NGO CERTITUDE

Our organization’s mission is to empower youth from rural communities to engage and actively participate in local community development. It is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious organization focused on rural youth from the northern part of Moldova, reaching 10 districts with more than 200 villages. NGO C.I.S.T.E. “CERTITUDINE” was registered as a community organization under the nr. 0000038, on 14.02.2002 at the Local Mayor’s Office from Balti city. Our organization has an equipped office with 6 permanent staff (full and part-time) and 20 volunteers in the northern capital of Moldova – Balti. We have 4 Members of the Management Board, who are young professionals in their fields: Nelli Amarfii Railean is an auditor, accountant, also president of the Local Accountants Association and teacher at the local “Alecu Russo” University; Sergiu Schita is the head of a representation of a local bank “ComertBank”; Oleg Petelca is the Chief Financial Officer of EXIMBANK local subsidiary; Eugeniu Graur – Executive Director of NGO “CERTITUDE” is a young social entrepreneur with a vision to empower other youth to become active citizens in their communities. We are employing 4 trainers on a contract base – Angela Graur, Elena Bordianu, Cătălina Gavriliuc and Olga Grăchilă, who have experience and are trained both in Moldova and abroad in many fields: Community Development & Participation; Project Proposal Writing and Project Management; Communication; Public Relations; Outreach; Fundraising; Strategy Development; Organizational Development; Public Private Partnerships; Social Entrepreneurship; Decision Making at Local Level; Gender Issues; Advocacy and Community Mobilization; Volunteering; We very much value and rely on our professional staff who are our main asset. Our second most valuable asset is the strong links that we’ve built with Local Public Administration and Local Schools, and other stakeholders from more than 30 villages which we have served in our target area. These partnerships will give us an advantage in identifying resources and mobilizing respective communities around a common goal of developing their local communities. Mr. Eugeniu Graur, Executive Director of NGO CERTITUDE, who will coordinate the project, was awarded the National Youth Prize from the Ministry of Youth and Sports from Moldova in October 2010, for Civic Engagement, being the first young person from Moldova nominated for this award. He has an extensive experience in project and organizational planning and management, having participated in more than 30 trainings and other types of events in 17 different countries. His most important professional trainings are: Project and Programme Management and Administration for Development Practitioners (Netherlands, France and Belgium, 2010), YouthActionNet Global Fellowship Program for Young Social Entrepreneurs (U.S.A., 2009), John Smith Fellowship Program (UK, 2007), International Visitors’ Leadership Development Program (U.S.A., 2006). He also, has a Master’s degree in advocacy and public policy from the National Human Rights Center from Moldova. He has planned and managed more than 5 projects of the organization in the last two years, and represented the organization at the Youth Employment Summit in Leksand, Sweden (June, 2010), XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, Austria (July, 2010)
Concerning planning, governance, financial management, reporting, and human resources management, with the support provided by FHI 360 and National Youth Council from Moldova in 2012 – 2013, we have developed and implemented our internal rules and regulations complying with to local legislation, donor requirements and internal needs of the organization:
• Strategic plan
• Code of rules for the Members of the Board
• Conflict of Interest Policy
• Human Resources Policy, including job descriptions, and recruitment, evaluation and training instructions
• Financial Procedures Manual
• Procurement Manual
• Internal Rules for Staff
CERTITUDINE has implemented more than 40 small projects over the last 24 years in the fields of social entrepreneurship, civic engagement, environment conservation and reproductive health, reaching more than 15.000 youth through empowerment training, counseling, small grants ranging from $250 to $1500 aimed to support the development of the local community, outreach activities.
The Public Association Center for Information and Support of Young Economists “CERTITUDINE” (AO C.I.S.T.E. “CERTITUDINE”) is a non-governmental organization based in Bălți, Republic of Moldova, established in 2002 to support youth empowerment, civic participation, and community development. The organization works primarily in Northern Moldova, where it facilitates cooperation between young people, civil society organizations, and local public authorities in order to strengthen democratic participation, social cohesion, and sustainable community initiatives.
CERTITUDINE’s mission is to empower young people and community actors by providing access to information, training, mentoring, and opportunities for civic engagement and social innovation. The organization focuses on strengthening youth leadership, promoting volunteerism, supporting social and economic inclusion, and encouraging active citizenship. Through its activities, CERTITUDINE contributes to building resilient local communities and strengthening the role of civil society in democratic processes.
Over more than two decades of activity, CERTITUDINE has implemented numerous projects and partnerships funded by international donors and national institutions, including USAID, the European Union, the Eastern Europe Foundation, Soros Foundation Moldova, national youth programs, and other development partners. Its initiatives have addressed areas such as youth civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, environmental awareness, economic empowerment, and community mobilization. Recent initiatives include programs that support youth participation in local decision-making, promote European values, and strengthen collaboration between youth groups and local authorities in Northern Moldova.
Through training, mentoring, advocacy campaigns, and community projects, CERTITUDINE has worked with thousands of young people, civil society actors, and community stakeholders. The organization has also played an active role in regional civil society cooperation and currently contributes to strengthening networks of civil society organizations in Northern Moldova. Building on its long-standing experience and partnerships, CERTITUDINE continues to promote active citizenship, inclusive participation, and sustainable community development.

