Eurasia Foundation began awarding grants in Moldova in 1993. Since that time, the Foundation has invested more than $4 million in the development of private enterprise, public policy and civil society in Moldova.

In 1997, the Foundation made its first grant to BASA-Press, then the only independent news agency in Moldova. Two years later, in 1999, Eurasia Foundation opened a representative office in Chisinau, Moldova.

The Foundation created The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections in 2006, which is comprised of 20 representatives from over 65 NGO members. The organization participates in media monitoring, voter education and parallel vote tabulation in Moldova. The Foundation works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova to increase citizen participation in Moldova-EU relations and implementation of the EU-Moldova Action Plan.

As part of its drive to establish partner foundations throughout the region, Eurasia Foundation officially launched East Europe Foundation of Moldova (EEF of Moldova) as an independent organization in April, 2010. EEF of Moldova focuses on the implementation of three main program areas: Economic Development, Good Governance and Social Action.

Programs

EEF of Moldova’s most active programs include:

• Economic Development Program, which enhances economic development in Moldovan communities by engaging local authorities, civil society and the private sector in creating a business environment favorable to foreign direct investment and in strengthening energy independence, alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. The program includes the Youth Bank Project, which encourages young people to participate and volunteer in community development, and the Local Economic Partnership Project, which improves quality of life in local communities by implementing economic and social development programs.
• Good Governance Program, which enhances civic engagement by monitoring reforms and facilitating cooperation between the government, civil society organizations, the media, and the public in the areas of European integration, free and fair elections, and anticorruption.
• The Media Management for Emerging Independent Outlets Project, which supports the development of sustainable media in Moldovan regions through grants, loans and technical assistance to emerging media outlets. EEF of Moldova has supported media outlets and NGOs in developing investigative journalism, analyzing corruption and monitoring the media’s coverage of elections.
• Developing a Viable Media in Moldova Project, which supports two vital organizations that strengthen media credibility in Moldova: the Audit Bureau of Circulation and Internet (BATI) and the Independent Press Council (IPC).
• Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which provides a platform for businesses and civil society actors to discuss CSR as a concept and how it pertains to Moldova. EEF of Moldova also publishes an electronic CSR Bulletin and distributes it to more than 500 stakeholders.

Impact

• In 2008 – 2009, EEF of Molodova, in partnership with the Association of Independent Press, implemented a project which resulted in the creation of the Independent Press Council (IPC) as a self-regulatory body for print media. IPC improves the transparency, quality and accountability of media throughout Moldova.
• The Foundation united nearly 200 nonprofit organizations in the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections to monitor and provide support during Moldova’s 2005 parliamentary elections. The Coalition continues to play a major role in elections and has been active in the 2006 gubernatorial election in Gagauz-Yeri, the 2007 local general elections and the 2008 Gagauz-Yeri Popular Assembly elections.
• In 2006, the Foundation allied with eight other NGOs to establish the Anti-Corruption Alliance (ACA), which exposes and reduces systemic corruption in the country.