director: Liubomir CHIRIAC, program coordinator, IDIS-Viitorul Date and place: June 22-29, study visit to Tirana, Albania Summary: An initiative for representatives of local government and nongovernmental organizations aimed to support local governments in Moldova in planning local economic development strategies and implementing development projects and to analyze methodologies and tools used to stimulate local economic development; to learn how municipalities undertake strategic planning and how private-public partnerships are built, based on Albanian experience. $11,645
33 Cross-border Resource Center for Durable Development Organizers: Children, Communities, and Families Association from Moldova and Community Safety and Mediation Center Foundation from Iaşi, Romania Project director: Liliana ROTARU, director, Children, Communities, and Families Association Date and place: July-October, Romania Summary: An initiative for nongovernmental organizations and local government authorities from Moldova and Romania aimed to establish a permanent mechanism for promoting sustainable development on the border areas of Romania and Moldova and to build capacity of nongovernmental organizations and local authorities by identifying best practices for cross- border cooperation and collaborative initiatives between local authorities and NGOs. $3,530
Civic Skills Academy: International Partnership for Young People Organizers: Regional Association for Adult Education from Romania and Speranta Association from Cahul, Moldova Project director: Marina BUDAN, director, Speranţa Association from Cahul Date and place: April-December 2008; Romania, Moldova Summary: An initiative for young people and NGOs working with young people designed to build capacity of young people for contributing to and benefiting from local community development, to support grassroots engagement in local community development based on European integration experiences in Romania and to promote youth empowerment to participate in initiatives to influence local community development. $2,900
Education across Borders Organizers: Prietenii Copiilor Association from Moldova and Agency for Development Assistance and Humanitarian Aid of Olomouc Region, Czech Republic Project director: Tatiana LUNGU, director, Prietenii Copiilor Association Date and place: September-November; Moldova, Czech Republic Summary: An initiative for educators, social workers and nongovernmental organizations from the Czech Republic and Moldova aimed to building capacity of educators in social protection and informal education of institutionalized children from boarding schools in Moldova based on these countries’ experiences and to transfer knowledge and experience from specialized centers of social protection and modern innovative educational methods utilized in the Czech Republic to NGOs and educators in Moldova. $16,564
Building Confidence in Conflict Ridden-Regions: Sharing Georgian and Moldovan Experience Organizers: Institute of European Studies from Moldova and Caucasus Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development from Georgia Project director: Veronica GORINCIOI, program coordinator, Institute of European Studies Date and place: October 2007-December 2008; Georgia, Moldova December 4, 2008: Public presentation of the study in Chişinău, Moldova Summary: An initiative for academics, opinion leaders and journalists from Moldova and Georgia designed to analyze social and political issues regarding the frozen conflicts still persisting in Moldova and Georgia; to formulate recommendations and strategies to promote confidence building and conflict settlement; to develop a comparative study on the issue to be distributed to national and international organizations, interested stakeholders and NGOs acting in conflict settlement. $5,436
Developing Entrepreneurial Activism in Youth: Moldovan and Estonian Experiences Organizers: Junior Achievement-Moldova and Junior Achievement-Estonia Project director: Marina SCLIFOS, program director, Junior Achievement-Moldova Date and place: November 2008 - March 2009; Estonia, Moldova Summary: An initiative for secondary and high school teachers and students, parents and business representatives aimed to assist students and young professionals to acquire first- hand experience and expertise in pursuing innovative business ideas to develop entrepreneurship in Moldova’s youth, to contribute to capacity and skills development of
34 young entrepreneurs in Moldova and to improve educational methodologies for engaging youth in business initiatives based on Estonian experiences. $4,760
Reporting EU Integration A Training Project for Journalists from Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Moldova Organizers: Independent Journalism Center, Chişinău, Moldova, Transitions Online, Prague, Czech Republic and Mediacentar Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina Project director: Nadine GOGU, interim director, Independent Journalism Center Date and place: September 2008 – March 2009; Bosnia & Herzegovina, Moldova December 3-6, 2008: Training for journalists in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina Summary: An initiative for journalists in Southeast Europe aimed to share experiences in media coverage of EU affairs and EU accession in Southeast Europe based on experiences in the EU member countries in Central Europe, specifically to share experiences and instruction on covering economic and political affairs reporting with an emphasis on case studies of issues likely to dominate European integration in Southeast Europe. $6,455
Eastern European and Asian Patients Organizations for Patients’ Rights and Safety Central and East-European Working Group Meeting in Chişinău Organizers: Management and Insurance in Medicine from Moldova and All-Ukrainian Council for Patients’ Rights and Safety Program director: Valeriu SAVA, director, Management and Insurance in Medicine Date and place: May-December; Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, Moldova December 5-7, Regional meeting in Chişinău, Moldova Summary: An initiative for civic activists and nongovernmental organizations from Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia aimed to consolidate efforts in patient safety and implementation of patient-centered healthcare principles, to promote cooperation among leading patients’ organizations to raise public awareness of key issues of patients’ safety and healthcare principles and to encourage long-term collaboration among these organizations as an advocacy force for patients’ rights. It consisted of several regional meetings, including the one held in Chişinău that served as an opportunity to identify similar issues in implementation of patient-centered healthcare principles and consolidate efforts in patient safety in Moldova and in the region. $15,778
Total Subprogram 1 expenditures: $222,472
35 SUBPROGRAM 2: PARTICIPATING PROJECTS
In the framework of this subprogram, financial support is provided for participation of Moldovan experts in events organized in the framework of the EE: PBB Program and supported by Open Society Foundations/Institutions from Central and Eastern Europe. Participants are recommended either by the hosting event organizer or by the Soros Foundation-Moldova. Development of Health Law in Transforming Countries Vasile FLOREA, faculty member, Ştefan cel Mare Academy, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Moldova March 2 – 9, Prague, Czech Republic $434
Documentary Film in Consolidating Democracy and Struggle against Injustice: International Practices Victoria COROBAN, project coordinator, OWH TV Studio, Chişinău Oleg BREGA, expert, OWH TV Studio, Chişinău Virgiliu MĂRGINEANU, general director, OWH TV Studio, Chişinău March 28 - April 3, Kyiv, Ukraine $617
Eastern European and Asian Patients Organizations for Patients’ Rights and Safety Iurie GUZGAN, project coordinator, Management and Insurance in Medicine from Moldova May 12-14, Kiev, Ukraine September 8-10, Warsaw, Poland October 3-5, Tbilisi, Georgia $1,898
New Energy Routes in South Eastern Europe and Human Rights Protection - Opening of Inter-sectorial Dialogue Ecaterina MELNICENCO, coordinator, Milieukontakt Moldova Valentin BOBEICA, vice-president, Ecological Movement of Moldova May 30 - June 1, Opatija, Croatia $1,952
European Integration in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova: Challenges and Opportunities Vlad LUPAN, independent expert on foreign policy and security issues Ghenadie IVAŞCENCO, EE: PBBP Advisory Committee member Denis CENUŞĂ, expert, NATO Documentation and Information Center Arcadie GHERASIM, journalist, faculty member, State University of Moldova July 3-5, Kiev, Ukraine $905
Enhancing Partnerships between Schools and Communities: Introducing International Standards of Quality Cornelia CINCILEI, director, Step by Step Program, Moldova Liliana CALMAŢUI, coordinator, Step by Step Program Liliana SIMCOV, member, Speranţa Association Mariana BUDAN, vice-director, Alexandru Donici primary school, Cahul July 18-25, Odessa, Ukraine $331
Information Society and Its Impact on the Development of Youth Media Dumitru IOVU, international secretary, Center for Young Journalists from Moldova Dumitru CIORICI, executive director, New Media Group September 11-14, Skopje, Macedonia $2,160
36 From Strengthening ENP to the Czech EU Presidency in 2009 – Black Sea Synergy: Eastern Barcelona Process Denis CENUŞĂ, expert, NATO Documentation and Information Center September 25-27, Prague, Czech Republic $706
Best Practices in Using Countries’ Potential for Producing and Marketing Organic Products in Central and Eastern Europe Vasile CIOBANU, consultant, ProRuralInvest Association Iurie SENIC, chairman, EcoProdus NGO October 24-31, Cluj, Romania $186
Interdisciplinary Approaches to Solving Cases of Child Abuse Daniela POPESCU, director, National Center for Child Abuse Prevention Tatiana CATANĂ, legal advisor, International Organization for Migration, Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Human Trafficking Viorica ADĂSCALIŢĂ, member, CNPAC, Amicul Center for Child and Family Psychological Assistance November 10-14, Sofia, Bulgaria $2,006
From Strengthening ENP to the Czech EU Presidency in 2009 – ENP and Frozen Conflicts in Black Sea Region: Forgotten Conflicts in Transnistria and Crimean Peninsula Vlad LUPAN, independent expert on external policy and security issues November 11-13, Prague, Czech Republic $653
Human Rights Education in Practice! Alina SECRIERU, vice-president, AVI Moldova Carolina SECRIERU, member, AVI Moldova Valeria CELAN, volunteer, AVI Moldova Corina COJOCARU, volunteer, ASIST Association for Students and Youth Initiative’s Support November 17-23, Poznan, Poland $3,039
Challenges of Migration in Europe Valeriu MOŞNEAGA, head of department, State University of Moldova November 26-29, Bucharest, Romania $408
From Strengthening ENP to the Czech EU Presidency in 2009 – ENP, Schengen and Eastern Neighborhood Oleg SEREBRIAN, president, European Movement from Moldova December 11-14, Prague, Czech Republic $644
Total Subprogram 2 expenditures: $15,939
NETWORK EVENTS
Annual EE: PBB Program Coordinators’ Meeting May 9-17, Chişinău, Moldova Attended by 34 Program Coordinators from Central and Eastern Europe and CIS $33,547
37 PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM
The Public Health Program’s mission is to advance the health and human rights of marginalized people through building the capacity of civil society leaders and strong involvement of NGOs in health policy development.
The program goals are: - to support the development and implementation of health related policies committed to inclusion and human rights in identified specific fields; - to build sustainable organizations and strengthen civil society leadership.
The main PHP achievements in 2008 are as follows: - An evaluation study of the beneficiaries from Orhei residential institution for boys with mental disabilities and their families was carried out; - A partnership was established and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, Keystone Human Services International/Keystone Human Services International Moldova Association, Hope and Hopes for Children for implementing the Community for All Initiative. The aim of the partnership is to improve the quality of life and services for people with mental disabilities with a big risk to be institutionalized for a long term. The Community for All Initiative will be a model for developing community services and support, that in the long run could replace residential institutions in RM; - The establishment and operation of a working group of consultants in the field of the disability under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child was supported aiming to advance the reform process by developing the normative basis for ensuring the development of alternative services for people with disabilities; - The establishment and operation of the project implementation team of the Community for All Moldova Project was supported; - A needs assessment for the development of a national early intervention system for children with disabilities in Moldova was carried out. The evaluation results were officially presented at a roundtable and distributed to all relevant ministries including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child and the Ministry of Education and Youth; - The implementation of the project Inclusive Education - Equal Chances for Children with Special Educational Needs continued. Thanks to the NGO’s efforts and the partnership with local public authorities, the bylaws of an inclusive school were developed and approved at local level. Later, the document was also approved by the Ministry of Education. Two inclusive schools are already functioning in the rayons of Criuleni and Dubăsari. Salaries of support teachers are cofunded by local public authorities; - The “Palliative Care for People with HIV/AIDS” standard was developed, approved by the Ministry of Health and published. The standard was developed by the AIDS Center in partnership with service providers and representatives of the League of PLWHA; - The National Program for Cancer Control for 2009 – 2014 was developed and submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval; - A workshop entitled “The Development of Palliative Care in the Republic of Moldova” was organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health and National Society Hospice and Palliative Care; - A roundtable entitled “Severe Pain – Still a Neglected Problem” was organized in light of the efforts for ensuring patients’ right to severe and moderate pain control by ensuring access and availability to opioid medication; - 5 clinical protocols in palliative care are under development as a joint initiative with Moldova Governance Threshold Country Program, including chronic pain, control of neurological symptoms, control of gastrointestinal symptoms, control of respiratory symptoms, and skin care; - An international consultancy on assistance provision to PLWHA in the RM was supported; - A new agreement with TB/AIDS Program Project Coordinating Unit for the implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention activities among vulnerable groups and community outreach for PLWHA, by managing the grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Round 6 (2008-2009) was signed;
38 - The capacities of the Harm Reduction Union were strengthened; - The standards and clinical protocol for comprehensive care of IDU were developed and submitted to the Ministry of Health for final approval; - The methadone maintenance substitution therapy was scaled up (in civil and penitentiary sectors). An evaluation of the substitution program was conducted by an international expert; - A database of harm reduction projects’ clients and services as well as a Register of the substitution therapy programs’ clients and services were developed by the Health Management National Center; - The NCC’s Technical Working Group on Vulnerable Population’s activities were coordinated; - Projects based on harm reduction strategy for injecting drug users, detainees, commercial sex workers, LGBT community, migrants were supported; - Capacity building activities for service providers under the Harm Reduction Program were organized.
During 2008, the Soros Foundation–Moldova (SFM) continued to act as a facilitator for the NGO/GO coordinating HIV/AIDS prevention activities in vulnerable groups based on the harm reduction strategy, as well as community based care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), by managing grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, cooperating effectively with the Ministry of Health’s Project Coordinating Unit for TB/AIDS Program (PCU).
Program Director: Liliana GHERMAN, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Angela CAPCELEA, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Vitalie SLOBOZIAN, Email: [email protected] Financial and Procurement Specialist: Ala COJOCARI, Email: [email protected] Monitoring, Evaluation and Training Specialist: Veronica ANDRONACHI, Email: [email protected] Program Assistant: Ana GONCEAR, Email [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $22,211 Total Program Expenditures: $1,142, 885
List of Acronyms
FSW Female Sex Workers GFATM Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria IDUs Injecting Drug Users LGBT Lesbians, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgender Community MDR Multidrug Resistant MoH Ministry of Health MSM Men having Sex with Men MSPFC Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child NGO Nongovernmental Organization PCU Project Coordination, Implementation and Monitoring Unit Moldova Health Sector Project PHP Public Health Program PLWHA People Living with HIV/AIDS SFM Soros Foundation-Moldova STD Sexually Transmitted Disease TB Tuberculosis UNAIDS Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS WHO World Health Organization
39 SUBPROGRAM 1: MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES (In collaboration with the Mental Health Initiatives, Open Society Institute, Budapest)
The Mental Health Initiatives (MHI) subprogram seeks to ensure that people with mental disabilities (mental health problems and/or intellectual disabilities) are able to live as equal citizens in the community and to participate in society with full respect for their human rights. The Mental Health Initiatives Program promotes the social inclusion of people with mental disabilities by supporting the development of community-based alternatives to institutionalization and by actively engaging in policy based advocacy.
