Three innovative solutions are currently being realized in Moldova under the Czech Challenge Fund, implemented by UNDP, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Czech Republic. Each initiative has been awarded up to US$40,000 and will be carried out during 2024–2025.

The Czech Challenge Fund aims to facilitate the transfer of know-how, technology and innovative solutions to address Moldova’s development challenges and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The three projects implemented in Moldova in 2024–2025 are:

• The Czech company Medical Information Technologies, in collaboration with Moldova’s National Service for Emergency Number 112, is piloting the Next-Generation SOS platform to modernize the national emergency response system. The initiative enables real-time localization, multimedia interaction and ensures accessibility for all users, contributing to more inclusive and efficient emergency services.
• The Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, together with the Moldova State University, is enhancing Moldova’s agricultural innovation capacity by training local researchers in advanced genomic techniques. The project aims to improve crop resistance to pathogens and environmental stressors, strengthening the resilience and sustainability of local agriculture.
• The Czech NGO Kokoza, in partnership with NGO Vitality, is conducting biowaste audits, composting systems, and educational workshops in 20 schools on the left bank of the Nistru River. The initiative promotes sustainable waste management, reduces biowaste, and encourages environmental responsibility among students and teachers.

“The ongoing projects in Moldova reflect the growing diversity of the Czech Challenge Fund. They show how innovative ideas, when supported through strong partnerships, can bring tangible benefits for communities, from advancing digital transformation and sustainable agriculture to promoting environmental responsibility,” said Kateřina Linhartová, Project Specialist of the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.

A new call for proposals for the Czech Challenge Fund will be launched in October 2025, offering further opportunities for innovators to collaborate with local partners on solutions advancing sustainable and inclusive development.

The Czech Challenge Fund projects focus on solving specific development challenges in six partner countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Zambia). The implementation is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. In Moldova, the Czech Challenge Fund has already supported 24 projects.