CERTITUDINE has extensive experience in strengthening civic participation and community engagement among young people, particularly in Northern Moldova. Through the project “Youth for Community and Change” (2024–2025), implemented with support from the USAID Comunitatea Mea program, the organization delivered training and mentoring to youth groups, local youth councils, and civil society actors from multiple partner localities. The initiative supported young people in developing community initiatives, engaging in dialogue with local public authorities, and contributing to participatory decision-making processes at the local level. As a result, youth groups strengthened their organizational capacity, increased collaboration with local authorities, and implemented community-based initiatives addressing local development needs.
CERTITUDINE has also demonstrated strong capacity in promoting social cohesion and intercultural dialogue. In 2025 the organization implemented youth initiatives such as “Diversity Cup” within the project “Fii schimbarea! Inițiative ale tinerilor pentru dialog intercultural”, which focused on strengthening dialogue between young people from different backgrounds and communities. Activities included youth-led events, public discussions, and community engagement initiatives that promoted tolerance, cooperation, and social inclusion, contributing to stronger relationships between youth groups, civil society actors, and local stakeholders.
In addition, CERTITUDINE actively contributes to strengthening civil society networks and advocacy at the regional level. Since 2025, the organization has hosted the Secretariat of the Regional Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Northern Moldova, supporting coordination and advocacy efforts through the initiative “Civic Engagement for Empowering Youth and Women.” Through this role, CERTITUDINE facilitates collaboration among civil society organizations, promotes policy dialogue on youth employability and civic participation, and strengthens the collective capacity of NGOs to engage with public institutions and development partners.
The organization has over two decades of experience working across Northern Moldova, including in municipalities and rural communities in districts such as Bălți and Edineț. For example, within the EU4Moldova: Local Communities program (2025), CERTITUDINE supported community engagement processes in the communes of Hincăuți, Parcova, and Zăbriceni, facilitating citizen participation and strengthening dialogue between local authorities and residents. Through such initiatives, the organization has built strong partnerships with local governments, youth councils, schools, civil society organizations, and community groups, creating sustainable networks that support inclusive local development and active citizenship in the region.

The Public Association Center for Information and Support of Young Economists “CERTITUDINE” has more than two decades of experience collaborating with international donors, development organizations, and national and local government institutions in the Republic of Moldova. Since its establishment in 2002, the organization has implemented projects funded by major international donors and development partners, including the European Union, USAID, the Eastern Europe Foundation, Soros Foundation Moldova, national public institutions, and other international partners. These collaborations have focused on strengthening civil society, youth empowerment, social cohesion, and community participation.
CERTITUDINE has successfully implemented and partnered in several donor-funded programs aimed at strengthening democratic participation and community development. For example, the organization implemented the project “Youth for Community and Change” (2024–2025) supported by USAID through the Comunitatea Mea program implemented by IREX, where CERTITUDINE delivered training and mentoring for youth groups and local civic initiatives in several Moldovan communities. The organization has also collaborated with the European Union through cross-border and civic engagement projects, including the project “Eminescu: One Culture – One Route in Botoșani–Bălți Cross-Border Area,” supporting event organization and cross-border cooperation between Moldova and Romania.
In addition, CERTITUDINE has implemented and contributed to initiatives supported by European and international civil society donors such as the Eastern Europe Foundation, Soros Foundation Moldova, and other development partners promoting civic participation, European values, youth leadership, and community engagement. Through these projects, the organization has worked closely with local public authorities, educational institutions, and community stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and sustainability of project results.
Through these partnerships, CERTITUDINE has developed strong experience in donor compliance, project management, financial accountability, and multi-stakeholder coordination. The organization continues to maintain collaborative relationships with national and local authorities, civil society networks, and international donors, contributing to the strengthening of democratic governance, youth engagement, and inclusive development in Northern Moldova