The following activities and projects were financed within this subprogram:
Grants
Study Visit to Lithuania to Learn about the Experience in Inclusive Schools Grantee: Femeia şi Copilul – Protecţie şi Sprijin (The Woman and Child - Protection and Support) Public Association Project manager: Alexandra GRĂJDIAN Summary: The aim of the project was to increase the knowledge of 13 decision makers from the rayons of Criuleni and Dubasari, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Youth about the Lithuanian experience in inclusive schools and inclusive kindergartens. $15,591
Early Intervention for Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities in the Republic of Moldova Grantee: Voinicel Centre of Early Intervention Project manager: Silvia BREABIN Summary: The main goal of the project is to promote early Intervention for children with mental and physical disabilities in the Republic of Moldova through providing services in early Intervention by setting up mobile teams, children’s inclusion in integration activities, changing the general public’s attitude towards children with mental and physical disabilities and providing capacity building for specialists in the field. $43,352
Participation in the Seminar Organized by the Open Society Institute “Step up! Sharing Successes and Challenges in Deinstitutionalization in Central and Eastern Europe”, Budapest, Hungary, April 24 - 25 Participants: Lucia GAVRILIŢĂ, Liliana ROTARU, Liliana GHERMAN, Angela CAPCELEA $3,392
Participation in the Congress „Europe in Action. Education for Participants”, Vienna, Austria, April 10 -12 Grantees: Alexandra GRĂJDIAN, David ANDERSON $3,439
Participation in the seminar „Living Independently and Being Included: Understanding and Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”, Drammen, Norway, September 12 - 13 Grantee: Luciana IABANGI $332 Participation in the Training “Comprehensive Evaluation of Beneficiaries from Residential Institutions”, Baia Mare, Romania, February 24-29 Participants: Luiza ARTIOMENCO, Nicolae BEŞLIU, Viorica COJOCARU, Jana CHIHAI, Ecaterina GOLOVATÎI, Alexandra GRĂJDIAN, Tatiana JALBĂ, Valentina LEMEŞEV, Parascovia MUNTEANU, Galina PIROJANSCHI, Virginia RUSNAC, Tatiana VASIAN, Angela CAPCELEA $9,225
Organization of the Training Course “The Social Services System for People with Disabilities”, Chişinău, November 20-22
40 Grantee: Speranţa Day Center Project manager: Viorica COJOCARU Summary: The general objectives of the training course were: understanding the importance of social services for people with disabilities; the place of social services in the social protection system; key elements of social services for people with disabilities. 25 persons active in the field of disability benefited from this training course including the representatives of the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child. $1,150
Operating projects
Translation (from English into Romanian) of the study “Evaluation of Opportunities for Mental Health Programs in Moldova. Case Study: Orhei School for Boys with Mental Disabilities”, done by Irina BURLACU, Resource Center of Moldovan Nongovernmental Organizations for Human Rights (CReDO) $370
Medical, Social and Psychological Evaluation of Orhei School’s Beneficiaries and Their Families, implemented during March 10 – June 10 Summary: The evaluation was conducted by a trained multidisciplinary team including a psychiatrist, educators, psychologists and social assistants. The objectives of the evaluation were: social, medical, psychological evaluation of the children from the Orhei School; social and psychological evaluation of their families; evaluation of the child and family needs, development of interventions and support services according to children and families’ needs. $27,370
Community for All Moldova Project Partners’ Planning Meeting, Chişinău, June 10-13 Summary: The results of the assessment study “Medical, Social and Psychological Evaluation of Orhei School’s beneficiaries and Their Families” were presented and discussed. An action plan was developed and partners’ responsibilities were highlighted. Participants: Representatives from the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, Soros Foundation-Moldova, Open Society Mental Health Initiative, Keystone Human Services International, Keystone Human Services International Moldova Association, Hope and Hopes for Children $1,290
Support of the Working Group in Disability under the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child Summary: The project supported the activity of 4 consultants in disability, reform and legislation. The consultants offered assistance to the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child in developing normative/legislative framework for ensuring the development of support services within community, which in the long term will eliminate the need for residential care. $17,606
Needs Assessment of the Development of a National Early Intervention System for Children with Disabilities in Moldova, June 2 – August 29, carried out by the SocioPolis Study and Consultancy Center $8,050
Roundtable on the launch of the results of the study “Needs Assessment for the Development of a National Early Intervention System for Children with Disabilities in Moldova”, Chişinău, December 15 Summary: The survey results were officially made public. Representatives of service providers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and academia were invited to attend. A resolution on early intervention for children was developed by the roundtable participants and sent to all relevant ministries including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, Ministry of Education and Youth. $510
Other subprogram costs (program operational costs): $7,923 Total subprogram expenditures: $139,600
41 SUBPROGRAM 2: PALLIATIVE CARE (In collaboration with International Palliative Care Initiative, Open Society Institute, New York)
Palliative Care is an active, complex care, which provides for the quality of the end-of-life of the terminally ill patients and their families. When the curative treatments are not opportune or efficient any more, palliative care becomes essential and indispensable. The goal of the Program is to fully integrate palliative care into national health policies. An increasing access of essential drugs for pain control is one of the program objectives.
The following projects and activities were financed within this subprogram:
Grants
Ensuring Availability and Access to Opioid Medication Grantee: Association of Pharmacists of the Republic of Moldova Project manager: Ala CIOBANU Summary: The purpose of this project is to improve the availability and access to medications used for pain management in patients who are experiencing severe pain associated with different diseases, especially cancer. Project objectives: work on the elimination of the regulatory restrictions on opioid manufacture, distribution, prescription or dispensing for cancer patients; spread information regarding pain management to pharmacists, health care professionals and try to remove the reluctance to store, release or prescribe opioids; decrease patients’ reluctance to use opioids they need for pain relief. $29,508
Development of Professional Competence in Palliative Care Grantee: Prosperare - Zubreşti Public Association Project manager: Vasile SURUCEANU Summary: The main goal of the project was to offer the possibility to 30 students from the National Medical College to practice and deliver palliative care services within the Zubreşti Hospice. $7,460
Participation in the Training Course “Quality Management of Medical Services”, Sankt Petersburg, Russia, February 11-15 Grantee: Iurie OSOIANU $1,860
Participation in the International Conference “Innovation in Palliative Care”, Minsk, Belarus, October 9-10 Grantees: Valerian ISAC, Victoria MONUL $300
Organization of a Study Visit to the Hospice Casa Speranţei, Braşov, Romania, October 6-8 Participants: Mihai ROTARU, Stela GLADEI, Elena STEMPOVSCHI, Doina ROTARU, Angela CAPCELEA $1,570
Participation in the Palliative Care Training Course, Braşov, Romania, September 8-12 Grantee: Ana PATRAŞCO $275
Operating projects
Workshop on the Development of Palliative Care Services in the Republic of Moldova, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Vadul lui Vodă, July 11-12 Summary: During the event, the results of working groups’ activity in palliative care under the Ministry of Health were presented. Further palliative care services development in the Republic of Moldova was discussed and activity plans of the working groups were revised.
42 Representatives of the Ministry of Health, National Health Insurance Company, National Society Hospice-Palliative Care, Oncology Institute, Medico-territorial Association Centru, Chişinău, National Center for Preventive Medicine/AIDS Center, Standing Committee for Drug Control, Agency of Medicines, and an international expert, Daniela Moşoiu, MD, participated in the workshop. $2,391
Roundtable on „Severe Pain – Still a Neglected Problem”, Chişinău, September 25 Summary: Representatives of the Ministry of Health, National Society Hospice-Palliative Care, Oncology Institute, National Center for Preventive Medicine/AIDS Center, Standing Committee for Drug Control, Agency of Medicines, Nicolae Testemiţanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the international expert, Daniela Mosoiu, MD, participated in the meeting. The participants developed a resolution with recommendations to ensure access of patients in need to pain control medication. The resolution was submitted to the Ministry of Health. $156
Developing the draft of the National Cancer Control Program for 2009 – 2013 Summary: Two national consultants, in partnership with the main oncologist, Ministry of Health representatives, professionals and civil society representatives, developed the draft of the national program according to the World Health Organization recommendations for the development and implementation of cancer control programs. Service providers: Stela BIVOL, Ştefan SAVIN $2,587
Developing the Model of Health Care Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Moldova Service provider: Elena VVEDENSCAYA $7,505
Other subprogram costs (program operational costs): $5,970 Total subprogram expenditures: $59,582
43 SUBPROGRAM 3: LAW AND HEALTH PROGRAM (In collaboration with Open Society Institute, New York)
The Law and Health Initiative (LAHI) aims to increase the legal knowledge and capacity of public health practitioners and to make them better human rights advocates. At the same time, LAHI aims to support collaboration between public health advocates and legal and human rights advocates, with the goal of increasing the involvement of the human rights community in public health. The following activities and projects were financed within this subprogram:
Grants
Ensuring Availability and Access to Opioid Medication Grantee: Association of Pharmacists of the Republic of Moldova Project manager: Ala CIOBANU Summary: The purpose of this project is to improve the availability and access to medications used for the treatment of patients who are experiencing severe pain associated with different diseases, especially cancer. The project works on the elimination of regulatory restrictions on opioid manufacture, distribution, prescription or dispensing opioids to cancer patients; spreading information regarding pain management to health care professionals and reducing reluctance to prescribe opioids; reducing pharmacists’ reluctance to store and release opioids to cancer patients; decreasing patients’ reluctance to use opioids they need for pain relief. $2,957
Human Rights Protection of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Moldova Grantee: Moldovan Institute for Human Rights Project manager: Vanu JEREGHI Summary: The project aims at documenting human rights violations and abuses committed against people living with HIV/AIDS and defending such cases; protection of human rights of HIV positive people assessment; increasing the capacities of 20 representatives of the nongovernmental sector in human rights field. $66,000 including $25,000 from the Human Rights and Governance Grants Program
Operating projects
Support of the Working Group in Disability under the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child Summary: The project co-funded the activity of 4 consultants in the reform and legislation in the field of disability. The consultants offered technical assistance to the Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child in developing normative/legislative documents for ensuring the development of support services within community, which in the long term will eliminate the need for residential care. $3,726
Other subprogram costs: $8,000 Total subprogram expenditures: $89,683
44 SUBPROGRAM 4: ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL MEDICINES (In collaboration with Open Society Institute, New York)
The overall goal of Access to Essential Medicines (AEM) subprogram is to promote increased access to essential medicines in the Republic of Moldova, particularly for marginalized populations. AEM pursues this goal by developing civil society capacity for advocacy and leadership on access to medicines at national level. AEM concentrates its efforts on access and availability, accountability and transparency. The program also promotes civil society engagement with these issues.
Grants
Assessment of Drug Supply Management and Access to Medicines Used in Drug Substitution Treatment Grantee: CARLUX Public Association Project manager: Rita SEICAŞ Summary: The assessment of drug supply management and access to medicines used in the drug substitution treatment will be conducted; strong and weak aspects will be highlighted and recommendations will be developed. The assessment results will be presented to the Ministry of Health, key specialists from the field, and NGO representatives during a workshop. A procurement and supply plan will be developed. $5,010
Participation in the seminar "Community Involvement for Improved Procurement, Supply and Pricing of Antiretroviral and Opioid Substitution Medicines", Kiev, Ukraine, March 5-7 Participants: Igor CHILCEVSCHI, Ludmila UNTURA, Laurenţiu IONESII, Ala COJOCARI $500
Total subprogram expenditures: $5,510
45 SUBPROGRAM 5: MEDIA AND HEALTH INTITIATIVES (In collaboration with Open Society Institute, New York)
The Health Media subprogram aims to increase public awareness of health issues by facilitating interaction between media and public health NGOs. The overall program goals also include improving the capacity of public health NGOs to utilize media and communicate effectively with the public.
Grants
Ensuring Media Advocacy Activities Targeting Youth with Disabilities Grantee: Femeia şi Copilul – Protecţie şi Sprijin (Woman and Child - Protection and Support) Public Association Project manager: Alexandra GRĂJDIAN Summary: The equipment purchased as a result of this grant, will enable the organization to complement its advocacy work. $2,787
Raising Awareness to Increase Health and Rights Grantee: Center for Health Policies and Studies Project manager: Irina ZATUŞEVSCHI Summary: The main goal of the project is to raise public awareness on health issues, health and rights of marginalized and underserved groups through public debates, roundtables and involvement of NGOs working on health issues. $35,000
Total subprogram expenditures: $37,787
46 SUBPROGRAM 6: HARM REDUCTION (In collaboration with Open Society Institute, New York, and third party)
The Harm Reduction Program aims at reducing HIV and other harms related to injecting drug use and to advocate for policies that reduce stigmatization of illicit drug users and protect their human rights. It targets prevention of HIV/AIDS epidemic among vulnerable groups including intravenous drug users (IDUs), female sex workers (FSWs), men having sex with men (MSM), prisoners, truck drivers, migrants, etc. As a partner facility of the Ministry of Health in the GFATM Grant (Round 1) – Project Coordination and Implementation Unit, the Soros Foundation-Moldova is playing the role of an NGO facilitator in implementing HIV/AIDS and STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) control, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), social support to patients on TB MDR treatment projects. At the same time, the project draws on the financial support of the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.
