[4]The Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP) empowers citizens to generate tangible positive change in their communities, using participatory democratic processes to help citizens identify community priorities and implement projects addressing these issues.
CPP is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
This program is now completed
• Utilize participatory methods to help communities identify priority problems and possible solutions
• Develop capacity of community leaders to mobilize local financial and human resources
• Support community groups in implementing and sustaining projects that address communities’ priority concerns
• Increase understanding and appreciation of democratic and transparent processes among Moldovan citizens
Moldova has faced a number of challenges since its independence in 1991—including high rates of poverty and emigration, centralization of government power, weak national identity caught between Russia and Europe, and unresolved territorial issues surrounding Transnistria. Weak local government, personality-based politics, and dominance of government-affiliated media have left citizens with few opportunities to influence decision-making processes that affect their everyday lives.
Civic Leadership and Community Activism Development: CPP staff provides trainings in advocacy, communication, and other important topics to develop and strengthen citizens’ skills for effective community engagement and civic affairs.
Democratic Interactions and Opportunities: CPP facilitates community meetings that allow citizens to identify local problems, develop appropriate solutions, and prioritize their actions. Communities select community initiative group (CIG) members through open and transparent elections. The CIGs oversee the design, application, implementation, and sustainability of projects identified through CPP.
Community Improvement Grants: CPP provides participating communities with the financial resources to realize their proposed solutions. Communities must contribute at least 20 percent of the project’s final cost and are encouraged to secure long-term assistance from their community or local government.
Civil Society Initiatives: CPP uses transparent grant selection processes to identify NGOs for the implementation of civil society development projects. Collaborative partnerships are developed with other NGOs or agencies with proven expertise in democracy-themed topics. Past and current initiative themes include: voter education, anti-trafficking, youth leadership, engaging local public authorities in participatory community development and access to information for youth.
Over 280 community-driven development projects implemented throughout Moldova, including several in Transnistria
More than 175 Community Initiative Groups elected, giving over 2,100 citizens experience in grassroots democratic leadership
Nearly 17,000 citizens have participated in more t than 1,150 capacity building trainings in such areas as advocacy, project development and Implementation, communication, civic education, conflict management, and leadership
cpp@irex.org [5]