Project Summary:

The European Union Confidence Building Measures Programme aims to increase trust between people on both sides of the Nistru river by supporting joint activities in four core areas: 1) Economic development and decent job creation for women and men, 2) Enhanced cross-river thematic cooperation between the civil society from both banks, 3) Community Development and small-scale social infrastructure support, 4) Promotion of cultural heritage.

Objectives:

• To create employment opportunities and livelihoods across the Nistru river by stimulating economic activity according to new models and cross-river cooperation;
• To support the functioning and joint problem-solving for six cross river sectoral collaboration platforms: health, environment, culture, education, sports and tourism;
• To empower local communities and actors from both banks to participate in collaborative projects which address pressing development needs and ensure the delivery of essential public services on both banks;
• To support the cultural sector with a focus on the conservation and promotion of historical heritage to investing into country’s future and facilitating sustainable development, social resilience and conflict resolution.  

Expected results:

• Improved living conditions on the two banks of the Nistru river through increased economic opportunities and up to 50 jobs creation;  
• Consolidated cross-river cooperation for the development of solutions that contribute to the competitiveness enhancement of the business environment on both banks of the river Nistru;
• 12 communities on both banks with improved engagement practices and increased public participation in development outcomes via a sustainable dialogue among citizens, private sector, the civil society and emigrants;
• Approx. 40 CSOs from both banks co-produce development projects solving joint problems for the good of both banks' socio-economic development; 6 joint existing platforms for cooperation between CSOs from both banks are further developed and supported to limit disparity thematic among banks;  
• Community development of 12 localities on both banks enhanced mostly through capacity building; up to 6 critical social infrastructure and up to four cultural heritage development implemented for the benefit of over 40,000 people.  At least 2,000 Moldovan citizens (of which at least 15% diaspora representatives) participate in and influence public service provision, decision-making and budgets in their localities;
• At least 10 hometown associations and/or initiative groups will be created and benefit from improved skills and knowledge on fundraising, inclusive governance, integration of leave no one behind and community mobilization approaches in project implementation and public participation in development outcomes;
• Culture heritage is used as a driver for development and confidence building;  
• The left bank of Nistru river is further and actively involved in Moldovan-wide sectoral initiatives to facilitate the future reintegration while limiting the development gap between both banks. 

Accomplishments:

• 20 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from both banks of the Nistru River benefited from targeted support totalling up to $628,724, including equipment, services, training and coaching, enabling them to launch or expand production lines and services, create over 30 jobs, improve operational capacity and strengthen their resilience;
• Two cross-river business support initiatives of up to EUR 40,000 each strengthened the capacity of business support organizations to provide business development services, promote trade facilitation, improve market readiness and support eco-agriculture practices;
• 44 entrepreneurs and employees from the left bank completed a nine-month skills development programme, including business Romanian language, networking and study visits, contributing to improved communication with partners from the right bank and Romania and stronger readiness to access new markets;
• The six cross-river thematic platforms: Education, Culture, Sports, Health, Environment and Tourism, were further consolidated as non-political mechanisms for professional cooperation, joint problem-solving and people-to-people interaction between the two banks. Key achievements include the establishment of a pedagogical resource centre in Tiraspol and a bilingual online repository for teachers; strengthened education outreach engaging 2,056 educators and education managers (including 1,905 women) through digital pedagogy, mentoring, IT career orientation and cross-river knowledge exchange; expanded health engagement reaching over 200 professionals through preventive and psychosocial activities and the development of a medical continuing education navigator; wide mobilization of over 450 tourism stakeholders; and enhanced environmental collaboration involving more than 80 farmers and researchers, complemented by an international conference with experts from eight countries;
• 12 small grant projects were implemented through the cross-river thematic platforms, supporting bottom-up initiatives in education, health, culture, tourism, sport and environment, and promoting interaction between professionals, pupils, patients, children, elderly people, cultural actors, farmers and tourism service providers;
• 12 communities from both banks created community initiative groups and hometown associations and strengthened participatory local development practices and inclusive planning processes;
• The access infrastructure to “Grigore Grigoriu” Theoretical Lyceum in Cîrnățeni was improved, benefiting more than 2,300 people through safer pedestrian access, accessibility ramps for persons with disabilities and an upgraded public space suitable for joint cultural and sports events;
• Pedestrian alleys in Coșnița village were rehabilitated, improving safe mobility and accessibility for 5,770 residents and visitors, while creating better links between the village centre and key community destinations;
• The rehabilitated Community Hall in Teiul village, Grigoriopol, provides improved access to cultural, educational and community services for 2,920 residents and creates better conditions for local events, youth activities and cross-river cooperation initiatives.