As a result of the open competition launched in 2008 by the Project Coordination, Implementation and Monitoring Unit Moldova Health Sector Project (PCU), the Soros Foundation-Moldova signed with PCU two contracts for implementing the projects „ Providing Community Outreach to Vulnerable Groups” and „Providing Care and Support for PLWHA”. The foundation continued to administer financial recourses of the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria for 2008-2009 through providing support for projects of governmental and non-governmental organizations, participation in conferences, seminars and workshops for the project staff and stakeholders as follows:
Grants
HIV/AIDS Prevention among IDUs in Orhei and Rezina Grantee: Adolescentul (Teenager) Youth Education and Rehabilitation Center, Orhei Project manager: Svetlana ROMANOVA Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with Viitorul Nostru NGO covering Rezina and Şoldăneşti. The services provided by the project aim at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among IDUs from Orhei, Rezina and Şoldăneşti (316 IDUs by the end of 2008 in Orhei and 204 IDUs by the end of 2008 in Rezina). The project services are focused on rendering needle exchange, distributing condoms, antiseptics and informational materials and promoting lower-risk behaviors and health education services. The project supports specialized consultations and counseling sessions, psychological and social reintegration of the above-mentioned target groups. $17,130
HIV/AIDS and SITs Prevention among FSWs in Orhei Grantee: Adolescentul (Teenager) Youth Education and Rehabilitation Center, Orhei Project manager: Svetlana ROMANOVA Summary: The project aims at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and SITs among female sex workers (161 beneficiaries, 10 of them being IDUs) and social reintegration activities. The services provided by the project include consultations and organizing information sessions, distributing condoms and needle exchange. $4,500
Prevention of HIV/AIDS among IDUs in Chişinău and Căuşeni Grantee: National Center for Preventive Medicine / AIDS Center Project manager: Ecaterina IOVU Summary: The organization implements the project in partnership with Cu Gîndul la Viitor NGO, Căuşeni. The goal of the project is to reduce HIV and STIs incidence among 1697 IDUs from Chişinău and 73 IDUs from Căuşeni, by rendering specialized services (needle exchange, distribution of condoms and antiseptics), counseling sessions, and distributing information pamphlets. $22,920
47 HIV/AIDS and STIs Prevention among FSWs from Bălţi within the Framework of the Harm Reduction Strategy Grantee: Tinerii pentru Dreptul la Viaţă (Youth for the Right to Life) NGO, Bălţi branch Project manager: Ina BIRIUCOVA Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with Vis Vitalis NGO, Ungheni. The project aims at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and STI among FSWs (213 beneficiaries among FSWs out of which 27 IDUs from Bălţi municipality and 54 FSWs out of which 12 IDUs from Ungheni), alongside social reintegration activities, by promoting and strengthening harm reduction activities including needle exchange, distribution of condoms, antiseptics and informational materials, specialized consultancy and professional training for social reintegration. $20,840
Prevention of HIV/AIDS among IDUs in the Framework of the Harm Reduction Program Grantee: Association for Social Rehabilitation of Patients with AIDS and Drug Addiction, Chişinău Project manager: Nina TUDOREANU Summary: The project aims at reducing the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and STIs among 843 IDUs from Chişinău, including the districts of Rîşcani, Botanica, Centru, Buiucani, Ciocana, Durleşti, Vatra, Ghidighici and Ciorescu, by rendering needle exchange services, as well as distributing condoms, antiseptics, informational materials, and providing counseling services. $15,750
Prevention of HIV/AIDS and STIs among FSWs in Chişinău Grantee: Reforme Medicale (Medical Reforms) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Alexei LEORDA Summary: The services provided by the project aim at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS among FSWs (496 beneficiaries, including 58 IDUs). The project services are focused on rendering needle exchange, distributing condoms, antiseptics and informational materials and promoting lower-risk behaviors and health education services. The project supports specialized consultations and counseling sessions, psychological and social reintegration of the above-mentioned target group. $23,235
Fighting HIV/AIDS in Penitentiaries. Continuation of Activities Based on the Harm Reduction Strategy. Extension of Services to Penitentiary # 3 from Leova Grantee: Proiecte Inovatoare în Penitenciare (Innovative Projects in Penitentiaries) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Larisa PINTILEI Summary: The project aims at covering inmates from the entire penitentiary system with HIV/AIDS and STI prevention activities. The project services are focused on needle exchange in 7 penitentiaries, as well as distribution of condoms, antiseptics and informational materials for detainees from the entire system. $22,500
HIV/AIDS/STIs Prevention among IDUs in Bălţi, Ungheni and Făleşti Grantee: Tinerii pentru Dreptul la Viaţă (Youth for the Right to Life) NGO, Bălţi branch Project manager: Ina BIRIUCOVA Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with Vis Vitalis NGO, Ungheni and Împreună SA Salvăm Viitorul (Save the Future Together) NGO, Făleşti, covering Bălţi, Ungheni, Făleşti, and Glodeni regions. The main objective of the project is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS and STI prevalence among IDUs in the municipality of Bălţi about 3573 IDUs, Ungheni – 538 IDUs, Făleşti and Glodeni – 500 IDUs, by promoting and strengthening activities based on the harm reduction strategy (needle exchange, distribution of condoms, antiseptics and informational materials, specialized consultancy and counseling sessions). $44,437
HIV/AIDS Prevention Based on the Harm Reduction Strategy among IDUs in the Northern Region of the Republic of Moldova for 2008-2009
48 Grantee: Tinerele femei – Cernoleuca (Young Women-Cernoleuca) NGO, Donduşeni Project manager: Tatiana COJOCARU Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with Alcoolism şi Narcomania (Drug and Alcohol Addiction) NGO, Soroca covering Donduşeni, Tîrnova, Otaci, Ocniţa, Edineţ, Rîşcani, Soroca, Drochia, Floreşti regions. The project aims at lowering the risks associated with intravenous drug use (145 IDUs from Donduşeni, Tîrnova, Otaci, Ocniţa, Edineţ, Rîşcani and 707 IDUs from Soroca, Drochia, Floreşti). The organization provides needle exchange, information materials, condoms and antiseptics, STI prevention, including HIV/AIDS prevention and carrying out other harm reduction activities. $17,820
“Loving Differently, Loving Safely”. Phase III Grantee: GENDERDOC-M Information Center NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Olesea BUCŞANU Summary: The project aims at reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS epidemics and STI among LGBT community in Moldova, focusing on MSM. The project also advocates for safer sex for men having sex with other men. The project services are focused on rendering lubricants, condoms, hygienic gloves and informational materials. $12,000
Palliative Care Services and Social Support to PLWHA in Bălţi Grantee: Respiraţia a Doua pentru Oameni în Etate şi Inactivi (Second Breath for the Elderly and Inactive People) NGO, Bălţi Project manager: Irina BAICALOVA Summary: The project aims at rendering palliative care services to people living with HIV/AIDS, as well as at providing support to codependent persons (PLWHA relatives and friends), including HIV prevention activities, increasing adherence to ARV therapy. The project covers 385 people living with HIV/AIDS. $21,798
Providing Psychological and Social Support to PLWHA Grantee: Credinţa (Faith) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Ludmila UNTURA Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with Societate, Om, Sănătate, Viitor (Society, Person, Health, Future) NGO, Chişinău. The project aims at providing PLWHA with psychological support, nonmedical care and fighting against PLWHA stigma and social exclusion, providing support to dependent persons (PLWHA relatives and friends) including HIV prevention activities, increasing adherence to ARV therapy. At present the project covers about 645 people living with HIV/AIDS. $22,990
Providing Psychological and Social Support to PLWHA Grantee: Generaţia viitorului (Future Generation) NGO, Tiraspol Project manager: Alina TACMELOVA Summary: The project aims at providing PLWHA and their relatives with psychological support and fighting against stigma and social exclusion. The project offers HIV prevention services as well. At present the project covers 87 PLWHA. $8,300 Social Counseling - a Component of the Psychological and Social Support for PLWHA Grantee: BIAZ GUL NGO, Comrat Project manager: Alexandru ZAVRICICO Summary: The project aims at providing psychological support to PLWHA and their relatives, fighting against stigma and social exclusion of PLWHA. At present the project covers 44 PLWHA. $7,820
HIV/AIDS Prevention in Tiraspol Grantee: Generaţia viitorului (Future Generation) NGO, Tiraspol Project manager: Valeriu STEPANOV
49 Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with NOUIN NGO, Tiraspol. The main objective of the project is to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among IDUs ( 324 people for Generaţia viitorului NGO, and respectively, 405 people for NOUIN NGO ) in Tiraspol and Slobozia, by promoting and strengthening activities based on the Harm Reduction Strategy (needle exchange, distribution of condoms, antiseptics and informational materials, specialized consultancy and counseling sessions). $14,143
Substitution Therapy for Injecting Drug Users Grantee: Republican Narcology Dispenser Project manager: Mihai OPREA Summary: The project aims at mitigating the negative medical and social consequences of drug use among IDUs from Chişinău by offering the substitution therapy with methadone. At the end of the 2008, 313 beneficiaries were registered; 160 of them are permanent clients of the project. $20,000
Substitution Treatment with Methadone in Penitentiary Institutions Grantee: Department of Penitentiary Institutions, Ministry of Justice Project manager: Victor VOVC Summary: The project provides the substitution therapy with methadone to opiate drug users from penitentiaries. The project is implemented through the Infection Disease Department of the National Hospital for Detainees, where the dosage of methadone is established. The treatment is further provided through transferring the patients to Brăneşti, Cricova, Soroca and Rusca penitentiaries. At the end of the 2008, 142 cumulative beneficiaries were registered, including 32 permanent beneficiaries. $13,320
Substitution Therapy with Methadone for IDUs in Bălţi Grantee: Municipal Clinical Hospital from Bălţi Project manager: Eduard NENESCU Summary: The project aims at mitigating the negative medical and social consequences of drug use among IDUs from Bălţi by offering them the substitution therapy with methadone. At the end of the 2008, 32 cumulative beneficiaries were registered, including 17 permanent beneficiaries of the project. $5,680
HIV/AIDS Prevention among Migrants Grantee: Societate, Om, Sănătate, Viitor (Society, Person, Health, Future) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Silvia STRATULAT Summary: The project aims at providing HIV/AIDS and STI informational, educational and communication activities among migrants traveling through the Leuşeni and Sculeni customs checkpoints, as well as migrants traveling to CIS countries, through the Railway Terminal and International Airport in Chişinău. $14,600
HIV/AIDS/STI Prevention among Truck Drivers in Chişinău and Bălţi Grantee: Reforme Medicale (Medical Reforms) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Alexei LEORDA Summary: The organization implements activities in partnership with the Youth for the Tineri pentru Dreptul la Viaţă NGO, Bălţi branch. The services provided by the project aim at reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS and STIs among truck drivers in Chişinău and Bălţi (3065 persons from Chişinău, and respectively, 181 persons from Bălţi), including distribution of condoms and informational materials. $18,000
Development of Self- Support Groups for IDUs in regions Grantee: Viaţa Nouă (New Life) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Ruslan POVEGA
50 Summary: The project aim is to develop self-support and initiative groups for IDUs in Făleşti, Cahul, Ungheni, and Soroca in order to do rehabilitation and social reintegration of intravenous drug users. $7,992
Development and Strengthening of IDUs and PLWHA Self- support Groups in Regions Grantee: Viaţa Nouă (New Life) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Ruslan POVEGA Summary: The project aim is to increase capacities and improve the quality of self- support groups’ activity for IDUs from Făleşti, Cahul, Ungheni and Soroca in order to rehabilitate and reintegrate socially the IDUs. $6,600
Implementation of the Information System Based on an Anonymous Unique Identifier Grantee: National Management Centre in Health Project manager: Otilia SCUTELNICIUC Summary: The goal of the project is to develop an information system based on an Anonymous Unique Identifier of clients that enables the networking of nongovernmental and governmental organizations which work with persons from vulnerable groups. Every person will be identified by a standard formula within this anonymous system, applied to the whole country. $6,000
Register of Patients under the Methadone Substitution Therapy Grantee: National Centre of Health Management Project manager: Otilia SCUTELNICIUC Summary: The project aim is to develop a nominal database of clients in the substitution therapy with methadone. The network of organizations implementing/providing substitution therapy with methadone will use the developed register in their work. $6,000
Social Assistance to TB Multidrug-Resistant Patients under DOTS plus Treatment Grantee: CARLUX NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Lilian SEVERIN Summary: The project provides social assistance to TB multidrug-resistant patients that undergo the DOTS plus treatment. The project aims at changing the attitude and improving the treatment adherence of TB multidrug-resistant patients, both regular patients and people from penitentiaries that undergo the DOTS plus treatment, by offering social support during the period of ambulatory treatment. Financed from 2006 budget
Advocacy for HIV/AIDS Prevention among Drug Users in Transnistria (substitution therapy with methadone) Grantee: CARLUX NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Lilian SEVERIN Summary: The goal of the project is to obtain the political commitment of Transnistrian officials for the substitution therapy with methadone program implementation in penitentiaries from Transnistria, by carrying out advocacy activities. $15,000
Development of Guidelines of Care, Treatment and Support for Injecting Drug Users in the Republic of Moldova Grantee: Centre for Health Policy and Studies Project manager: Ştefan SAVIN Summary: The project aims at developing guidelines of care, treatment and support for IDUs taking into consideration the existing practices by involving local experts and key stakeholders. Financed from 2007 budget
51 Social Support and Adherence Improvement to ARV treatment Grantee: Centre for Health Policy and Studies Project manager: Ecaterina DAMIAN Summary: The project provides social support to PLWHA by reimbursing travel costs to patients on ARV therapy who live outside Chişinău and supports the activity of peer counselors. $34,649
Study Visit to the Czech Republic Grantee: Centre for Health Policy and Studies Project manager: Ştefan SAVIN Summary: The aim of the visit was to raise awareness of the Ministry of Health, National Republican Dispensary and civil sector’s representatives about the experience of the Czech Republic regarding integrated assistance to IDUs and related policies. $18,095
Human Rights Protection of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Republic of Moldova Grantee: Moldovan Institute for Human Rights Project manager: Vanu JEREGHI Summary: The project aims at documenting human rights violations and abuses committed against people living with HIV/AIDS; bringing such cases and defending them; respect of human rights of HIV positive people assessment; increasing capacities of 20 representatives of the non-governmental sector in the human rights field. $5,000
Organization of the seminar “Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) and Harm Reduction Programs in Penitentiaries. Achievements and Future Prospects”, September 18-19 Grantee: Proiecte Inovatoare în Penitenciare (Innovative Projects in Penitentiaries) NGO, Chişinău Project manager: Larisa PINTILEI Summary: During the seminar, the MMT’s implementation in penitentiaries and National Narcological Dispensary and program achievements were discussed. Heads of medical, educational and security services, and program implementers attended the seminar. $6,444
Operating projects
SFM’s Harm Reduction Program Planning Workshop with harm reduction program’s implementers, held in Chisinau, February 22
Training Course „Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs among Vulnerable Groups”, Chişinău, March 5-7 $5,728
Training Course in Team Work of specialists involved in substitution therapy for opioid depended patients, with participation of Emilis Subata and Ausra Malinauscaite, international experts from Lithuania, Chişinău, June 20-21 $5,126
Training Course in Basic Concepts for Outreaches Involved in Harm Reduction Programs in RM. Chişinău, September 22-24 $2,781
Training Course in Basic Concepts for Outreaches Involved in Harm Reduction Programs for Commercial Sex Workers”. Chişinău, December 8-10 $2,811
Training Course in Palliative Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS. Chişinău, December 12-14 $2,751
52
Other Training Courses/Conferences
Participation in the Training Course ,,HIV Nursing across Europe - Practice and Research”, organized by European HIV Nursing Network and the HIV Training and Resource Initiative, Warsaw, Poland, April 9 – 11 Grantee: Larisa DAMASCHINA $816
Participation in the study visit „Assistance Offered to Intravenous Drug Users in the Czech Republic, Prague, May 4-10 Beneficiaries: Liliana GHERMAN, Vitalie SLOBOZIAN
Participation in the Training Course “New Policy towards Drug Addiction”, Stefan Batory Foundation, Regional Alcohol and Drug Program, Warsaw, Poland, June 7- 9 Grantees: Iulia BUZENCO, Elena PAHOMOVA $1,531
Participation in HIV/AIDS Implementer’s Meeting, Kampala, Uganda, June 2 – 6 Beneficiary: Vitalie SLOBOZIAN $75
Participation in the International Training Course “Surveillance and Control of Sexuality Transmitted Infections”, Cavdat, Dubrovnik, Croatia, June 29 - July 3 Beneficiary: Veronica ANDRONACHI $3,400
Participation in the International Summer School of Stefan Batory Foundation, Regional Alcohol and Drug Program, Warsaw, Poland, September 18 - October 2 Grantees: Liubovi ANDREEVA, Svetlana ROMANOVA, Lilia TODERAŞCU $2,367
Participation in the Global Fund Sub-regional Meeting for the Grant Recipient Countries in the Balkans, Pržno, Montenegro, December 15-17 Beneficiary: Ala COJOCARI
Other Activities
Evaluation of the Methadone Maintenance Therapy in the Republic of Moldova by Emilis Subata, International Expert, Centre for Addictive Disorders, Vilnius, Lithuania Service provider: Emilis SUBATA $4,800
Consumer goods, including syringes, condoms, alcohol pads, methadone batchers, etc. were purchased within the Harm Reduction Program in the total amount of $117,513 (third party funding).
Expenditures for the publication of informational materials: $30,088
Expenditures for the monitoring and assessment of implemented activities: $16,443
Other subprogram expenses (program operational costs): $72,697
Total Harm Reduction subprogram expenditures: $723,089 (SFM/OSI NY: $46,561 and third party funding: $676,528)
53 CULTURAL POLICIES PROGRAM
Vision: A decentralized, democratic and modern cultural sector in Moldova, based on a legal framework aligned with European standards, implementing new models of cultural activity and promoting collaboration between decision-makers, cultural stakeholders and the related segment of civil society.
Background: The inefficient implementation of economic reforms in Moldova affects negatively arts and cultural institutions. During the last few years, neither the state nor the market economy mechanisms could provide the necessary financial support in order to ensure the continuity of the cultural and artistic processes.
The Cultural Policies Program’s mission is to contribute to the development of an open, participatory, pluralistic society, based on democratic values. To accomplish its mission, the Program organizes, supports and finances activities meant to encourage the development of the cultural sector with a special focus on strengthening both private and public nongovernmental cultural institutions, by improving strategic planning and developing managerial capacities in this field, promoting the participatory spirit and initiating national and local cultural development plans in cooperation with civil society.
The Program objectives address several priority aspects of the cultural and artistic process in Moldova: promoting an ambitious and long-term cultural policy, fostering decentralization, and supporting modern management in culture. To this end, the Foundation has established an efficient partnership with the European Cultural Foundation (ECF), based on a systemic and complex approach to the problem of strengthening human resources in the cultural sector. Within this partnership, two comprehensive projects have been launched: the pilot-project entitled “Visions on Cultural Policy for Moldova: from Changes to Viability” (January 1, 2007 – June 30, 2009) and a comprehensive project with the title „Reinforcing Moldova’s Development Capacities by Strengthening Its Cultural Sector”, (October 1, 2007 – September 30, 2010). The second project is implemented with financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Matra Program.
Victoria MIRON, Program Director, Email: [email protected]
Total Program expenditures: $96,730
List of Acronyms SFM Soros Foundation-Moldova ECF European Cultural Foundation
PROJECT 1: VISIONS ON CULTURAL POLICY FOR MOLDOVA: FROM CHANGES TO VIABILITY. PILOT PROJECT
The pilot project launched by SFM in collaboration with the European Cultural Foundation from the Netherlands deals with the development of a future vision on the cultural policy of Moldova and of a practical action plan for the development of the national and local cultural sector.
The Project objectives are as follows: - to draft an initial policy vision and concrete practical measures for cultural development in Moldova, which are collected, conceived and commonly accepted/shared by all leading stakeholders in the cultural field; - to set up a task force/working group comprising cultural managers and decision- makers who will promote current needs and interests of the cultural sector and advocate for them at all relevant policy levels; - to develop training and capacity building programs and tools/services gradually serving all relevant stakeholders in Moldova’s cultural sector;
54 - to build up a group of culture professionals as local trainers/consultants/experts who shall develop and implement future training and consulting programs in Moldova, which among other shall serve the professionalization of cultural managers dealing with strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, etc., but also shall address cultural administrators in the provinces and executives at all decision-making levels concerning culture.
A series of activities were carried out within the project including roundtables and public debates aimed at involving civil society in identifying and promoting strategic ideas concerning the cultural development of Moldova; an international conference; meetings of expert groups structured by areas; analysis and research; etc. All these activities were oriented towards increasing the awareness of the stakeholders from the culture field about current problems, the development and implementation of new cultural strategies aimed at improving the legal framework, cultural decentralization, supporting the implementation of new models of cultural activity and fostering collaboration between decision-makers, cultural stakeholders and the related segment of civil society.
In order to achieve the general objective of the project, the Slavans-Grafica Ltd Company was selected on a competitive basis to develop the website on art and culture in the RM.
