Agency for Innovation and Development

Agency for Innovation and Development – NGO which serves as resource HUB and support the initiatives in social, economic and cultural areas with the aim to increase human capital, sustainable development and international cooperation.

Our mission is to foster a culture of innovation and social responsibility that empowers young leaders, women, and diverse communities across the regions of Moldova. Through a range of grant programs, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives, we aim to advance economic, educational, and social development. By supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises, promoting technological entrepreneurship, and fostering peacebuilding efforts, we strengthen the foundations for sustainable growth and leadership. We work to bridge networks of NGOs, academic institutions, local governments, and businesses regionally and internationally, cultivating a society that values social change, inclusive leadership, and resilience.

Main programs:
1. Partnership project “Development of Export Potential on the banks of the Dniester” (AdTrade Project) (2020 – 2025). The main goal is to support 60 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (of which 50 % are women-led), which will receive grants, as well as mentoring and training services, which ultimately contributes to the development of promising sectors of the economy. Main donor: UNDP Moldova, with financial support from the Government of Sweden and UK. https://www.undp.org/moldova/projects/advanced-cross-river-capacities-trade

2. Project "Supporting SMEs development for job creation on both banks of the Nistru River". The main objective is to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (mainly women's enterprises) on both banks of the Nistru River, which receive grants of up to 20 thousand USD. The importance of the project lies in the fact that beneficiaries are provided with expert mentoring and training services. The project is implemented jointly with AXA Management Consulting within the framework of the European Union Program "Confidence Building Measures", implemented by UNDP in Moldova.

3. Women's Entrepreneurship Development Project. The main objective is business training and experience exchange trips, which allows to study approaches and methods of work of women entrepreneurs from two coasts, as well as to adopt experience and develop professional skills. The project also includes grants for business development and a Gala Award with nominations for women leaders. The project is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Moldova.

4. Project "Social Integration through Education and Self-Employment". The main goal is to ensure successful integration of refugees, Roma, people from socially vulnerable groups and people with disabilities into society by providing access to training resources and grants to develop their own businesses. The project is funded by the Norwegian Refugee Council.

5. PeaceEdu Project (2024-2026) ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE program project - Curriculum Reform to Promote Education for Peace in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova (PeaceEdu) ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant with Tampere University, Finland together with 13 partners from Georgia, Ukraine, Germany, Moldova, Austria. ERASMUS+ Programme through International Capacity Building Consortium Agreement. Donor: EU

6. Project "Social Integration through Education and Self-Employment" (2024). The main goal is to ensure successful integration of refugees, Roma, people from socially vulnerable groups and people with disabilities into society by providing access to training resources and grants to develop their own businesses. The project is funded by the Norwegian Refugee Council. The total budget of the project is 172,000 USD.

7. Project "Support and adaptation of refugee women in crisis conditions" (2023). The main goal of the project is to support 250 refugee women and their children through business school, SMM school and individual courses that strengthen their financial stability. The project organized a grant competition and supported 8 women who are economically active. The project is funded by the Women's Fund for Peace and Humanitarian Assistance with the support of UN Women.

8. Project “Youth Leaders for Peace” (2023) in partnership with the NGO Moldovan Association of International law, European University of Moldova, Comrat State University, professors of Tiraspol Shevchenko University. The main goal of the project is contribution to locally-led peace-building, democracy and participatory governance through promotion of peace and organizing educational initiatives for students and lecturers of the Universities in Chisinau, Tiraspol, Comrat. The project is implemented with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova. https://peace.education.md

9. Project «STEM laboratory at the University T. G. SHEVCHENKO Tiraspol» (2023). Within the framework of the project a STEM Laboratory was opened in Tiraspol Shevchenko University with developed of new educational courses (3 modules) in STEM disciplines for the Faculty of Economics. Main Donor: UNDP AdTrade program.

10. Business Hub project (2023). The main goal is to provide technical, informational, advisory assistance to entrepreneurs and public organizations aimed at creating or expanding a business. Organization of 3 business schools "Startup Academy", where at least 100 young people are trained. Organizing a grant competition and supporting 15 young entrepreneurs and 15 companies with export potential. The project is financed by the European Union and Sweden through the Eastern Europe Fund.

11. Project "Sustainable Communities to Climate Change through Women's Empowerment" (2023). The main idea of the project is to support women's economic activities that will be resilient to climate change. A project competition was organized, where grants were awarded to women engaged in economic activities in Transnistria, in the security zone, in Nisporeni, Calarasi, Bessarabian, Leova districts and in ATU Gagauzia. The project is financed by Sweden and implemented by UNDP.

12. Project “Technological Entrepreneurship" (2022-2023) implemented in partnership with Technovator. The main objective is to organize a course on technological entrepreneurship in the IT sphere, which will result in a Demo Day, where participants will be able to present their IT projects to investors. https://it.innovation.md Main donor: UNDP Moldova, with financial support of EU.

13. Women's Entrepreneurship Development Partnership Project. 2019-2020 AFAM Moldova Partner. A platform for the business of women of 2 banks. This is a space for learning, communication and networking. The platform provides free training, which consists of trainings and is aimed at developing knowledge and business skills for women. Business meetings are held monthly in open discussion format. The speakers are qualified international trainers and experienced business women.