IREX
International Research & Exchanges Board

USAID

Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP)

Program Overview

The Moldova Citizen Participation Program (CPP), launched in 2004 and funded by USAID, is a five-year program to expand citizen awareness, promote civic engagement and encourage self-reliance while improving living and social conditions throughout Moldova. IREX provides training, mentoring, and funding for citizen-initiated projects. IREX’s regional network of local civic trainers assists citizens in mobilizing their communities. IREX partners on CPP with Partners for Democratic Change, Impact Media Agency, and CreDO.

KEY ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES

  • Expand citizen participation in community development and democratic reform
  • Strengthen the capacity of NGOs and citizen groups to mobilize their community, advocate for change, and hold government accountable

PROJECT RESULTS

  • Community forums conducted in over 500 towns and villages
  • 100+ capacity-building trainings conducted by local trainers
  • 52 citizen projects funded and being implemented

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

  • Grassroots Mobilization by Citizen Initiative Groups: Citizens mobilize to identify, prioritize, and implement projects to address local social and economic development needs by promoting and facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration within communities. IREX provides training in community mobilization, participatory process, and project design and management.

  • Community Activism and Advocacy:  IREX uses a variety of training models – cooperative (‘soft’) and classic advocacy, social marketing and media – to develop the capacity of citizen initiative groups and NGOs to advocate for change. Specific advocacy issues arise out of community initiatives and respond to local concerns, such as transportation routes, budget transparency, or social service provision.

  • Partnership Development:  IREX works with local partners and institutions to build public-private partnerships between local government, business, NGOs and citizen groups in order to leverage scarce resources and ensure transparent practices in local communities.

  • Citizen Participation Grants: CPP funds projects initiated, designed, implemented, and monitored by Moldovan citizens. Over the past six months, IREX has funded 52 projects in 50 villages to support infrastructure and civic works, income generation and job creation, and/or social service projects.

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