The design of the website and the preparation of the materials have started, being coordinated by Victoria TCACENCO, university professor. At the same time, preparation for publishing of the materials developed during a series of roundtables and international conferences in cultural policies is under way. The following researchers, art critics and staff from the cultural field have participated in the development of the materials: Ecaterina RUDACOV, Tudor ZBÎRNEA, Marcel CHISTRUGA, Arcadie SUCEVEANU, Irina CIOBANU- SUHOMLIN, Aculina TRIFAN, Eugen LUNGU, Serghei POJAR, Elfrida COROLIOV, Emilian GALAICU-PĂUN, Grigore CHIPERI, Valentina GHERMAN-TĂZLĂUANU, Leo BOTNARU, Diana BUNEA, Lilia DRAGNEV, Larisa TUREA and others.
Total subprogram expenditures: $15,006 (including $13,846 – SFM budget, and $1,160 – ECF budget)
PROJECT 2: REINFORCING MOLDOVA’S DEVELOPMENT CAPACITIES BY STRENGTHENING ITS CULTURAL SECTOR
The project is aimed at strengthening the capacities of public cultural, private and non- governmental organizations and the responsible local administrations by means of conducting an intensive training program including the elaboration of long-term development strategies and concrete measures for structural improvements which shall tap the cultural sector as an alternative resource for sustainable development in the country. It relates to the SFM strategy in the cultural field
The Project objectives are: - to contribute to lasting improvement and professionalization of strategic planning and internal management capacities in NGOs and publicly funded institutions in the cultural sector; - to introduce successfully the strategic planning principles to local administration offices and the Ministry of Culture and increase knowledge and awareness on civil society cooperation and participatory development; - to stimulate the public recognition of civil society organizations in culture, which leads to a more open dialogue with policymakers and public debate on legislative reform for development; - to develop support tools to sustain the sector’s achieved level of professionalism and allow the autonomous re-education of new players in the future.
Target groups: - representatives of NGOs and civil society organizations in the field of art and culture
55 - representatives of public institutions in the field of culture, inclusively houses of culture - representatives of all local cultural administration offices of Moldova’s 32 districts - representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism According to the general objective of the program, an announcement was made public in order to select 15 NGOs and 15 public cultural institutions to take part in the project. During 2008, a total of 8 training courses were organized, 4 of which were organized for NGOs, cultural companies, public institutions (group I), and the other 4 - for local cultural administration offices (group II).
The training activity was conducted by 5 foreign trainers including Johanna KIEVIET, Lidia VARBANOVA, Bert JANMAAT, Mariangela LAVANGA, Corina RACEANU, assisted by 4 local trainers including Victoria TCACENCO, Claudia CRĂCIUN, Veaceslav REABCINSCHI and Irina GRABOVAN.
Seminar „Strategic Management. Development of Vision / Mission. Organizational Sustainability. Managing Changes and Risks”, February 14 – 17, SFM, Chişinău (group I)
The seminar had the goal to improve the participants’ knowledge and skills in analyzing the situation of their own institution in relation to a changing society; to provide basic knowledge and competence in strategic management through analyzing the organization/team on the basis of SWOT analysis. Trainers: Johanna KIEVIT, Lidia VARBANOVA, Irina GRABOVAN, Victoria TCACENCO
Seminar „Identifying Local Development Potential. Visions for the Future. Strategic Planning. Local Cultural Development. Cultural Economics”, May 15 – 18, Chişinău (group II) The following subjects were discussed during the seminar: identifying local development potential; visions for future; strategic planning; local cultural development; cultural economies. Trainers: Mariangela LAVANGA, Bert JANMAAT, Claudia CRĂCIUN, Veaceslav REABCINSCHI
Seminar „Cultural Policy. Cultural Development. Organizational Development. Strategic Planning”, June 26 – 29, Ivancea, Orhei (group I) The seminar had the goal to analyze the cultural policy, its impact and the strategic use of culture potential; to improve participants’ analytical knowledge and skills in analyzing the situation of their own institution in relation to a changing society; to provide basic knowledge and competence in strategic management. Trainers: Johanna KIEVIT, Irina GRABOVAN, Victoria TCACENCO
Seminar „ Cultural Policy Systems and Procedures. Structuring and Management of Public Administration Bodies”, June 26 – 29, Ivancea, Orhei (group II) During the seminar, the following subjects related to the development of cultural policies were discussed: cultural development/organizational development (for the audience made of representatives of cultural institutions and NGOs) and systems and procedures of cultural policies/strategic planning. Trainers: Bert JANMAAT, Claudia CRĂCIUN, Veaceslav REABCINSCHII
Seminar „Structuring Organizations. Human Resources Management and Development”, September 23– 26, Chişinău (group I) The seminar had the goal to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in analyzing the situation of their own institution in relation to a changing society; to provide basic knowledge and competence in strategic management; to make an analysis of the organization’s capacity and to increase the potential and opportunities of the organization. Trainers: Lidia VARBANOVA, Johanna KIEVIT, Irina GRABOVAN, Victoria TCACENCO
56 Seminar “Development of Local Cultural Policies”, September 23– 26, Chişinău (group II) The seminar had the goal to improve the capacity of public officials acting as facilitators in their communities. The agenda comprised such subjects as: human resources management system in arts organizations; organizational structure; working with boards; leadership; etc. Trainers: Lidia VARBANOVA, Irina GRABOVAN, Victoria TCACENCO
Seminar „Financial Management. Planning Public Budgets. Financing in Transition”, December 8 – 11, Chişinău (group II) The goal of the project was to provide knowledge and develop competence in project management – how to deal creatively with financial knowledge; to understand and to apply fundraising as a long and short term possibility for financing cultural activities; to get new knowledge and competence in project cycle management: wording, implementing, evaluating a project, etc. Trainers: Corina RĂCEANU, Bert JANMAAT, Claudia CRĂCIUN, Veaceslav REABCINSCHI
Total Project 2 expenditures: $87,487 (including $2,447 – SFM budget and $85,040 – ECF budget)
57 MEDIA PROGRAM
Vision: Moldova – a country with a free informational market, viewed not only as a general-human value but also as an essential instrument for social and economic progress.
Context: The main problems facing the media field are related to the need to improve public access to information, to implement effective public opinion mechanisms and to create a high-quality informational environment in Moldova, in accordance with democratic standards.
Objectives: - to improve the legal framework in the media sphere; to monitor press institutions and attacks on the freedom of the press - to monitor the implementation of the new media legal regulations by media institutions - to support civil society in promoting the genuine values of the public audiovisual service in the Republic of Moldova and offer assistance in improving this process - to extend the local independent media sector and improve its operating conditions, by supporting local radio and TV networks in their common effort of informing the public - to improve journalists’ professional standards and ethics - to implement efficient management practices in media outlets
The Media Program contributes consistently to ensuring the pluralism of opinion and to promoting public access to objective information, with a special focus on rural population. The strengthening of independent press institutions and their alignment with international standards were the key target areas of the Program. The media and local radio and TV stations benefited from logistic assistance and direct financial support aiming at their capacity building and extension of the distribution/broadcasting area with a special focus on the regions where access to information is limited. The Program promoted independent and responsible press functioning principles, enhancing the professional standards of media employees. Content monitoring activities, logistic assistance on internal editorial and financial management and elaboration of development strategies were supported in order to ensure the sustainability of independent media institutions.
Victoria MIRON, Program Director, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $12,387 Total program expenditures: $490,653
List of Acronyms AEJ Association of European Journalists APEL Electronic Press Association in Moldova Sida Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency AIJR Association of Independent Journalists of Romania ACC Audiovisual Coordinating Council CE Council of Europe SB Supervisory Board SFM Soros Foundation-Moldova PBNI Public Broadcasting National Institution PBRI Public Broadcasting Regional Institution PP Periodical Publication EU European Union FIUM Free International University of Moldova SUM State University of Moldova
58 SUBRPOGRAM 1: IMPROVING THE MEDIA LEGAL FRAMEWORK. MONITORING THE ACTIVITY OF INDEPENDENT MEDIA INSTITUTIONS
The Program aimed at contributing to the development of the informational environment in RM in accordance with standards and legal norms of developed countries; at ensuring civil society’s participation in the development of new legal and normative framework on electronic media; at ensuring transparency of the transformation process of the Teleradio Moldova Company into a public institution. The following projects were implemented in this area:
Operating programs:
Comments on the Audiovisual Code of the RM Summary: The project envisaged analysis and comment on the provisions of the Audiovisual Code, addressing all the three sections: 1. the operation of the field regulating authority; 2. the organization and operation of the public broadcasting service; 3. the operation of the private broadcasting service. During the implementation stage of the project, a team of local experts structured the research into three sections, according to the project objectives, covering de facto, the key-elements of the Audiovisual Code. At the same time, the Program established a partnership with Article XIX, an organization with headquarters in London, which conducted the review of the Code. The Romanian, Russian and English versions of the Comments on the Code were posted on www.soros.md and www.community-media.md websites. Also, the materials were published in hard copies by the Arc Publishing House, in a print-run of 300 copies, distributed to all interested institutions, as well as to the participants of the seminar „The Audiovisual Code of the Republic of Moldova: an Opportunity to Adhere to European Standards”, March 4 – 5. $2,225
Seminar „The Audiovisual Code of the Republic of Moldova: an Opportunity to Adhere to European Standards”, March 4 – 5, Chişinău Summary: By supporting this project, the SFM continued to monitor the national legal framework which regulates the audiovisual field and the way the legislation in force is implemented. It is noteworthy that experts of Article XIX, as well as national experts, carried out an independent analysis on the Audiovisual Code, which they presented at the seminar. The audience comprised about 90 persons, including representatives of ACC, SB of PBNI Teleradio – Moldova Company, PBNI administration, PBRI Teleradio-Gagauzia company, representatives of private radiobroadcasters and audiovisual cable service providers, civil society, public and private radiobroadcasters and media NGOs. Boyko BOEV, expert of the Organization for Freedom of Speech Article XIX participated in the seminar. The project was carried out with financial support from SFM and Sida. $7,291
Total subprogram expenditures: $9,516
59 SUBPROGRAM 2: PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE. COOPERATION PROJECTS WITH ACC AND TELERADIO MOLDOVA SUPERVISORY BOARD
Objectives: Initiating a cooperation project with ACC and the Teleradio Moldova Supervisory Board of PBNI on several directions that SFM considers a priority that could stimulate the mechanism for establishing and strengthening the public audiovisual service, in accordance with national legislation and EU recommendations. Another objective is strengthening the Moldovan civil society’s capacities to plead in favor of democratic changes, supporting civil society’s efforts of promoting the values of an authentic public audiovisual.
Grants:
The Debate Program at the PBNI Teleradio-Moldova Company, a component of the „Bridges across Nistru Project: Common Actions of Media in Solving the Transnistrian Conflict” Beneficiary: BBC World Service Trust Project director: Michael RANDALL, BBC World Service Trust Summary: The objective of the project is to launch a weekly debate program on Public Television with participation of the youth, including youth from Transnistria, which will cover the Transnistrian problem among other important issues.
The project includes four components: 1.The development team at Teleradio-Moldova Company is scheduled to participate in a five-day working visit to the BBC headquarters in London in order to acquire knowledge in the organization of television debates. The goal of this visit is to provide journalists from the Republic of Moldova with the opportunity to observe the production process of debates and talk shows at BBC, as well as to communicate with renowned producers and editors from this company. 2. An expert from BBC will visit the Republic of Moldova to provide consulting in defining the key elements of the program and give recommendations on various logistic issues. 3. During the second stage of program preparation, a European trainer will assist the Teleradio-Moldova team in determining the role of the presenter and the editor, the studio audience structure and editorial principles for studio guest selection. The pilot program will be launched as a co-production of the BBC consulting team and the Teleradio-Moldova team. 4. After launching the program, the BBC team will continue to provide consulting on various issues. Since the project is to end by 2010, BBC will have the possibility to provide its ongoing assistance throughout this entire period. Implementation period: December 15, 2008 – July 15, 2009 $29,808
Monitoring the Practical Implementation of the Audiovisual Code in Moldova Grantee: Moldovan Broadcasters’ Association (APEL) Project manager: Alexandru DOROGAN, director Summary: The goal of the project is to contribute to the democratization of the society by monitoring the implementation of the provisions of the Audiovisual Code in the Republic of Moldova and of the CE recommendations in the audiovisual service field. The team of the project monitors the implementation of legal provisions: their applicability, the manner in which the ACC structure is set up, the way the SB of PBNI Teleradio – Moldova Company and its administration operates, the manner in which the PBRI Teleradio-Gagauzia company functions and the way the national/regional radio/TV public sector develops, etc.
A series of implementation mechanisms were planned, which included: participation in parliamentary sessions (by accreditation); participation in the public meetings of ACC; participation in meetings of the SB of PBNI/PBRI; analysis of gathered materials on a selected topic by experts and consultants (at necessity-more often); development of systematic case studies based on radio/TV programs of PBNI/PBRI (at least once in two months, during election period – more often); public presentation of the results of the most relevant case studies, etc. Implementation period: April 1, 2008 – May 31, 2009 $54,296
60 Public Debate „ European Journalism – a Priority for the Media in the Republic of Moldova” Grantee: Ziarul de Gardă PP Project director: Aneta GROSU, editor-in-chief at Ziarul de Gardă PP Summary: The debate was scheduled as a public event, organized with the participation of young journalists, where the public could discuss and receive first hand information about characteristics and priorities of European journalism. The objective of the public debate was to identify opportunities for collaboration between journalists from the Republic of Moldova and from other regions of the world, to learn and apply European strategies used in media.
The following guests were invited to take part in the debate: Doina JELA, secretary at AIJR (member of the executive committee AEJ – Brussels), Teodora STANCIU, president at AIJR, Ala MINDICANU, dean of the Faculty of Journalism at FIUM, Mariana TACU, faculty member of the Journalism and Communication Sciences Department, SUM, etc. $662
Operating Programs:
Conference „Public Audiovisual and Independent Stations: Importance of Cooperation”, May 29 – 30 Summary: The project aimed to contribute to the strengthening of the editorial independence of the PBNI Teleradio-Moldova Company; to increase the thematic diversity of programs offered to the public; to cover key issues pertaining to the relations between public radio broadcasters and independent producers and the development of an efficient mechanism which will establish, maintain and develop a sustainable cooperation between the PBNI and independent producers. David Ward, a European expert, provided relevant information based on European experience.
Discussions primarily centered on several major topics: the role and importance of private producers in the public audiovisual; the public audiovisual and independent producers: cooperation principles and methods; public audiovisual and independent producers – in between legal requirements (Article 51 (2), Audiovisual Code) and real possibilities; demand for public audiovisual and supply of private producers: opportunities for harmonization; etc.
The participants in the seminar including Gheorghe GORINCIOI, Ion BUNDUCHI, Valentin TODERCAN, Sergiu TCACI, Adela RAILEANU, Dumitru ŢURCANU, Alexandru DOROGAN and others, presented reports based on the analysis of audiovisual products provided by independent producers on the local market. Participants provided suggestions for improving relations between public radio broadcasters and independent producers in order to increase the number of programs the PBNI Teleradio-Moldova company purchases.
The audience comprised about 70 participants. The conference was organized by ACC in partnership with the Media Program of SFM with financial support from Sida. $7,782
Selective Monitoring of Teleradio Moldova Programs Summary: The monitoring project initiated by SFM in collaboration with the SB of PBNI Teleradio Moldova Company envisaged conducting independent reviews and assessment of the broadcasting in view of providing an objective and well-grounded professional evaluation of the activity of Moldova-1 and Radio-Moldova public broadcasters. Proposals and recommendations were made on how to improve their editorial policy and the quality of the programs in terms of satisfying the needs of the audience and contributing to the improvement of the service of programs according to the company’s status of a public institution. Project experts carried out the following activities: 1. monitoring the manner in which the function of informing citizens is performed (this category included news programs). 2. monitoring the programs fulfilling the special mission of the public radio broadcaster and of programs for special categories of TV and radio audience. 3. monitoring the programs aimed at enhancing the value of the cultural and linguistic heritage.
61 The recommendations were reviewed at the SB meetings of public institutions with participation of the president of the company, directors of TV and radio stations and were taken into account in drafting their editorial policy, as well as in their current activity. $8,067
Regional meetings of radio broadcasters in Bălţi (June 10-11) and Comrat (June 17-18) entitled “Implementing the Audiovisual Code: Challenges and Future Prospects” Summary: On June 10-11 (Bălţi) and June 17-18 (Comrat), the regional meetings of radiobroadcasters were organized in partnership with ACC, which gathered radiobroadcasters from the Northern and Southern regions, representatives of ACC, specialized national authorities, local public authorities from the area and civil society.
