In June 2025, more than 60 women entrepreneurs in Moldova from both banks of the Nistru River took part in the six-day educational programme “RE:Start – Export School for Women Entrepreneurs.” The programme was organized with financial support from France, under the UNDP “Advanced Cross-River Capacities for Trade” (AdTrade) project, funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom.

“RE:Start – Export School for Women Entrepreneurs” is an educational initiative dedicated to empowering women who aspire to grow their businesses, gain economic independence, and realize their leadership potential within their communities. Participants included women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including those facing multiple vulnerabilities or who are survivors of domestic violence.

The training programme provided a dynamic learning environment, combining online sessions held in Tiraspol, Chișinău, and Tighina (Bender) with offline sessions, making the course accessible to as many women as possible.

Throughout the training, participants were guided by experts in entrepreneurship, export strategies, and gender policy. Key topics covered included business start-up steps, legal structures and common pitfalls, effective export strategies, and market entry preparation. Additional focus was placed on financial literacy, personal development, women's leadership, and integrating gender perspectives into business management.

Participants also learned to use market research tools and methods to assess export readiness. They explored business promotion and development techniques, growth opportunities for women-led businesses in the context of the green transition, and gender-responsive operational practices.

“I joined RE:Start with many questions and uncertainties. Now I leave with clear ideas, new contacts, and most importantly, the confidence that I can sell my products abroad. Until now, I didn’t believe export was a real opportunity for a small business, but now I know it is step by step,” said Tatiana Vasilieva, founder of the handmade goods store “Ștuciki” in Tiraspol.

The training concluded with a panel discussion, where women entrepreneurs from both banks shared key lessons, challenges faced, and development strategies they have adopted.

“With these initiatives, we aim to strengthen the capacity of women on both banks of the Nistru River, including refugees from Ukraine, to access new economic opportunities. In doing so, we support women to become leaders of economic and social change in their communities. Through such interventions, the project contributes not only to the region’s economic development but also to strengthening social cohesion and building a better future for people on both sides of the river,” said Dumitru Parfentiev, UNDP/AdTrade Project manager.

The “RE:Start” educational programme is part of the initiatives funded by France and implemented by UNDP under the AdTrade project, aimed at supporting women-led enterprises to enhance energy efficiency, develop value chains, and align with international export standards.