IMPACT North: strengthening regional development and project delivery capacity in line with European standards

Democracy and Rule of Law

Moldova

8VS1-VM-MD-IMPACT26

Timeframe 01.06.2026-30.11.2027 Aktiivne

Target group Põhja-Moldova omavalitsused

Budget 200 000 EUR

Funders

ESTDEV

Partners

Tartumaa Arendusselts

Moldova is actively moving towards the European Union, which has led to increased access to EU and international development funding. At the same time, regional and local institutions need additional support to improve their capacity to prepare high-quality, strategically relevant and eligible projects and to effectively use funding opportunities.

The North Moldova Development Region is one of the largest regions in the country, covering 11 districts and the city of Bălți and a population of nearly 700,000. The region has significant development potential, but its realisation is limited by the need to strengthen institutional capacity, develop more systematic planning leading to practical projects and promote more effective cooperation between different stakeholders.

Project objectives

The objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of local and regional institutions in Moldova’s Northern Development Region to design, manage and implement development projects in line with European Union standards and funding mechanisms, thereby strengthening the region’s readiness to access funding opportunities provided by the European Union and other international partners in the context of Moldova’s EU accession process.

Actions and results

Focusing on building practical institutional capacity at regional and local levels, the project aims to develop a strong pipeline of investment-ready initiatives, foster collaboration among key stakeholders, and promote the adoption of EU principles, standards, and governance practices at the regional level.

The programme will engage over 150 regional stakeholders, including representatives from local authorities, regional development organisations, business support institutions, civil society organisations and academic institutions. As a result of the project, at least 15 mature project concepts will be developed in line with EU funding requirements to support the socio-economic development of the region.

The learning and development programme comprises practical training, mentorship, project development labs and a thematic hackathon focused on regional priorities. Beyond project preparation, the programme seeks to foster an EU-oriented mindset for development, strengthen a culture of cooperation and reinforce good governance principles.

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