The regional meetings aimed at harmonizing the relations between local/regional radio broadcasters and local public authorities on the one hand and specialized national authorities on the other hand. Participants discussed the nature of current relations, identified the causes which lead to frictions between parties, shared experience of cooperation between radio broadcasters and local public authorities, identified opportunities and solutions to improve the relations between radio broadcasters with authorities. The audience comprised about 60 participants for each region. $11,636
Seminar „Implementing Digital Television in the Republic of Moldova”, November 18 - 19, Chişinău Summary: The project aimed at organizing an international seminar targeting the analysis of digital broadcasting in the Republic of Moldova at the current stage, formulation of amendments to the legal framework which regulates digital broadcasting, and implementation of a correct and transparent transition to the digital format.
Tauno ÄIJALA (Finland), Daniel KLINGER (Romania) and Olga BOLSAKOVA (Ukraine) shared the experience of European and neighborhood countries in the field.
The agenda covered the following topics: Stages of transitioning to digital television in Finland; Implementing digital television in Ukraine, Romania and the Republic of Moldova; The role of the audiovisual regulation authorities in implementing digital television; Regulating electronic communication in the digitalization process; Public/private audiovisual and digitalization; Cable television and digitalization; etc. The conference was structured into three workshops: Legal Workshop (moderated by Vasile STATE), Digital Technology Workshop (moderated by Sergiu TUDOS), Social and Economic Aspects Workshop (moderated by Ion BUNDUCHI). The audience comprised about 80 participants. $13,417
Making Amendments to the Law on Advertising Summary: The project aims to improve operation conditions of audiovisual institutions by optimizing the legal framework in this area. To this end, a working group comprised of representatives of ACC, the State Agency for Competition, the Association of Advertising Agencies and civil society was created.
In July, a working group was set up to monitor advertising on 6 TV stations including Moldova 1, NIT, TV 1, Prime, Pro TV, N4, TV7 and 6 radio stations including Radio Moldova, Antena C, Ploia de Argint, PoliDisc, Hit FM, Radio Noroc. Programs of the above-mentioned stations were recorded during a period of two weeks and stored. The analysis of monitored information provided primary statistical data on local advertising, infringements on legislation by some radiobroadcasters, and domination of the Russian language in radio/TV advertising in the Republic of Moldova. Later, a public debate regarding the set of amendments to the Law on Advertising was organized. $5,481
62 Public debate “National Legal Framework on Advertising: Methods of Adjusting It to European Legislation”, December 9, Chişinău The public debate was organized by SFM in cooperation with ACC and examined the set of amendments drafted by the independent expert team within the “Developing Proposals to Modify the Law on Advertising” project. National experts: Vlad BERCU – President of the Association of Journalists in Economics, Galina ZABLOVSCAYA ,Executive Director of the Association of Advertising Agencies, Dinu CIOCAN, Head of Department, ACC, Ion BUNDUCHI, Executive Director, APEL, Eugen RÎBCA, lawyer, APEL presented assessment reports on the situation of the audiovisual products presented by independent producers on the local market. The audience comprised about 60 participants, including representatives of parliament committees in the field, radiobroadcasters, authorities, civil society, and advertisers. $2,236
Total subprogram expenditures: $133,385
63 SUBPROGRAM 3: STRENGTHENING GOOD GOVERNANCE VIA SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA DEVELOPMENT (The media component of the “Strengthening Civil Society in Moldova” project)
The project on strengthening the independent electronic media, launched in partnership with the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation is the most comprehensive program in the media field currently implemented by the Soros Foundation-Moldova. The project is part of a larger program meant to consolidate civil society in RM (May 1, 2006 – April 30, 2009). One of the components of this partnership project is related to the strengthening of local independent electronic media (radio and TV local independent stations).
Based on an open call for proposals organized to establish the networks of local radio and TV broadcasters, two networks were set up, consisting initially of 9 radio and 10 local TV stations.
Due to additional funding offered by the OSI Network Media Program in 2007, the network of local stations was expanded with 4 new stations: 3 radios and 1 TV station. A year later (August 2008) the local station Flor TV joined the program, due to the financial support provided by the Press-Now International Organization for media, located in Amsterdam.
Currently, the local stations network established within this project includes 11 radio and 12 TV stations.
Radio network members: Radio Sănătatea, Edineţ; Radio Orhei; Radio Sîngera; Radio Vocea Basarabiei, Nisporeni; Radio Media, Cimişlia; Radio Bas FM, Basarabeasca; Radio Albena, Taraclia; Radio Univers FM, Cahul; Radio Novaia Volna, Bender; Radio Jelannoie, Rîbniţa; Radio Prim, Glodeni.
TV network members: Canal X, Briceni; AVM, Edineţ; Sor TV, Soroca; Impuls TV, Şoldăneşti; Studio L, Căuşeni; Albasat, Nisporeni; Media TV, Cimişlia; Bas TV, Basarabeasca; STV-41, Taraclia; Yeni Ay, Comrat, TV Prim, Glodeni; Flor TV, Floreşti.
In accordance with the project strategy, the radio and TV stations selected to participate in the contest, during 2007 benefited from a complex training program (off-site and in-house trainings), systematic consultancy and direct support (grants). The direct support for the production of news and radio/TV programs of community interest provided from the grant resources cover 4 components, namely: - technical and technological upgrade – a basic set of modern production and broadcasting equipment, Internet connection, the maintenance of the network server and the domain for the network website operation - partial coverage of the expenses related to the production of news programs and programs that are of interest to the community to be exchanged in the network - in-house, including the organization of trainings for a period of 7 days at the beneficiary’s station, moderated by a local expert, specialist in the field - meetings in the framework of radio and TV stations network
Grants: In 2008, 11 local radio stations and 12 local TV stations benefited from the following financial support:
Radio Network
Grantee: RADIO JELANNOE Local Studio from Rîbniţa, “LIK” Tele-radio Company LLC Project manager: Alexandru SESTOPAL, director $8,255
Grantee: RADIO PRIM Local Studio from Glodeni, “Megan TV” Project manager: Arcadie MAICAN, director $8,109
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Grantee: NOVAIA VOLNA Local Radio from Bender (Transnistria), Teleradiokompania “Novaia Volna”” LLC Project manager: Grigorie VOLOVOI, director $8,255.27
Grantee: SĂNĂTATE Local Radio from Edineţ, Center for Health Promotion and Education "Sănătate” Project manager: Vasile SOFRONIE, director $5,102 The station was provided with equipment worth $ 4,599
Grantee: UNIVERS FM” Local Radio from Cahul, „Timpuri Noi” LLC Project manager: Mihai MIRON, director $5,102
Grantee: RADIO SÎNGERA Local Radio from Sîngera, Information Association from Sîngera Project manager: Victor MOCANU, director $5,102
Grantee: ORHEI-PRO Local Radio from Orhei, „Media Sfera” LLC Project manager: Tatiana DJAMANOV, director $5,102
Grantee: RADIO MEDIA Local Radio from Cimişlia, „Pro Media” LLC Project manager: Andrei BARGAN, director $5,102
Grantee: VOCEA BASARABIEI Local Radio from Nisporeni, „Emico” LLC Project manager: Veaceslav ŢIBULEAC, director $5,102
Grantee: ALBENA Local Radio from Taraclia, „Urania FM” LLC Project manager: Vasilii CASSA, director $5,102
Grantee: BAS-FM Local Radio from Basarabeasca, „LV-Topal” LLC Project manager: Vladimir TOPAL, director $5,102
TV Network
Grantee: STV-41 Local TV Station from Taraclia, „STV-41” LLC Project manager: Vasilii CASSA, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: BAS TV Local TV Station from Basarabeasca, „LV-Topal” LLC Project manager: Vladimir TOPAL, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: TV PRIM Local Studio from Glodeni, “Megan TV” Project manager: Arcadie MAICAN, director $16,584 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: MEDIA TV Local TV Station from Cimişlia, „Pro Media” LLC Project manager: Andrei BARAGAN, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: ALBASAT Local TV Station from Nisporeni, “Albasat” LLC Project manager: Efim BARDAN, director
65 $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: STUDIO-L Local TV Station from Căuşeni, „Studio-L” LLC Project manager: Ghenadie LUPACESCU, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: IMPULS-TV Local TV Station from Şoldăneşti, “Dalan” LLC Project manager: Victor SOFRONI, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: SOR-TV Local TV Station from Soroca, „Mar-Sor-TV” LLC Project manager: Emilia BOBEICĂ $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: CANAL-X Local TV Station from Briceni, „Canal-X” LLC Project manager: Piotr CONDRAŢCHI, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: AVM Local TV Station from Edineţ, “AVM” LLC Project manager: Victor CIUMAC, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: ENI-AI Local TV Station from Comrat, "Eni Ai" LLC Project manager: Vladimir LAZAREV, director $14,377 (including equipment acquisition)
Grantee: FLOR TV Local TV Station from Floreşti, „Flor TV” LLC Project manager: Valeriu POSTOLACHI, director $17,674 The station was also provided with equipment worth $14,143
Study Visit of Radio Broadcasters to Romania, September 7–14 Project manager: Victor MOCANU, group leader, director of Radio-Sîngera station from Sîngera Summary: On September 7-14, a group of 14 representatives of regional radio and TV stations from the Republic of Moldova traveled to Romania with the purpose of documentation and experience sharing. It included a series of visits and discussions with media professionals of press organizations, radio and TV stations from Romania: SKY FM, Prima TV, Europa FM, Kiss FM, National TV, Realitatea TV, Antena 1, Radio Braşov, Mix TV, etc., as well as work sessions with representatives of the National Council of Audiovisual, the management of the Romanian Association of Audiovisual Communication and representatives of the Independent Journalism Center. Discussions focused on issues related to the operation of a news department, relationship with National Council of Audiovisual and Agency for Intellectual Property Rights, operation of an advertising department, the context in which the transition process to digital television is initiated, etc. $7,109
Study Visit of Radio Broadcasters to Odessa, Ukraine, December 3 – 5 Project manager: Arcadie MAINCAN, director of TV Prim station from Glodeni Summary: The goal of the visit was to acquire experience in the field of cooperation between radiobroadcasters and public authorities in order to secure a correct, timely and efficient digital TV broadcasting. The spectrum of questions were focused on: a) the necessity of establishing a regional association that will issue a common grid of broadcasts; b) matters related to the purchasing of the so called multiplexes by the association of the regional broadcasters, in order to ensure a free functionality of TV stations; c) the service costs of transferring the signal through the respective multiplexes, that could not be influenced by interested forces in blocking the broadcasts diffusion through suspending the issue on different technical pretences, as it has already happened in Ukraine. The participants found the meeting and the experience exchange as very helpful in developing broadcasting in Moldova. $2,145
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Operating Programs:
Training in Community-oriented Programs on Regional Radio/TV Stations, October 4- 11, Turkey, Alanya Summary: The training was comprised of two workshops: one focused on radio – Thematic Program on Local Radio Station, carried out by Pavlo NOVIKOV, BBC expert, assisted by two local experts: Ion BUNDUCHI and Sergiu TUDOS, and one focused on TV – Automatization of Broadcasting and Use of Video Programs in the Production of TV Shows, led by Vitalie PERCIUN, executive producer at STS TV DIXI, assisted by two local experts: Anatolie POGHIRCĂ and Mircea CHISTRUGĂ.
A total of 48 persons participated in the training (22 persons in the Radio workshop and 26 persons in the TV workshop). $29,727
In-house Training in Local Radio and TV Station Management and Radio/TV News Summary: From January 1 to December 31, network members benefited from 11 in-house training sessions, organized within 5 radio and 5 TV stations, as follows:
Radio Period 1 Radio Orhei, Orhei 02/11 - 02/17 2 Radio Albena, Taraclia 02/25 - 03/02 3 Radio Orhei, Orhei 03/31 - 06/04 4 Bas FM, Basarabeasca 04/01 - 04/07 5 Radio Albena, Taraclia 04/02 - 04/08 6 Univers FM, Cahul 04/14 - 04/20
TV Period 1 Eni-Ai, Comrat 01/28 - 02/03 2 STV-41, Taraclia 02/18 - 02/24 3 Albasat, Nisporeni 03/10 - 03/16 4 AVM, Edineţ 03/31 - 04/06 5 Sor TV, Soroca 04/14 - 04/20
The in-house training sessions were led by local trainers, highly qualified professionals, who were selected during an open competition, including:
Ion ENACHE – Radio News and Programs Production, Radio Management Valentina URSU – Radio News and Programs Production, Radio Management Lidia MARIN – Radio Programs Production, Radio Management Ion BUNDUCHI – Radio Management, Radio News and Programs Production Vasile STATE – Radio Management, Radio News Production Alexandru DOROGAN – Radio and TV Management, Radio and TV News Production Petru BOGATU – TV Management, TV News Production Ludmila BARBĂ – TV News and Programs Production Mircea CHISTRUGĂ – TV News and Programs Production Vitalie GLINCA – Information Technologies $6,428
Network Experts, Consultants and Coordinators Summary: The monthly trips of the experts from Chişinău to local stations were meant to monitor and consult on radio and TV management; radio and TV news production, from
67 concept to broadcasting; radio and TV community shows production, from concept to broadcasting. Nine working meetings were organized at five radio stations – Radio Sîngera (4), Vocea Basarabiei (1), Radio Media (1), Univers FM (2), Sănătatea (1), working visits to six TV stations – Media TV, AVM (2), Canal X (3), TV Prim, Yeni Ai, Flor TV (3), according to a commonly agreed agenda. Coordinators monitored the network activity of the local radio and TV stations, program exchange within the network, including one-day visits to the member-stations, offered technical assistance, etc.
The team of experts included: Ion BUNDUCHI Management Consultant, Team Leader Ludmila BARBĂ TV Programs and News Production Consultant Vasile STATE Radio News Production Consultant Lidia MARIN Radio Programs Production Consultant Marcel CHISTRUGĂ Video Imaging Consultant Oleg ILIEŞ Audio/Video Technologies Consultant
The team of coordinators included: Valeriu VASILICĂ Radio Network Coordinator Sergiu TUDOS Technical Coordinator, Radio Network Alexandru DOROGAN TV Network Coordinator Vitalie GLINCA Technical Coordinator, TV Network $16,662
Maintaining the Network Website and Ensuring Information Exchange within the Network Within the radio/TV network, the news and program exchange mechanism through the “torrent” system was created; the radio and TV program exchange of the participant-stations at the http://bt.community-media.md project was ensured; the web page for this project was maintained. $2,637
Experience and Audio/Video Programs Exchange within the Radio and TV Networks The mechanism for experience and program exchange within the network was designed. Master class meetings for network members were organized systematically, both in Chişinău and outside the city, according to the established objectives. In 2008, a total of 11 network meetings were organized, 6 of which were organized off-site, at the following TV station: Studio-L, Căuşeni (June 18-19), Bas TV, Basarabeasca (July 23-24), Canal-X, Briceni and AVM, Edineţ (September 29-30), Media TV, Cimişlia (November 10-11), and radio stations: Bas FM, Basarabeasca (July 23-24), Radio Media, Cimişlia (November 10-11), etc. $ 7005
Other subprogram expenditures: $10,342 Total subprogram expenditures: $344,260
68 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE PROGRAM (PAGGP)
Vision: An efficient, modern and transparent public administration system and strong civil society organizations that keep the government accountable for its actions
Context: - weak capacity of civil society to perform monitoring and advocacy activities, and thus, to keep the government accountable for its actions - a low degree of transparency in the work of public administration, in particular of central government - lack of a real commitment to advance the central public administration reform - the legal framework regulating the public administration activity is adopted, but proper mechanisms for its implementation are lacking - poorly trained public officials unable to face current challenges - an extremely low level of local economic development and still very little local financial autonomy
In 2008, according to its strategy, the Public Administration and Good Governance Program carried out activities in the following key areas: - Transparency and Accountability - Public Policy and Advocacy - Technical Assistance/Expert Support for LGs - Support to the Decentralization Process
A year before, the Program started several new projects that are worth highlighting:
The Clean Parliament project is a PAGGP initiative designed to be implemented in the pre- electoral period. A Civic Initiative for a Clean Parliament was created by 7 renowned NGOs in Moldova. The project aims at “cleaning up” the election lists registered for the Parliamentary Elections in 2009 and thus contributing to a cleaner Parliament with more integrity. The project is largely being implemented in cooperation with the media and some of the political parties that agreed to cooperate.
