News

 Eurasia Foundation (EF) is proud to announce that its new partner and successor organization in Moldova - East Europe Foundation (EEF) was registered on November 3^rd, 2009. The new foundation will continue Eurasia Foundation’s rich, 11-year legacy of promoting democracy and the growth of a market economy in Moldova. With the establishment of East Europe Foundation, EF will transfer ownership of strategy, finances and programs to local staff, based on the EF model of success.  

 To continue building democratic systems in Moldova and support institutional development of the newly registered East Europe Foundation, EF was recently awarded with a USD 2.5 million grant from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The initiative is co-funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The grant will support East Europe Foundation’s efforts in empowering Moldovan citizens and fostering sustainable development through education, technical assistance and grant programs that promote democracy, enhance good governance and build economic prosperity.  Resources will be directed to three main program areas: Economic Development, Good Governance, and Social Action. In all its programs, EEF is guided by the principles of equality and non-discrimination. Until EEF becomes fully operational, these programs will be implemented by Eurasia Foundation’s Moldova Representative Office. 

 The Economic Development program will focus on creating grassroots economic opportunities for Moldovan citizens in rural and urban communities by assisting in creating a business environment that encourages foreign direct investment and developing initiatives focused on promoting a free market economy. Economic Development efforts will include projects in energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, as well as support for business and economics education initiatives. 

 The second program, Good Governance, will focus on sustaining the successes EF accomplished in promoting free and fair elections, European integration, continued anticorruption initiatives, policy development, and implementation and support for independent media development.  

 Via its Social Action program, EEF will engage private companies in addressing Moldova’s development needs by facilitating partnerships among NGOs, the private sector and local governments. Projects will include promoting awareness of the type of giving that makes a significant social impact, while simultaneously improving private companies’ long-term competitiveness.   

 In addition, the grant from Sida envisages an Open Door Grants Program currently administered by Eurasia Foundation’s Moldova Representative Office, which will be a pool of resources for initiatives of local NGOs, media and other non-profit organizations that are highly innovative or that respond to quickly emerging and critical needs in the country, and that find reflection in the main program priorities of EEF. It is anticipated that Eurasia Foundation Moldova programs and grants will be transferred to the newly established East Europe Foundation in late spring of 2010. 

 Eurasia Foundation has invested over $380 million through more than 8,400 grants and operating programs in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 

 For more detailed information, please contact Eurasia Foundation Moldova Communications Officer Carolina Blajin at (+373-22) 235-343 ext. 118 or cblajin@eurasia.md