30 women from two rural communities in the Cahul and Cantemir districts were empowered to ensure good governance and engage in solving local issues through the development of local public policies in partnership with local public authorities.

15 women from Antonești village, Cantemir district, and 15 women from Taraclia de Salcie village, Cahul district, were selected to receive support for the creation of two Women’s Clubs in their respective communities. The participants are beneficiaries of the initiative “Empowering Women in Rural Areas for Good Governance,” implemented by the Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC) within the project “Partnerships for Women’s Leadership and Good Governance,” led by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Moldova and the NGO Institutum Virtutes Civilis, with financial support from the European Union and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

 The project aims to strengthen the capacity of girls and women to actively participate in decision-making processes and to raise public awareness of the role of women in good governance and the importance of ensuring equal and fair opportunities for women’s participation in social, economic, and political life.

The project began in March this year and is already yielding its first results. Following the establishment of the two Women’s Clubs, participants benefited from training sessions in various fields to support their involvement in local good governance processes, including the development of two public policies designed to address major local issues affecting women. Through this initiative, we aim to create a supportive local environment for community development and the emergence of future local women leaders.

Recently, in May, the club members, alongside representatives of local authorities and donors, took part in the project launch event, where they were informed about the upcoming activities and expected outcomes. They also participated in a training session on good governance and community development.

During two days of workshops, the participants learned what “public policy” and a “gender-sensitive budget” mean, how to perform gender-based budget analysis, what tools are available for gender budgeting, and the importance of strategic communication and advocacy in the policy development process. This knowledge will support them in drafting two public policy proposals to be submitted to local authorities for approval and implementation.

As part of the project, the women will also receive financial support to initiate collaboration with local public authorities and to address a local issue directly affecting women and girls in the two communities.

The Regional Center for Community Development (CRDC) was established in 2019 and has since implemented, in partnership with local authorities and donor organizations, multiple projects contributing to community development in at least five localities.