The Public Budget Monitoring project was launched by the PAGGP with a view to stimulating civil participation in monitoring of one of the most important areas of public interest, the public budget. This is a long term initiative that envisages conducting monitoring on sensitive issues related to public spending. The monitors will be civil society representatives and independent experts. The group of experts was selected and trained in monitoring and advocacy techniques and will start the actual monitoring activity in 2009. At the same time, a budgetary process guide was designed for the journalists that will further choose to write on budget issues, as well as for the general public interested in the subject.
The Central Public Administration Reform Monitoring aims at assessing the degree of implementation of the Central Public Administration reform and the results of this process after three years from its launch date. In future, the experts currently involved in the evaluation of the reform will also conduct continuous monitoring of further actions undertaken by the government in this area, trying to assist public authorities in better defining reform priorities and, when needed, alert civil society about their non-performance.
The Technical Assistance and Expert Support for LGs was extended in 2008 due to its success during the first 2006-2007 stage. Six local governments benefited from expertise in different fields like IT management, Transparency and Public Relations, Project Management and Public Private Partnerships. Due to this support, some of the beneficiary institutions have diversified their tools and means in communicating with the public and have made significant progress in opening up to the public using their new or updated websites and building partnerships with local NGOs. The quality of institutions’ management as well as of public services has also improved as a result of the significant IT support offered within the project.
69 Program Director: Olesea STAMATE, Email: [email protected] Program Coordinator: Zinaida ADAM, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $21,760 Total PAGG Program expenditures: $395,201
List of Acronyms
CPA Central Public Administration ENP European Neighborhood Policy IDSI Viitorul Institute for Development and Social Initiatives Viitorul LED Local Economic Development LG Local Government LGI Local Government Initiative LPA Local Public Administration PAGGP Public Administration and Good Governance Program UNDP United Nations Development Program
70 SUBPROGRAM 1: TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Objectives: - to enhance civil society’s capacity in monitoring and advocacy activities - to increase the government’s accountability for its actions - to contribute to a more transparent decision making process - to contribute to an increased responsibility of political parties and a better informed vote
Operating projects:
Central Public Administration Reform Monitoring The CPA Reform Strategy Action Plan (2006-2008) expired at the end of 2008. Thus, the PAGGP came up with this initiative that aims at evaluating the progress made by the Government in implementing the reform. The Providus Center for Public Policy from Latvia was selected on the basis of an open international competition to design an evaluation and monitoring methodology for the CPA Reform in Moldova. The methodology will be ready in January 2009 and then the experts from Providus will hold a training program for a selected group of civil society representatives and independent experts on how to practically apply the methodology. $ 256
Mixed Projects:
Clean Parliament The Civic Initiative for a Clean Parliament was created by 7 prominent local NGOs including Access Info Center for Promotion of Access to Information, ADEPT Association for Participatory Democracy, Association for Independent Press, Center for Analysis and Prevention of Corruption, Center for Investigative Journalism, Independent Journalism Center and Soros Foundation-Moldova, that aim at raising awareness on the importance of a well informed electoral choice, as well as to increase political parties’ accountability toward the Moldovan people. Being particularly designed for the pre-electoral and the electoral period, one can speak of its results only after the parliamentary elections which are to take place in the spring of 2009. The main activity of the project will consist of conducting investigations about the political candidates of the main political parties in order to establish whether the candidates correspond with the integrity criteria put forward by the Initiative. In 2008 the members of the Initiative conducted preliminary talks with political parties on the project and managed to convince most of them to collaborate. The group of investigative journalists was selected, trained and began the investigation work in December 2008. In 2009, the investigation results will be double checked by a group of lawyers, by three reviewers, as well as by the members of the Initiative. If the candidates found unsuitable with the integrity criteria are not removed from the party’s election list, the Initiative will publish and largely disseminate the results of the investigations.
Operating budget: $19,689 Grant Budget: $29,510
Public Budget Monitoring This project aims to develop civil society’s literacy regarding budgetary issues and to monitor governments’ activity on public spending. This is a complex project that will continue in 2009 as well. During 2008, the PAGGP managed to implement several preparatory activities for the 2009 public budget monitoring project. These included the development of the Guide on the Budgetary Process in the Republic of Moldova by an expert selected by the PAGGP through an open competition. The guide will be used by journalists and NGO representatives in public budget monitoring activities. At the same time, the PAGGP selected and trained a group of experts in public budget monitoring and advocacy techniques. The experts identified their fields of interest and will start the monitoring activity in January 2009.
One of the experts who will be involved in the project, Alexandru OPRUNENCO, was delegated to represent the Project at an international workshop on The Role of Civil Society in
71 Donor-Funded Programs held in January 2009, in Washington D.C., USA.
Operating Budget: $ 10,930 Travel grant: $1,373
Local Government Watch-dog Activities This project was designed with a view to strengthening civil society capacity to serve as a watchdog over local government’s performance, to increase the level of transparency, and to stimulate civil participation in the decision-making process. The project was implemented in two stages. The first one took place on May 23-25, 2008, when a training led by OSI-Sofia experts was organized for a group of 24 representatives from 10 local NGOs selected through an open call. During the second stage, the NGOs that participated in the first stage were invited to submit their project proposals and four of them were awarded grants to implement one-year-long projects in seven different localities from Moldova. The Chişinău -based NGOs are implementing the projects in cooperation with a local NGO in order to ensure a better communication with the local community.
Operating Budget: $9,881 Grants Budget: $67,589
Grants: Civic Local Initiative Căuşeni Grantee: Partnership for Development Women’s National Center for Studies and Information Project Director: Zinaida ONICA Summary: The project goal is to stimulate local social groups to initiate local government watchdog activities with a view to making the decision-making stakeholders from Căuşeni accountable for their actions. The project also envisages increasing local authorities' level of expertise in integrating the gender dimension into the budgeting process (gender budgeting). $15,056
Budget Monitoring and Ensuring Its Transparent Execution by the Făleşti Town Local Public Administration Grantee: Cutezatorul NGO Project Director: Vitalie CIMPOIEŞ Summary: The project focuses on increasing citizens' awareness of the Făleşti town's budget and involving Făleşti citizens in the town's budget planning, adoption and monitoring process. Recom- mendations regarding the improvement of Local Council's activity and a more efficient use of the local community financial resources will also be put forward as a result of the monitoring process. $11,831
Transparent Decision-making on Local Level Grantee: Center for Assistance for Public Authorities Project Director: Eugen HRISTEV Summary: The project is simultaneously implemented in Leova and Nisporeni towns and aims at strengthening civil society capacity in monitoring local budgets at different stages, from its planning to implementation, thus ensuring a more transparent decision-making process and facilitating people’s access to information of public interest. $8,652
Keep the Government Accountable for the Public Money! Grantee: Association for Independent Press Project Director: Petru MACOVEI Summary: This project aims to develop local media journalists’ literacy in budget issues and to involve them in monitoring the local public administration activity in four towns – Soroca, Ungheni, Rezina and Cimişlia. The project is targeting at increasing the level of transparency of budgetary transactions at the local level and at increasing people’s interest in budgetary issues by covering them in local media. $ 32,050
Total Subprogram 1 expenditures: $ 139,228
72 SUBPROGRAM 2: PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Objectives: - to support the development of viable public policies - to influence policy change through designing in-depth studies in various sectors Grants:
Increasing the Investment Attractiveness of Moldova: a Regional Approach Grantee: Expert-Group NGO Project Director: Valeriu PROHNITCHI Summary: The goal of the project is to evaluate the investment potential and attractiveness of different regions from Moldova with a view to stimulating regional economic development. The reports that will be issued within this project will focus on mapping the investment potential and attractiveness, as well as the risks and obstacles local and foreign investors might encounter in different regions of Moldova. At the same time, the reports will provide analytical inputs and recommendations for a better implementation of regional development policies for the decision-making stakeholders. $77,820
Other expenditures: (advertising, reviews, etc.) $73 Total Subprogram 2 expenditures: $77,893
73 SUBPROGRAM 3: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND AXPERT SUPPORT FOR LGs
Objective: - to contribute to the modernization of public services by offering technical assistance for LGs
Operating projects
The Second Phase of the Subprogram Technical Assistance and Expert Support for LGs Eight consultants were selected to offer assistance to the Chişinău City Hall and Center, Ciocana and Botanica districts’ subdivisions, as well as to the Comrat and Cahul City Halls. From six to 12 months, the consultants offered the above mentioned institutions expertise in different fields, including IT management, Transparency and Public Relations, Project Management and Public Private Partnerships. In 2008, the project proved to be particularly productive. The Center Subdivision of the Chişinău City Hall was awarded the Bronze Bell prize for its consistent effort in opening up to the public. The Chişinău Municipal Subdivisions also benefited from renewed websites, as well as large data bases for several of their departments that will contribute to prompt public service rendering and a better storage of information. $70, 581
Donors Partnership In 2008, the PAGGP decided to join forces with UNDP with a view to implementing a Chişinău Municipality Development Project. Provided that the project was mainly financed by the UNDP and the project staff was hired particularly for this purpose, the PAGG signed a cost- share agreement, thus transferring its share to be administered by UNDP. This project aims at strengthening the Chişinău Municipality Council and Mayoralty’s institutional and financial capacity to support achievement of long term development goals and improve service delivery. $58,210
Grants:
Local Economic Development IV Grantee: CONTACT Center Project Director: Margareta VAMEŞ Summary: This is the fourth phase of the Local Economic Development Project. This year the project was geographically extended to five new rural localities, counting a total of 21 rural localities from Moldova involved in this project so far. The main focus of project activities was to consolidate previous efforts in strategic planning, strengthening local economic development, to support and encourage local private initiatives particularly in non-agricultural business, as well as consolidating local capacity in crediting non-agricultural business. $ 10,000
Total Subprogram 3 expenditures: $138,791
74 SUBPROGRAM 4: SUPPORT TO THE DESCENTRALIZATION PROCESS
Objective: - to contribute to the consolidation of financial autonomy and fiscal decentralization
Operating Project
Financing Education This project came as a response to the request of the Ministry of Finance of Moldova in providing expertise in developing the methodology for financing undergraduate education through special destination transfers in Moldova. An international team of three experts was selected through an open competition. Jan HERCZYNSKI, the experts’ team leader, offered to work with two Romanian assisting-experts, Diana IANCU and Adina SIMANDAN, thus facilitating the process of communication with local stakeholders. The project started in October 2008, and the experts managed to perform the first two - week visit to Moldova, when the experts got acquainted with the legal framework regarding financing education, standards for equalization transfers, collected data and also performed the first introductory seminar for the Ministry of Finance representatives. The rest of the activities will be carried out according to the Action Plan and the project in 2009 and are expected to finalize in May 2009. $ 360
Total Subprogram 4 expenditures: $360
OTHER ACTIVITIES
LGI Mini Jamboree “Empowering Civil Society and Local Governments in ENP Countries” This was an OSI/LGI Budapest initiative which took place on December 4-5, in Chisinau, Moldova. The Jamboree focused on LGI activities in five countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, members of the ENP. The main topics discussed during the conference focus on practical aspects of project implementation in few key strategic areas, that are common in all five countries, like human rights and decentralization, civil society and local government advocacy in support for an open society, LGI and national foundations’ involvement in ENPI monitoring, governance and decentralization Issues, fiscal transparency and budget monitoring, education management and governance reforms. $ 19,548
LGI Workshop “Local Government Audit Accountability and Transparency” The PAGG program coordinator took part in a regional workshop on LG audit accountability and transparency in February 2008 that took place in Kiev, Ukraine. During this workshop, the participants from South East Europe, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus shared knowledge and experience with respect to the legislative and human resources issues that lie behind successful audit endeavors, highlighting similarities and differences regarding local government audit across the region. $ 68
Total Other Activities: $ 19,616
75 LAW PROGRAM
Vision: The Law Program promotes and supports the development of a democratic and open society, based on human rights and rule of law principles.
Context: The Law Program developed the current strategy and began its implementation in quite a difficult context: the Government untiringly declares its total adherence to democracy, the rule of law values and observance of human rights, and, at the same time, admits and tolerates, in a nonchalant manner, the routine violation of these values by its own agencies. This paradox explains why the mere existence of human rights mechanisms does not mean their genuine observance. From this point of view, the Law Program deemed it important to put a well- balanced pressure on state authorities in order to ensure not only changes of policy but also modification of behaviorist practices.
The Republic of Moldova continues to face an unprecedented void between adherence to international instruments on human rights and authorities’ daily practices meant to protect the rule of law. State agencies benefited from diverse types of assistance at different levels: some, as for example the judicial system, were at least the subject of monitoring and donor institutions’ patronage, while others, as was the case of police, have never benefited from any comprehensive needs assessment. The same thing could be asserted about the prosecution system. Therefore the criminal justice system needs clear performance indicators based on respect of human rights, security and individual safety, social partnerships and victims’ assistance. Lack of targeted interventions in the state’s criminal justice policies, lack of advocacy efforts for their scrutiny through human rights standards could lead to an outcome much below the expectations of previous efforts made to broaden access to justice and know- how transfer. An efficient legal aid system for marginalized groups, well-informed judges and lawyers and case management software are the key elements of an efficient criminal justice system – but still only elements. The Republic of Moldova needs assistance in drafting efficient and holistic state policies in the justice field and in putting them on the highest level of political agenda.
Justice cannot be done if based on false indicators of success. The police cannot work in accordance with human rights requirements while looking for maintaining the false indicator of 100 percent of crime identification. The prosecutors cannot appeal groundlessly and routinely every court judgment that states a less severe punishment than the one required by the prosecutors. Ex officio lawyers cannot simply sign procedural acts without providing effective legal aid. Such justice would not defend the society from crimes and criminals and would have little in common with human rights standards. It will only serve for maintaining the false indicators of success and procedural formalities to the disadvantage of human rights.
The goal of the Law Program is to address this intolerable state of affairs, in favor of equitable justice based on international human rights standards, to which the Republic of Moldova has subscribed.
Specific objectives: - to strengthen the civil society’s capacity to monitor and implement human rights in practice and use the monitoring findings in promoting human rights friendly governmental policies - to strengthen the government’s capacity to develop criminal justice policies based on human rights and good governance principles - to support the development of justice sector institutions that facilitate equal and effective access to justice of all in need - to build and support the legal capacity of organizations and individuals to effectively use the law in promoting and protecting the public interest and individual rights, ensuring an effective monitoring of the decision making process and transparency
In 2008, the Law Program of the Soros Foundation-Moldova continued the implementation of activities aimed at profiling the future of the program, as a solid center of legal policy
76 research, advocacy and impact litigation. The Program continued to apply these instruments to three key areas for intervention: Access to Justice, HR Performance of the Criminal Justice Delivery System, and Access to Information.
The Law Program registered the following results in these areas in 2008: - continued to be the main civil society supporter of the legal aid reform, and provided intellectual and financial support to the Ministry of Justice in creating the National Legal Aid Council and its Territorial Offices; - maintained the pilot Public Defender Office; - developed the secondary legislation to implement the new legal aid law in the country; - initiated a study on criminal justice in the country that has revealed the following findings: the criminal law is constantly changing without any assessment of the impact of these changes; false performance indicators lead to the non-registration of complicated reported cases and registration of minor cases; complicated procedures overload courts taking away the time needed for complex cases, without a differentiation by case complexity; over-reliance on confession in evidence gathering process; lack of methodology for a permanent monitoring of the criminal justice system in order to use the findings for policy-making; “lost identity” for the prosecution’s role in the criminal justice system, and others; - provided continued support to the Acces-Info Moldova NGO in monitoring access to information of public interest in the country and in creating a task force in each region of Moldova for ensuring access to information of public interest; - supported a training program for the representatives of local authorities in the field of access to justice.
