Project Summary:

This project aims to accelerate inclusive and green transition, responsive governance, and social cohesion in the Eastern Neighbourhood region, with a country-level focus on Moldova and Georgia. It also aims to provide a platform for enhanced regional cooperation, fostering knowledge sharing, access to regional expertise, and solutions, with the potential for scaling up activities and facilitating broader regional cooperation, learning, and advocacy. The project serves as a framework for potentially expanding relevant activities into new countries within and beyond the Eastern Neighbourhood sub-region, based on emerging needs and opportunities.   Acknowledging the complexity of development challenges in the Eastern Neighbourhood countries, the project adopts an adaptive management approach. It views project interventions through a systems lens, responding to emerging needs and fostering synergies among activities supporting green transformation, energy transition, catalytic green investment, social inclusion, digital transformation, responsive institutions, social cohesion and stability, and local governance, among others. 

Objectives:

• Enhanced governance in the Republic of Moldova through multi-stakeholder engagement to accelerate the green and inclusive transition;
• Enhance policy and regulatory environments and strengthen stakeholder capacities at national and local level to incentivize investments in renewables and energy efficiency (in priority sub-sectors – energy and transport);
• Intensify demand creation and access to funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy in residential buildings;
• Enhance micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access and investment opportunities in energy efficiency and green technologies.
   

Expected results:

• National Centre for Sustainable Energy has enhanced proficiency in funding and executing energy efficiency projects in the residential buildings;
• Homeowners associations are capacitated to apply to financial programs in energy efficiency and renewable areas for residential sector; 
• National energy related campaigns are complemented by nudging strategies and behavioural change initiatives to encourage energy efficiency practices;
• Raised awareness about the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of various energy-saving measures for citizens;
• At least 5 energy audit of residential buildings are conducted and at least 2 technical designs completed;
• Broadened access for private companies to green and low-carbon technologies available in the national market;
• A targeted energy audit program for MSMEs to engage in energy-saving and greenhouse gas emission reduction practices is launched;
• The market potential for innovative mechanisms such as energy insurance mechanism, etc. is assessed;
• At least 10 regulatory acts in transportation sector are approximated to EU acquis;
• At least 2 study visits organized for energy and transportation authorities in the topic of highest interest;
• Support provided to certain elements of digitalization process of road transportation sector.