Resilient Democracy through Anti-Corruption

Resilient Democracy through Anti-Corruption

Status:Ongoing
Duration:2025 – 2029
Budget:US$2,611,880
Donor:European Union
Coverage:Republic of Moldova
Beneficiaries:National Anti-Corruption Centre, Office for Prevention and Combatting of Money Laundering, General Police Inspectorate, General Prosecutor’s Office
Focus Area:Effective Governance, Justice & Human Rights
Partners:Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, National Institute of Justice 
Project Document:Resilient Democracy through Anti-Corruption 
See more information about the project on the transparency portal.

 

Project Summary:

The Resilient Democracy through Anti-Corruption is a project designed to enhance democratic integrity and resilience against electoral corruption. The project aims to strengthen institutional capacities, enhance inter-agency synergies and legal frameworks, and enable effective civil society oversight, along with public resilience, while aligning closely with Moldova’s international and national commitments on governance, rule of law, and anti-corruption.

Objectives:

  • Strengthened institutional capacities for detecting, disrupting, investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating corruption cases with a specific focus on electoral integrity and illicit political finance;
  • Enhanced inter-agency coordination, cohesion and synergy between law enforcement, anti-corruption agencies, judicial institutions, and other relevant entities, while facilitating legal and procedural reforms;
  • Strengthened civil society and media oversight, along with public resilience to expose and track corrupt practices, enhance public scrutiny, and foster transparency, accountability, and civic engagement in democratic processes.
     

Expected results:

  • Assessments of institutional weaknesses, operational gaps, and reform priorities have provided a strong foundation for targeted long-term efforts to strengthen law enforcement’s capacities;
  • Law enforcement officers have enhanced capacities to detect, disrupt, investigate, and prosecute corruption-related cases, including electoral integrity and illicit political finance;
  • The investigative effectiveness of law enforcement agencies has been enhanced through the provision of digital tools and specialized equipment;
  • Prosecutors and judges have enhanced capacities to handle corruption cases, including those related to electoral integrity and illicit political finance;
  • A sustainable mechanism for inter-agency coordination, cohesion, and synergy has been formalized and operationalized;
  • Relevant legal and procedural frameworks related to corruption risks to democratic integrity have been aligned with international standards;
  • Media professionals and investigative journalists have strengthened capacities to monitor, analyze, and report on corruption practices affecting democratic integrity;
  • Public awareness campaigns and grassroots education initiatives have contributed to shifting perceptions of corruption practices, including those related to democratic integrity, fostering broader civic resilience and participation.

Accomplishments:

  • Advisory support delivered by international experts, aimed at strengthening institutional coordination and linking local challenges to international electoral integrity standards;
  • Multi‑institutional diagnostic study on electoral corruption and illicit finance completed in partnership with the National Anti-Corruption Center, Prosecutor General’s Office, General Police Inspectorate, and Financial Intelligence Unit, producing recommendations to strengthen systemic responses;
  • 300 judges, prosecutors, and investigators trained in forensic evidence collection, crime analysis, and investigative methodologies aligned with international standards, enhancing judicial capacity to investigate and prosecute electoral corruption and illicit political finance;
  • 200 police officers strengthened their capacities in investigation of electoral corruption cases ahead of local elections in May 2026;
  • Specialized hardware and software provided to four key institutions, including OSINT and dark web investigative suites, network infrastructure etc. supporting detection, investigation, and adjudication capacities;
  • Information campaigns including animated graphics and 10,000 bilingual flyers promoting a new anti-corruption hotline conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Center, in partnership with UNDP and EU;
  • Public awareness campaigns and grassroots education initiatives have contributed to shifting perceptions of corruption practices, promoting democratic integrity, fostering broader civic resilience and participation ahead of Parliamentary elections in September 2025 and new local elections in May 2026;
  • First “Generation of Integrity” school engaged 25 young volunteers of the National Anti-Corruption Centre from across Moldova in interactive training on public speaking, campaign design, and integrity values;
  • 25 journalists and editors from 15 editorial boards boosted their skills in investigative journalism and OSINT techniques;
  • 50 journalists demonstrated enhanced capacity and commitment to applying inclusive, dialogue‑oriented reporting practices in their work following participation in a press club meeting and roundtable on civic dialogue in Găgăuzia region. 
YearsBudgetDelivery
European Union
2025$1,258,863.13$1,258,863.13
2026$1,353,016.87