Project "Strengthening Civil Society in Transnistrian region of Moldova"
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Strengthening Civil Society in Transnistria,
Moldova
Grantee:Center for Education, Information and Social Analyses from Moldova
Financed by: National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA
Dates of Project:October 1, 2006 – September 30, 2007
Amount Approved:$23,991
I.BACKGROUND:
Moldova continues to be a divided country, with one-quarter of its territory under the control of the authoritarian regime of Igor Smirnov. Dominated by Russian ultranationalist forces and military units, the breakaway region of Transnistria is the most politically repressive, isolated and economically underdeveloped part of Moldova. Recent attempts by the international community to encourage a political solution to the conflict were countered by increased pressure against opponents of the existing Transnistrian authorities, including a short-lived decree banning foreign assistance to nongovernmental organizations. Although a fledgling NGO sector has emerged under these difficult conditions, Transnistrian NGOs engaged in democracy-building activities are also severely hampered by their isolation, limited resources, lack of information, and scant knowledge of the basic principles of democracy, human rights, and conflict resolution. For a strong civil society to develop in Transnistria, the NGO sector must be strengthened through the promotion of information exchange and the fostering of greater cooperation and coordination with NGOs in the region, the rest of Moldova and abroad. To address these challenges, the Center for Education, Information, and Social Analyses will implement the following project.
II. PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
·To raise public awareness of crucial civil society issues and promote a positive image of NGOs, particularly in Transnistria; and
·To strengthen contacts, coordination and networking between NGOs in Transnistria and the rest of Moldova.
III.PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
The Center of Education, Information, and Social Analyses (CAPTES) will use Endowment assistance to strengthen civil society in Transnistria and the rest of Moldova. The Center will publish 12 issues of its monthly bilingual journal titled Civic Forum and provide training in civic journalism for 25 youth activists from Transnistria. By offering accurate and up-to-date information about and independent analysis of civil society developments, CAPTES will promote a positive image of NGOs, encourage civic activism at the local and national levels, and facilitate the development of third sector networks and joint civic initiatives.
Created in January 2005, Civic Forum is a unique source of information for and about the third sector in Moldova, and the only periodical focusing on civil society issues in Transnistria published in both Romanian and Russian. Written and published in partnership with local Transnistrian organizations and civic activists, the monthly 16-page journal will publicize NGO activities, particularly in rural areas, and cooperation initiatives with local and national government institutions; announce seminars, workshops, conferences and other events; advertise grant opportunities and print application guidelines and contacts; analyze political developments as they pertain to the third sector; research and analyze NGO success stories from Moldova and the region; and print interviews with and opinion pieces by civic activists.
With Endowment support, CAPTES will publish 12 issues of Civic Forum with a circulation of 2,000 copies. To meet the continually rising demand for subscriptions, CAPTES will use other sources of funding to increase the circulation of the journal by an additional 2,000 per month for a total of 4,000 copies. The journal’s subscribers include nongovernmental organizations throughout Transnistria, Gagauzia, and the rest of Moldova, particularly in rural regions where access to internet is scarce, local and national government institutions, international organizations, schools, and public libraries. There are 1,100 current subscribers in Moldova, 450 in Transnistria, and 180 in Gagauzia. The remaining 270 copies are distributed to NGO resource centers and libraries throughout the country, such as CONTACTCenter branches. Current and archive editions of Civic Forum are available online at with an average of 1,300 hits per month and distributed through an email listserv.
Throughout the grant period, CAPTES staff, coordinators, volunteers, and partner nongovernmental organizations will establish and maintain contacts with a broad variety of local and national NGOs, collect information about NGO activities and other issues related to the civic sector, promote the publication, and conduct surveys and interviews. In order to expand its network of civic volunteers, CAPTES will, in cooperation with local partner NGOs, organize a training seminar on civic journalism for 25 young civic activists from Transnistria. Participants in the seminar will be selected through an essay contest, “Using Dialogue and ConfidenceBuilding to Rebuild Communities.” Participants will receive training on journalistic techniques, human rights monitoring, and conducting and reporting on advocacy campaigns. Following the seminar, participants will be encouraged to research and write articles about the third sector and its challenges, and to publish them in Civic Forum. Through continued coaching and cooperation, CAPTES will facilitate the development of a wide network of civic activists throughout Transnistria and the rest of Moldova, as well as cooperation on joint civic initiatives and NGO projects. Throughout the grant period, CAPTES will also exchange information and ideas with other NGO bulletins, notably the electronic newsletters of CONTACTCenter and ACCEP, informational portals, press agencies, independent local, regional, and national periodicals and newspapers, and TV and radio stations.
IV.EVALUATION PLAN:
Objective: To raise public awareness of crucial civil society issues and promote a positive image of NGOs, particularly in Transnistria.
·An increase in subscription requests for Civic Forum will be considered a measure of the project’s success.
·CAPTES will publish three opinion polls in Civic Forum and on its website ( to gauge the effectiveness of the journal in addressing the needs of civic activists and NGOs in Transnistria and the rest of Moldova.
Objective: To strengthen contacts, coordination and networking between NGOs in Transnistria and the rest of Moldova.
·A measure of the project’s success will be an increase in joint civic initiatives between civic activists and NGOs in Transnistria and the rest of Moldova, particularly as a result of events organized by CAPTES and publicized in Civic Forum.
·CAPTES will track the publication of information from Civic Forum in other local, regional, and national print and electronic media, particularly as it relates to civic initiatives in Transnistria, Gagauzia and rural areas of Moldova.
·Greater citizen participation, particularly among youth, in civic initiatives promoted and publicized in Civic Forum and other CAPTES events will be considered a measure of the project’s success.
·The continued existence of a network of young civic activists in Transnistria, who research, write, and publish articles in Civic Forum will be a measure of the project’s success.
V.ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND:
The Center of Information, Education and Social Analyses (CAPTES) is the successor organization of the Center of Political Analyses and Social Technologies, established in 1996. Registered in 2001 as an independent organization, CAPTES is dedicated to the development of a strong and independent civil society by providing accurate information and analyses of social, economic, and political developments in Moldova as they pertain to the third sector. In partnership with the Poland-based Klon/Javor Association, the Center maintains an informational website ( which serves as an online resource and announcement center for NGOs. The Center’s other activities include organizing training seminars for civic activists and journalists, and conferences and workshops on the role of civil society in the democratization process in Moldova. In cooperation with the European Commission and the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Center also promotes the creation of a regional network of think tanks and NGOs dedicated to the democratization of the breakaway region of Transnistria. CAPTES’ previous donors include the US Embassy in Chisinau, OSCE Mission in Moldova, OSI Budapest, and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Radu Gorincioi, CAPTES program director, will act as coordinator for this project. Ms. Dorina Baltag will serve as the editor of the journal Civic Forum.
For more information, or to get involved contact us:
Tel. 022-843187,
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