Strengthening Organizational Capacity and Civic Role: A Path of Learning and Regional Cooperation

Throughout 2025, the Regional Community Development Center took part in a comprehensive support and capacity-building programme designed for civil society organizations in the Republic of Moldova. The programme focused on strengthening organizational sustainability, improving effectiveness, and reinforcing the civic sector’s role in the country’s European integration process.

The initiative brought together small and medium-sized organizations from across Moldova and included thematic training modules, continuous mentorship, institutional assessments, exchanges of best practices with organizations from Romania, as well as sessions dedicated to strategic communication, advocacy, and cooperation with public authorities. Discussions with experts highlighted the essential role of civil society in supporting democratic processes, preventing authoritarian backsliding, and fostering civic engagement at the local level.

Particular emphasis was placed on the role of NGOs in supporting Moldova’s European path, leveraging funding opportunities, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of community-based initiatives. The exchange of experience with Romanian organizations provided participants with practical insights into resource mobilization, collaboration with local authorities, and citizen engagement.

For CRDC, participation in this programme represented an important step in strengthening internal capacity, clarifying public positioning, and amplifying the organization’s voice. The knowledge and practices acquired will directly support the further development of our projects and the attraction of new partnerships and investments in the region, benefiting young people, women, and underrepresented groups.

The programme was organized by the Romanian Center for European Policies (CRPE) through its structure in the Republic of Moldova and implemented with the support of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation and the European Union in the Republic of Moldova. This support reaffirms the importance of investing in local civil society as a driver of democratic change and sustainable community development.