On the 12th of February 2016, the Diaspora Relations Bureau (BRD) of the State Chancellery of Moldova, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM Moldova) and the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), launched the Diaspora Engagement Hub – a new program of thematic grants for Moldovan citizens abroad, including diaspora associations and initiative groups.

The objective of the program is to support Moldovan citizens abroad in implementing their ideas and engaging the human and professional capital of the diaspora towards national and local socio-economic development.

The initial phase of the Diaspora Engagement Hub included three subprograms, that offer support for:

Diaspora Professional Return
18 grants of 2.000 CHF each, offered to diaspora professional and highly-skilled migrants, encouraging the transfer of human capital and professional experience oriented towards the academic, social and economic development of the Republic of Moldova, via short-term professional returns (2 weeks – 2 months).

Diaspora Innovative Projects
16 grants of 4.000 CHF each, offered to diaspora representatives for the implementation in the Republic of Moldova of their innovative projects and activities in different fields, based on the transfer of knowledge, experience and best international practices.

Thematic Regional Partnerships
5 grants of 5.000 CHF each, offered to diaspora associations for their collaboration (between at least 2 diaspora associations from at least 2 countries of destination of the Moldovan migrants and one ONG from the Republic of Moldova) and implementation of various actions targeting local socio-economic development, educational enhancement and health care.

In addition to the initial phase of the Diaspora Engagement Hub, and based on the collaboration with our development partners and the proactive involvement of the diaspora, the number of grant options was extended, with two new subprograms:

Diaspora Women Empowerment
5 grants of 5.000 CHF each, supporting the implementation of projects aimed at improving the social and economic conditions of women migrants via the transfer of knowledge and skills, including innovative service creation and the active involvement in community initiatives.

Diaspora Educational Centers in the Diaspora
10 grants of 3.500 USD each, offered to diaspora associations and initiative groups for the creation and further development (September 2016 – September 2017) of educational centers for second generation diaspora children.
Additionally, the subprogram will support the centers via educational materials, according to each center’s requirements and training capacity. During the implementation period, a 5-day training workshop for the centers’ staff will be organized in Chisinau. All participation costs will be covered.
The Educational Centers in the Diaspora subprogram is implemented with the financial support of the IOM Moldova project “Enhancing the Development of Moldova through Engagement with Diaspora-Homeland Partnerships”.

The applications can be continuously submitted online, between until the 31st of March 2017 via the dedicated online forms.
The project proposals are examined once every two months throughout the application period by a joint BRD / IOM evaluation and selection committee.