Program Director: Victor MUNTEANU, Email: [email protected] Financial Manager: Marcel VARMARI, Email: [email protected] Coordinator for the National Legal Aid Council: Iurie CUZA, Email: [email protected] Program Assistant: Tatiana DANILESCU, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $ 33,610 Total Law Program expenditures: $ 570,561
77 SUBPROGRAM 1: JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENT
Objective: to support the development of court management and methodological assistance for an efficient judiciary
Publishing within the subprogram:
Samples of Civil Procedural Documents Grantee: Supreme Court of Justice, Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases Chamber Project manager: Mihai POALELUNGI Summary: The judges of the Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice selected and developed a set of samples of civil procedural documents aimed to facilitate access to justice and to reduce the infringements of this right. The samples were developed according to the Moldovan civil procedural legislation. $3,854
Case-law of the Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases of the Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, (2007) Grantee: Supreme Court of Justice, Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases Chamber Project manager: Mihai POALELUNGI Summary: The adoption and enforcement of the new civil legislation raised serious problems in terms of its adequate implementation. In 2007, the “Case-law of the Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases of the Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, 2005-2006” was developed and published with the financial support of the foundation. This publication has a great importance for the implementation of civil law legislation in Moldova. The “Case-law of the Civil and Administrative Jurisdiction Cases of the Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, (2007)” represents a follow up of the collection of civil jurisprudence mentioned above. The distribution of this publication contributed to substantial knowledge improvement and uniform enforcement of these procedures. $12,027
Access to Justice: Concept, Exigencies, Achievements and Future Prospects Author: Victor ZAHARIA Summary: This publication is based on a new approach towards the issue of access to justice. It provides a complex analysis of the fragile balance between the legal needs of the poor and the judicial mechanisms to respond to these needs. The final target of this work is to identify efficient and nondiscriminatory models of access to justice which would bring together the legal and cultural heritage of Moldova and the best international practices. $ 2,144
Total subprogram expenditures: $ 18,025
78 SUBPROGRAM 2: ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Objective: to support the Government in reforming the legal aid system in line with international human rights standards and best practices.
Grants:
Support for the Pilot Public Defenders’ Office Grantee: Public Defenders’ Offices Project manager: Igor CIOBANU Summary: The project was developed as a logical continuation of similar projects implemented by the Soros Foundation-Moldova during 2006-2007 -- “Creation of Public Defenders’ Offices” and “Piloting Good Practices and Transfer of Knowledge within the Legal Aid Area in the Ciocana and Botanica Districts, Chişinău”. The Public Defenders’ Office continued to provide legal aid in criminal cases for the poor. The Office’s main goal is to contribute to the effective implementation of the state guaranteed legal aid law, number 198 – XVI, from July 26, 2007, through delivering quality legal aid to the underserved people. The activity of the Public Defenders’ Offices is aimed at creating an effective system of state guaranteed legal aid delivery in the Republic of Moldova. Project time-frame: January-December 2009. $ 100,000
Strengthening the Capacity of the Legal Aid System Grantee: Chişinău Territorial Office, National Legal Aid Council Project manager: Lilian DARII Summary: The project aim is to strengthen the capacity of the National Legal Aid Council and of its Territorial Offices in order to consolidate the new, accessible and non-discriminatory legal aid system according to the provisions of the state guaranteed legal aid law. During the reported period, the following events were organized: − orientation sessions for legal aid system’s employees (coordinators and consultants) − workshop on “The Preliminary Strategy of the National Legal Aid Council” − a national conference and regional seminars in “New Legal Aid System” $ 44,950
Financial support to participate in the strategic planning meetings with the representatives of Human Rights and Governance Grants Program, Open Society Institute, Hungary, Budapest, May 28 – 31 Grantee: Nadejda HRIPTIEVSCHI, Legal Aid expert $ 805
Study Visit of the Members of the Moldovan National Legal Aid Council to the Legal Aid Board, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 22 – 26 Grantees and beneficiaries: Ion PĂDURARU, Ludmila DIMITRIŞIN, Mihai POPESCU, Mihai LUPU, Alexandru TĂNASE, Igor CIOBANU, Victor MUNTEANU, Iurie CUZA, Marcel VARMARI Summary: The Legal Aid Board organized a study visit aimed to share with their Moldovan colleagues, the knowledge and best Dutch practices within the legal aid area. $ 14,123
Operating Project:
Paving the Way to a Comprehensive Legal Aid System in Moldova Summary: The project is aimed at consolidating the new legal aid system in Moldova to ensure the provision of more accessible and qualitative legal services and advice to eligible beneficiaries. It built on the experience of the project “Access to Justice in Moldova: Legal Aid Delivery to the Underrepresented”, carried out by the Soros Foundation-Moldova in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice during 2004 – 2007, hereby ensuring the continuation and successful finalization of the legal aid reform in Moldova. $ 63,053 Total subprogram expenditures: $ 222,931
79 SUBPROGRAM 3: CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Objectives: - to develop sustainable and human rights friendly criminal justice policies - to promote alternatives to imprisonment - to limit the excessive use of pre-trial arrest - to raise awareness of routine practices of ill-treatment at police stations and represent victims of torture in selected cases
Operating Projects:
Assessment of the Criminal Justice Status-Quo in Moldova Summary: The project aims to reveal how the criminal justice system currently functions, what criminal justice statistics are collected by state institutions and the manner in which these statistics are used by policymakers and senior managers in determining the criminal justice policy and practice. A special attention is being paid to performance indicators currently used by the system and the existing monitoring mechanisms. In 2008, two international experts, Roger Smith and Jean Redpath, made a study visit aimed at interviewing the criminal justice actors. At the same time, several national experts conducted 35 individual and group interviews in all the districts of Moldova. The statistical data collected from relevant institutions was analyzed. An opinion poll was conducted in order to determine the level of trust of Moldovans in the criminal justice system. The first version of the report was developed. $ 36,718
80 OTHER PROJECTS
Programs financed by the Open Society Justice Initiative – OSJI/OSI/ HRGGP Network Program and administered by the Law Program of the Soros Foundation – Moldova
Grants:
Financial support offered to Victor MUNTEANU to participate in the LSRC Conference, London, United Kingdom, June 18-20 $1,800
Organization of the Regional Workshop on Quality Assurance of Criminal Legal Aid, September 29 – 30 $16,386
Total subprogram expenditures: $ 18,186
Programs implemented with the financial support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
Grants:
Strengthening Civil Society in Moldova. Marginalized Groups. Social Re-integration of Ex-detainees Grantee: Institute for Penal Reform Project manager: Igor DOLEA Summary: The general objective of this project is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of assistance for social re-integration of ex-detainees as a marginalized category of population by creating a model of interaction of penitentiary and community based services. In 2008, the following activities were carried out: preparation for release; social re-integration of ex-detainees (monitoring of the preparation for release and social re-integration); re- establishing the relations with the community and mediation. For more information about the results of this project, see the IPR’s website: www.irp.md $ 242,090 Program administration costs within Sida Project: $ 1,680
81 EUROPEAN INITIATIVES PROGRAM
Vision: European integration is a process that, if well run, could provide for the necessary framework for modernizing the country through more liberal governmental policies that would be accepted by the citizens in anticipation of the integration moment. This sort of incentives (“sticks” and “carrots”) is required for any process of political and economic reform, given that there is political elite with a clear vision and strong will to modernize Moldova in a relatively short period of time.
Context: Four years ago, due to a mix of political, strategic, regional but also personal reasons, the current governing elite in Moldova pronounced European integration as the strategic objective of the country’s foreign and domestic policies. One should mention though, that just as there is no party that declares itself anti-democratic, there is also no party, except for marginal ones, that would declare itself anti-European. Thus, European integration became a political symbol used abusively by both the governing allies and by the parliamentary and extra-parliamentary opposition parties. Yet, the significance of the European integration process lays in the implementation of genuine reforms in different fields by transposing the acquis communautaire and also by respecting the democratic norms and in particular, the Copenhagen criteria.
It is necessary to ensure the irreversibility of the European integration process that is currently undermined by the double discourse of the governing party, which reveals the discrepancy between the domestic policies and their marketing for external consumption in Brussels and other European capitals.
In this context, civil society has the major mission to monitor governmental activities in this field in order to bridge the gap between the words and deeds, insisting upon genuine political and economic reforms.
However, to make civil society capable of influencing actively the process of European integration it is necessary to consolidate its capacity by upgrading its monitoring functions, improving its expertise and consulting capacities. This will increase the civil society’s value not only in terms of monitoring but also in terms of professional and efficient promotion of political, economic, and social norms steaming from the spirit of European values and in accordance with the acquis communautaire.
At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen the governmental capacities to analyze and negotiate the commitments that Moldova has undertaken under the Action Plan and shall undertake under other agreements to be negotiated in the near future in the context of European integration. Taking into consideration the ideological and decision-making uncertainty of the current government, the safest choice is not the direct strengthening of government analytical, but rather providing assistance by means of using the independent research capacities which exist within civil society, given the fact that, the Moldovan authorities, being under the external pressure to deliver tangible results, display gestures of involvement and consideration for the suggestions forwarded by civil society, though the dialogue is not always a genuine one.
At the same time, in order to form a proper environment conducive to the development of policies and their implementation, in accordance with the acquis communautaire, it is necessary to increase EU visibility and improve the knowledge about the advantages and challenges that exist along the way of European integration for the Republic of Moldova. This implies the consolidation of the educational system both on the level of high school and university, as well as on the level of general public perception, overlooked by the media that so far has not always presented the European integration process in an appropriate way.
82 Objectives: - to provide capacity building on European integration issues for civil society actors in order to influence the process of European integration and be its active participant - to strengthen the relations between governmental institutions and Moldovan think-tanks which develop intellectual products necessary for policy development in the field of European integration - to increase the visibility and awareness about EU and the steps undertaken by the Republic of Moldova in the context of European integration
- In 2008, the Program activities were run along two major lines: development of monitoring and expertise capacities of NGOs and think-tanks regarding the implementation of the Action Plan; increasing the visibility of the strategic choice of EU integration and improved knowledge both at the level of high school and university levels, and at the level of general public perception, by means of media.
An important exercise was the development, with the assistance of local and foreign experts, of a comprehensive intellectual product in the field of Moldova’s economic policy in relation to EU. The project called “The Republic of Moldova’s Trade Relations with EU: Current Status and Prospects for Their Enhancement” was implemented by Expert Group, a local think tank, together with experts from the Kiel Institute for World Economy. It is worth mentioning that a similar product, involving the same foreign experts, constituted the main element of the Agreement signed between Ukraine and EU in 2008.
In the same context of making the process of European rapprochement more professional, in 2008 the European Initiatives Program launched a Program of Short Term European Scholarships in Romania, in cooperation with several Romanian training institutions that work in the field of implementing the acquis communautaire. Throughout the year, 32 participants from various fields including civil society, public authorities, academia, etc. benefited from travel grants in the framework of this program.
The European Initiatives Program activity comprised in-house projects and grant-making activities. In both cases the Program tried to promote networks and partnerships between NGOs that tackle European issues. Hence, through its instrument called Euroforum, the Program organized meetings between NGOs specialized in human rights’ protection and the responsible persons from the European Commission, supporting the participation of the representatives of the Moldovan civil society in the hearings of the European Parliament. Also, by the means of Euroforum, an Independent Report of 19 representatives of the Moldovan civil society in the context of the European Commission’s report and of the new agreements between Moldova and the EU was developed. This report was sent to European institutions in November and presented to the local public in December 2008.
One of the major priorities of 2008 was to enhance the information and education capacity in the field of European integration, because without this a conscious and informed European choice is not possible. The main activities in the area of information and education were the following: “EU- Moldova Relations – Enhancing Public Information and Debates on the Developments in This Field” implemented by ADEPT, design of the optional course “Education for European Integration” – a pilot program for high school teachers and students, carried out by the Pro Didactica Educational Centre, continuing to support the European Information Centre by procuring specialized literature and administering the website dedicated to the European integration subject www.europa.md.
Program Director: Olesea Stamate, Email: [email protected] Program Assistant: Denis Bordian, Email: [email protected]
Program administration expenditures: $30,822 Total European Initiatives Program expenditures: $336,781
83 List of Acronyms
ADEPT Association for Participatory Democracy EIP European Initiatives Program EU European Union EUMAP EU-Moldova Action Plan Expert-Group Independent Analytical Centre NGOs Non Governmental Organizations
84 SUBPROGRAM 1: NGO CAPACITY BUILDING Objectives: - Supporting the monitoring process of the EU-Moldova Action Plan by civil society - Establishing transparent and effective mechanisms of Moldovan NGOs’ involvement in the development and implementation of European integration policies of the Republic of Moldova
Grants:
The Republic of Moldova’s Relations with the European Union: Current Situation and Prospects for Their Consolidation Grantee: Expert-Grup NGO Project director: Valeriu PROHNIŢCHI Summary: The project will contribute to the development and adoption of a strong, balanced and professional position in this area when the Republic of Moldova embarks on trade negotiations with the representatives of the European Commission. In this way, a deep free trade regime would contribute to the economic modernization of Moldova and future integration with the EU. This project will also ensure an important transfer of knowledge and experience from a German partner (Institut für Weltwirtschaft (IFW) / Institute for the World Economy, Kiel) to the Moldovan partner – Expert Group. The establishment of such cooperative relations during the implementation of this project would contribute to the consolidation of Expert Group research capacity regarding political economy and policy advocacy. $94,176
Capacity Development of Local and Regional Communities in the Process of Design and Administration of EU Projects Grantee: BCI, Business Consulting Institute Project director: Mihai ROŞCOVAN Summary: The aim of the project is to consolidate the capacities of local and regional communities in the process of development and administration of EU projects through training and coaching. This project is the continuation of a similar initiative run in 2007, however this time it involves a new set of localities including Căuşeni, Anenii Noi, Dubăsari, Criuleni, Rezina, Şoldăneşti, Orhei and Teleneşti. $9,438
In-house projects:
Euroforum The Independent Report of the 19 Representatives of the Moldovan Civil Society in the Context of the European Commission’s Report and of the New Agreements between Moldova and the EU This report aimed at assessing the degree of fulfillment of Moldova’s commitments undertaken under the EU-Moldova Action Plan, contributing to the consolidation of the analytical capacities of the experts from the nongovernmental field but also to the independent information of the local public and of the European Commission about the results obtained in the process of the EUMAP implementation. Last but not least, the Independent Report of the 19 representatives of the civil society came up with suggestions regarding the design of the new agreement between Moldova and the EU. The report was sent to European institutions in November and presented to the local public in December 2008. $2,090
Other activities:
Study Visit to Brussels of Representatives of Moldovan Civil Society, Belgium, August 24-27 Grantees: Evghenii GOLOSCEAPOV and Vladislav GRIBINCEA Summary: Evghenii GOLOSCEAPOV and Vladislav GRIBINCEA represent two NGOs active in the field of human rights defense - Amnesty International Moldova and Lawyers for Human Rights. They were offered travel grants to participate in a study visit to Bruxelles. The main
85 goal of the visit was to participate in a number of individual meetings with officials from the European Parliament and European Commission and to inform European officials about the current state of affairs related to human rights issues in Moldova. $2,851
Total Subprogram 1 expenditures: $108,555
86 SUBPROGRAM 2: INCREASED AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE
Objectives: - Increasing awareness about European integration and improving knowledge about EU among different groups of interests (European studies in lyceums and universities; special training courses for public officers and journalists) - Supporting debates on EU integration advantages and disadvantages, including debates with experts - Consolidation of the European Information Center by purchasing new books and equipment in order to be better prepared for future work regarding information on European Integration process and EU acquis - Establishing contacts with think-tanks from Brussels and from other EU states, especially states from Central and Eastern Europe, to get assistance in the promotion of EU policies - Improvement of www.europa.md portal which represents an additional source of information regarding the European Union and integration process of Moldova
Grants:
European Information Center (Part II) Grantee: B.P. Hasdeu Municipal Library Project director: Savela STARCIUC Summary: The European Information Center (EIC) was established on May 11, 2007. It was set up in the reading hall of the B.P. Hasdeu Municipal Library (148 Ştefan cel Mare Blvd.), and it operates according to the library schedule. The EIC offers access to resources on European issues and international periodicals to library beneficiaries and experts. The EIC represents an informational resource for NGO representatives involved in monitoring EUMAP implementation, faculty members and researchers on European integration issues, public servants and ordinary readers. The Center was connected to the electronic catalog of B.P. Hasdeu Municipal Library. $ 9,096
Optional Course in “Education for European Integration” – a pilot program for high school teachers and students Grantee: Pro Didactica Educational Center Project director: Liliana NICOLAESCU-ONOFREI Summary: The project aims at increasing the degree of information and education regarding European integration among high school students. It envisages several activities: information seminars, selecting a number of pilot high schools through a public competition, developing the curricula, and piloting the program in selected institutions. $ 109,662
Mixed projects:
Short Term European Scholarships Program Summary: The aim of this project is to consolidate the capacity and knowledge in the field of European integration of representatives of various fields of activity including faculty members, civil servants, civil society representatives, etc. By the means of this project, the interested persons can benefit from a travel grant for participating in training courses on European subjects held in Romania.
