ECNL in collaboration with ICNL have been supporting and building capacity of Moldovan CSOs and public authorities to create sustainable legal framework and enhance their cooperation for over 15 years. Since 2007 ECNL has been the lead on implementing programs in this country. ECNL’s work has been supported by the USAID and the EU.
As the result of our and local partners’ efforts, there has been important progress made in creating enabling legal environment, conducive for CSO operation and sustainability, which inspires partnerships with public authorities.
ECNL’s legal experts provided assistance to seven cross-sector working groups and experts meetings. The assistance resulted in the adoption of 12 legal and policy documents, 7 draft legal documents. ECNL built capacity of CSOs and public officials needed for effective implementation. These successes and improvement of the legal environment have been recognized in the USAID CSO Sustainability Indexes over the past years.
All of these accomplishments have been a result of a committed local leadership and the partnership we have developed with the National NGO Council, the Parliament, Government and various ministries.
Main accomplishments as a result of ECNL’s assistance include:
Supporting enabling legal framework for CSOs based on international standards and best practices: amendments to the Law on Associations adopted which are in line with the international standards; secondary regulation on public benefit status adopted and capacity of Public Benefit Commission built to effectively implement the status; local expertise to reform the Law on Foundations increased; methodological instructions for CSO accounting adopted and compliance with financial regulations improved.
Promoting legal reform for long term financial sustainability of civil society: developed concept of and a draft law on mechanism for individual and corporate designations; draft law on social enterprise developed and local knowledge on the topic increased; comparative and technical expertise on legal framework for social service provision provided; understanding of the tax issues affecting CSO increased; models for transparent government funding promoted and targeted assistance to ministries provided; formulated national framework recommendations and agenda to improve longer-term sustainability of CSOs.
Strengthening cooperation between civil society and public authorities: second Strategy for Civil Society Development (2012-2015) which incorporates European trends and responds to local needs adopted (ECNL was also closely involved in the development of the first Strategy adopted in 2008); draft amendments to the Concept of Cooperation between Parliament and CSOs consider comparative practices; understanding about models and opportunities for setting up a focal point within the Government for cooperation with CSOs increased.
Facilitating stronger citizen and constituency engagement: Law on Volunteering and supporting regulations which reflect European best practices adopted; capacity on models for promotion of volunteering and mechanisms increased. Also throughout 2007-2008 local regulations on public participation and cooperation were adopted in five towns in Moldova; as well as understanding of local governments of good models of citizen participation was increased. ECNL’s assistance was provided through the following services: technical expertise (e.g., written comments, in-person meetings, working groups participation), comparative and local research, training, CSO experts meetings, facilitation of meetings, organizing conferences and workshops, sharing comparative materials, hosting fellows and developing guidelines and publications.
For further information please see:
- Moldova managed to significantly reform legal framework on NGOs, experts, interview of ECNL experts by IPN (Info-Prim Neo SRL), July 4, 2013
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs): achievements, challenges and opportunities, report from the closing workshop of the Grants Program of the Moldova Civil Society Strengthening Program (MCSSP), July 2013
- Conclusions and Recommendations: Conference on State Financing of CSOs: New Opportunities for Moldovan CSO Development, organized by ECNL in collaboration with the NGO Council and the Council of Europe under MCSSP , September 2011
- Country Report: Moldova, by Hanna Asipovich, The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law, Volume 12, Issue 4, November 2010