Throughout 2008, 32 persons were granted scholarships; 50 percent of them were from rural areas. Due to this financial support, they attended the following training programs:
How to Implement a Project Successfully Grantee: Veaceslav BULAT Place: Romania, Buşteni, Silva Hotel Date: May 26 – 30 Budget: $676
87 How to Implement a Project Successfully Grantee: Nicolae ISTRATI Place: Romania, Costineşti, Regal Hotel Date: August 25 – 29 Budget: $669
How to Implement a Project Successfully Grantees: Silvia STURZA, Raisa SINIGUR Place: Romania, Buşteni, Silva Hotel Date: December 8 – 12 Budget: $1,096
Economic and Monetary Union Grantees: Dorian TAŞCA, Valentina GAC Place: Romania, Bucuresti, 7-9 Regina Elisabeta blvd., 4th floor Date: December 8 – 9 Budget: $386
Community Law and European Integration Grantees: Natalia SUCEVEANU, Violeta COJOCARU Place: Romania, Buşteni, Silva Hotel Date: November 3 – 7 Budget: $1,210
The Image and Public Relations of an Organization Grantee: Andriana DILAN Place: Romania, Jupiter, Tismana Hotel Date: August 18 – 22 Budget: $710
The Image and Public Relations of an Organization Grantees: Savela STARCIUC, Tatiana ŞAPTEFRAŢI Place: Romania, Buşteni, Silva Hotel Date: September 29 – October 3 Budget: $1,262
Efficiency and Effectiveness of Internal Audit for Public Entities Grantees: Raisa COTOROBAI, Ludmila POPA Place: Romania, Jupiter, Tismana Hotel Date: September 1– 5 Budget: $1,207
Management of Social Services Grantees: Natalia POSTOLACHI, Rodica FRECĂUŢANU Place: Romania, Jupiter, Delta Hotel Date: August 25 – 29 Budget: $1,399
Management of Social Services Grantee: Vitalie FRECĂUŢEANU Place: Romania, Predeal, Robinson Hotel Date: December 8 – 12 Budget: $604
Public Management Modernization of Public Organizations Grantee: Nicolae NASTAS Place: Romania, Costineşti, Regal Hotel Date: August 18 – 22 Budget: $710
88
Children's Rights in Domestic and International Regulations Grantee: Viorica ISTRATI Place: Romania, Predeal, Atelier Hotel Date: November 17 – 21 Budget: $665
European Union Normative System Grantee: Ion GUZUN Place: Romania, Bucuresti, # 7-9 Regina Elisabeta blvd., 4th floor Date: October 27 – 28 Budget: $116
Structural Funds: from Theory to Practice Grantee: Veaceslav GUŢUŢUI Place: Romania, Costineşti, Regal Hotel Date: July 7 – 11 Budget: $634
National Conference of Virtual Education Grantee: Elena RAILEAN Place: Romania, Constanţa, Oxford Complex Date: October 31 – November 3 Budget: $324
Justice and Internal Affairs Grantee: Tatiana CIAGLIC Place: Romania, Bucuresti, # 7-9 Regina Elisabeta blvd., 4th floor Date: October 30 – 31 Budget: $175
Workshop on Mathematical Modeling of Problems Related to Environmental and Natural Sciences Grantee: Serghei CATARANCIUC Place: Romania, Constanţa, Ovidius University Date: October 21 – 26 Budget: $481
European Integration and Its Implications for Romanian Public Administration Grantee: Victoria COJOCARU Place: Romania, Cap Aurora, Delta Aurora Hotel Date: June 23 – 27 Budget: $740
Eastern European Library – An Institution of European Standards Grantees: Victoria BERNIC, General director of D. Cantemir library, Ungheni, Angela CIOBANU, Librarian, Public Library of Law, Chişinău, Iurie POPESCU, Head of Methodological Assistance and Networking of D. Cantemir library, Ungheni, Aliona MANCIU, Head of Methodological Assistance of D. Cantemir library, Ungheni, Violeta PETIC, Methodologist, D. Cantemir library, Ungheni, Lilea DUBĂSARI, Director of the library from the village of Gherman, Ungheni, Domnica FLOREA, Head of Children’s Department of D. Cantemir library, Ungheni, Ala MUTILICĂ, Head of Collection Development Department of D. Cantemir library, Ungheni Place: Romania, Piatra Neamţ Date: November 26 – December 2 Budget: $5,876
Total: $ 32,210
89 In-house projects:
Translation and Publication of Books in the European Studies Field Summary: This is an operational project which aims at deepening the knowledge of university students, experts and common people regarding European Studies and the research that is conducted in this field. Four Publishing Houses won the right to publish the books: "ARC" - 3 books, "Cartier"- 3 books, "Epigraf"- 3 books, "Stiinta"- 3 books. Due to the fact that the translation process is a rather long one, most of the books will be published during 2009, and hence, the actual expenditures for this project will be reported in the 2009 activity report. $1,535
Maintaining the www.europa.md Website Project coordinator: Corina FUSU Summary: The website represents a permanent source of news, analyses, interviews, and assessment of the European integration process in general and EUMAP implementation in particular. It also serves as a tool for monitoring the implementation of EUMAP, by publishing independent experts’ reports in the field of integration. $35,455
Development of the Book Collection on European Integration Issues Summary: The Program purchased books on European integration issues via www.amazon.com, with the aim of donating them later to the European Information Center and thus increasing the number of books available for the public. $ 6,933
Celebrating the First Anniversary of the European Information Center and Europe Day Summary: On May 9, 2008, the European Information Center celebrated one year of its activity, and also the Europe Day. The Program decided to celebrate these events within the European Information Center by organizing a symposium entitled “Europe in Your Home” and issuing a set of promotional materials, including posters, calendars, etc. $ 1,855
Total Subprogram 2 expenditures: $196,747
90
Soros Foundation - Moldova Expenditures 2008 Expenditures %
Civil Society $481,463 11.07% East East $271,958 6.25% Education $38,104 0.88% European Initiatives $305,958 7.03% Law & Criminal Justice $536,950 12.34% Public Administration & Good Governance $373,441 8.59% Media $478,266 10.99% Public Health $1,120,674 25.76% Cultural Policy $96,730 2.22% Youth $73,942 1.70% Administration $569,458 13.09% Other (Information) $2,922 0.07% TOTAL $4,349,866 100%
Graphic Representation of Soros Foundation - Moldova Expenditures 2008
Other (Information) Civil Society Administration 0.07% 11.07% 13.09% Youth East East 1.70% 6.25%
Education Cultural Policy 0.88% 2.22% European Initiatives 7.03%
Law & Criminal Justice 12.34% Public Health 25.76%
Public Administration & Good Governance Media 8.59% 10.99%
91 SFM NATIONAL AND PROGRAM BOARDS
National Board Arcadie BARBAROŞIE, Executive Director, Institute for Public Policy Ludmila MALCOCI, Department Manager, Behavior Change Communication Department, Prevention of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C Project (PHH), USAID Constantin CHEIANU, Columnist, Playwright Constantin MARIN, Dean, School of Journalism and Communication Sciences, SUM Nina ORLOVA, National Program Officer, Embassy of Sweden, Section for International Development Cooperation with Moldova /Sida/Asdi Maia SANDU, Consultant on Policy Coordination, Central Public Administration Reform Gheorghe COJOCARU, Coordinating Scientific Researcher, Head of the Scientific Department of Contemporary History, Institute of History, Academy of Sciences of Moldova
Media Program Board Arcadie GHERASIM, Faculty Member, School of Journalism and Communication Sciences, SUM Victor MORARU, Faculty Member, Director of the Media Institute, FIUM Mihail GUZUN, PhD, Chair of the Journalism Department, School of Journalism and Communication Sciences, SUM Vasile SPINEI, Chairperson, Acces-info Center for Promotion of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Law and Public Administration and Good Governance Programs Board Tatiana FILATOVA, Head of the Public Law Department, Ministry of Justice Oleg EFRIM, Lawyer, Faculty member, School of Law, State University of Moldova Elena BELEI, Faculty member, School of Law, State University of Moldova Ion CĂPĂŢÎNĂ, Lawyer, Faculty member, School of Law, State University of Moldova Romanita REVENKO, regional consultant, Private Sector Development Division, OECD Oleg STRATULAT, Head of Banks and Banking Activity Department, AESM Svetlana DOGOTARU, General Director LTP Constructions Ltd., lecturer, Patrimony Law Department, TUM
Civil Society Program Board Veaceslav PALADE, Program Associate, UNDP Stelian RUSU, Grants Specialist, US Embassy Tatiana TURCHINĂ, Faculty member, Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Education Sciences, SUM; Teacher Trainer Felicia CREŢU, Executive Director, ACASĂ Association for Charity and Social Assistance Stela GRIGORAŞ, Executive Director, Every Child Moldova NGO Oleg CHIRIŢĂ, Projects Manager, EC Delegation to Moldova Sofia ŞULEANSCHI, Economic Empowerment Program Manager, Winrock International Project „New Perspectives for Women”
Public Health Program Board Gabriela IONAŞCU, Country Coordinator, UNAIDS Moldova Silviu DOMENTE, Technical Officer, DPR/Health Systems, WHO Country Office, Republic of Moldova Ştefan GHEORGHIŢĂ, First Deputy Director, National Center for Preventive Medicine; Director, AIDS Center Olga OSADCII, Country Representative, AIDS Foundation East-West Elena MAXIMENCO, Public Health Specialist, Millennium Challenge Program, USAID Svetlana ŞTEFANEŢ, Program Officer, Equal Access to Basic Quality Services, UNICEF Moldova; Faculty Member, Public Health Department, N.Testemiţanu Medical University Victor BURINSCHI, Program Manager, TB-AIDS Project, Program Coordination Unit
European Initiatives Program Board Liliana VIŢU, Program Officer, International Republican Institute Radu BENEA, Editor, Radio Free Europe, Chişinău Bureau
92 Gheorghe LEUCA, Head of the UN and International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Eugen CARPOV, Head of the International Cooperation Department, ASCOM GROUP J.S.C., Chişinău Veaceslav BERBECA, Faculty Member, University of European Political and Economic Studies
East East Program: Partnership Beyond Borders Expert Committee Serghei LÎSENCO, Director, Children’s Creativity Center, Criuleni Iosif MOLDOVANU, President, National Youth Resource Center Atanasia STOIANOVA, Project Manager, Center for Minority Issues Ghenadie IVAŞCENCO, Executive Director, Habitat Moldova National Center for Human Settlements Eugen REVENCO, Program Director, Association for Foreign Policy
93 SFM STAFF
Victor URSU, Executive Director [email protected] Varvara COLIBABA, Deputy Director [email protected] Elena VACARCIUC, Finance Director [email protected] Dumitru CHITOROAGĂ, Grant Manager [email protected] Elena VITIUC, Chief Accountant [email protected] Liuba COTOROBAI, Accountant-cashier [email protected] Vasile GÎRLEA, Operations Manager [email protected] Victor ANDRONIC, LAN Manager [email protected] Ana COREŢCHI, Program Director, East East, AFP [email protected] Jana MIDONI, Program Coordinator, East East, AFP [email protected] Elena LEŞAN, Program Director, Civil Society [email protected] Dorina BALTAG, Program Assistant, Civil Society [email protected] Victoria MIRON, Program Director, Media, Cultural Policy [email protected] Adrian BIVOL, Program Coordinator, Cultural Policy [email protected] Liliana GHERMAN, Program Director, Public Health [email protected] Angela CAPCELEA, Program Coordinator, Public Health [email protected] Vitalie SLOBOZIAN, Program Coordinator, Harm Reduction [email protected] Veronica ANDRONACHI, Monitoring, Evaluation and Training [email protected] Specialist, Harm Reduction Ala COJOCARI, Financial and Procurement Specialist, Harm Reduction [email protected] Ana GONCIAR, Program Assistant, Harm Reduction [email protected] Olesea STAMATE, Program Director, Public Administration and Good [email protected] Governance; European Initiatives Zinaida ADAM, Program Coordinator, Public Administration and Good [email protected] Governance; European Initiatives Victor MUNTEANU, Program Director, Law [email protected] Tatiana DANILESCU, Program Assistant, Law [email protected] Iurie CUZA, Program Coordinator, Law [email protected] Marcel VARMARI, Finance and Project Manager, Law [email protected] Denis BORDIAN, Program Assistant, European Initiatives [email protected] Elena PUTINĂ, Receptionist, Administrative Assistant [email protected] Ana CHITOROAGĂ, Receptionist [email protected]
94 CONTACT INFORMATION
Soros Foundation-Moldova 32 Bulgară Street Chişinău, MD-2001 Republic of Moldova TEL (373 22) 270031, 270232 FAX (373 22) 270507 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.soros.md/
Pro Didactica Educational Center 13 Armenească Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 541994, 542556 FAX (373 22) 544199 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.prodidactica.md/
Step by Step Educational Program 16 Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 220112 TEL/FAX (373 22) 220113 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE www.pascupas.md
Institute for Public Policy 16/1 Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2001 TEL (373 22) 276786, 276785 FAX (373 22) 276786 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.ipp.md/
European Institute for Political Studies (Invisible College) 16/1 Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL/FAX (373 22) 222503 TEL (373 22) 222504 EMAIL [email protected]
International Language Training Center 43 Petru Rareş Street Chişinău, MD-2005 TEL (373 22) 292988, 292815, 292865 FAX (373 22) 292811 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.iltc.md/
Educational Advising Center 148 Ştefan cel Mare şi Sfînt blvd. of. 22 Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 221172 TEL/FAX (373 22) 221167 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.eac.md
National High School Debate League 16 A Puşkin Street
95 Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 212769 TEL/FAX (373 22) 228365 WEBSITE http://www.ournet.md/~debate/
Youth Development Center 16 A Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 228365 EMAIL [email protected]
Independent Journalism Center 53 Şciusev Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 213652, 227539 FAX (373 22) 226681 WEBSITE http://www.ijc.md/
Microinvest LLC 16 Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 212764, 212765 FAX (373 22) 229902 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.microinvest.md/
Center for Contemporary Art 5 Bănulescu-Bodoni Street, ap.2 Chişinău, MD-2043 TEL/FAX (373 22) 237272 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.art.md/
DNT Association 16 Puşkin Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL/FAX (373 22) 229229 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.dnt.md/
Partnership for Development Center 13 Armenească Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL/FAX (373 22) 241393 TEL (373 22) 237089, 207158, 207157 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.progen.md
Institute for Penal Reform 33 M. Lomonosov Street Chişinău tel./fax: (373 22) 722445 tel.:(373 22) 722545, 925542, 925171 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.irp.md
EX-LEGE Agency for Supporting Judicial Education and Law Agencies 2 Dacia Blvd., office 83 Chişinău, MD-2043 TEL/FAX (373 22) 563266
96 EMAIL [email protected]; [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.mtc.md/exlege
Acces-info Center for Promotion of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information 13 V. Alecsandri Street, office 19 Chişinău, MD-2009 TEL (373 22) 281394 FAX (373 22) 725976 EMAIL [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.acces-info.org.md
Legal Clinic 6Calea Iesilor Street, office 602, Chişinău TEL (373 22) 749611 WEBSITE http://www.clinicajuridica.md
Chişinău CONTACT Center 83 Bucureşti Street Chişinău, MD-2012 TEL (373 22) 233946, 233947 FAX (373 22) 233948 EMAIL [email protected]; [email protected] WEBSITE http://www.contact.md/
Cahul CONTACT Center 57 Frunze Street apt. 11 Cahul TEL/FAX (373 299) 27788 EMAIL [email protected]
Comrat CONTACT Center 12 Komsomolskaia, Street, apt. 2 Comrat TEL/FAX (373 238) 23516; 27604 EMAIL [email protected]
Bălţi CONTACT Center 5 Stefan cel Mare Street, apt.83 Bălţi TEL/FAX (373 231) 43529 EMAIL [email protected], [email protected] WEBSITE www.contact-balti.org
Soroca CONTACT Center 17 Viilor Street, apt.40 Soroca TEL/FAX (373 230) 26023 EMAIL [email protected], [email protected] WEBSITE www.contact-soroca.org
97