Call for Scholarships and Internships for Social Entrepreneurs within the Impact Space Project
- Introduction
The "Impact Space" project aims to support social enterprises by providing the necessary tools and resources to develop and achieve the intended social impact. The project will be inclusive, covering all regions of the country, including the autonomous unit of Gagauzia and the Transnistrian region. The project will improve the legal framework through support for the National Platform for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship, including in the Transnistrian region.
The Impact Space project aims to empower entrepreneurs through specific activities such as training, mentoring, scholarships, internships, grants, and networking events.
- Purpose and Priorities of the Program
The purpose of this call is to select social entrepreneurs for:
- Internships abroad
- Scholarships for participation in various international events
The goal of the internships is to expose the selected social entrepreneurs to the experience of more advanced social enterprises or businesses operating in similar fields. Understanding global markets is essential for entrepreneurs who wish to expand internationally. Internships at similar companies abroad help entrepreneurs gain insights into market dynamics, customer preferences, and the regulatory environment, facilitating smoother entry into new markets. A maximum of 10 internships at similar companies abroad will be offered for social entrepreneurs or leaders of impact-driven businesses, with support from the program. These internships will allow entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in the operations of established companies in their industry, gaining direct knowledge of best practices, advanced technologies, and effective management strategies. The internships will last up to one week and will provide financial support of up to 2000 euros per company.
Scholarships for entrepreneurs have a transformative impact, fostering a more vibrant and innovative social entrepreneurial environment in Moldova. Scholarships for social entrepreneurs and their mentors, offered within the Impact Space project, will present a unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights, interact with industry leaders, and expand business horizons. These scholarships allow social entrepreneurs to participate in international conferences, exhibitions, and workshops, where they can learn about the latest trends, innovative practices, and successful strategies from global business experts. Five groups of three entrepreneurs each will be selected to participate in international events abroad, with a clear focus on exports or presentations for potential investors. The scholarship amount is 700 euros.
- The budget for the internships is 20,000 euros available for 10 social entrepreneurs.
The budget for scholarships is 10,500 euros for 15 social entrepreneurs and mentors. Social entrepreneurs can benefit from an internship and a scholarship only once. - Eligible Applicants
To be eligible participants, applicants must cumulatively meet the following conditions:
a) Represent a legal entity registered in the Republic of Moldova;
b) Represent non-profit organizations, social enterprises* or impact-driven enterprises**;
c) Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project, without acting as intermediaries;
d) The entity's statutes must include the principles of social entrepreneurship.
*Social enterprise is an economically viable business with a tested business model that generates income for at least 6 months (e.g., LLC) and integrates the principles of social entrepreneurship in its statutes. Social enterprises with and without the status (certificate) of a social enterprise are eligible for the mentoring program, but it is essential that the principles of social entrepreneurship are included in the entity’s statutes.
**Impact-driven enterprise is an economically viable business with a tested business model that generates income for at least 6 months (e.g., LLC) and integrates a clear positive impact on the community and/or the environment through the following characteristics:
- Addresses a relevant social or environmental issue in the country (e.g., social inclusion, climate change, pollution, food waste, etc.);
- The activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contributes to achieving specific indicators.
- Integrates ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles or a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) strategy.
- The products, services, or production processes do not negatively affect health, the environment, or human rights and contribute to solving challenges in these areas.
- Provides jobs or economic opportunities for people from vulnerable groups (e.g., people with disabilities, NEET youth, refugees, etc.).
5.Project Evaluation and Selection Decision
5.1. Decision-Making Process
The scholarship and internship competition will be organized in 2 stages:
STAGE 1: Evaluation of the responses in the registration form according to the requirements of this call. The team of the East-European Foundation will verify the alignment of the responses with the requirements of this call, the eligibility of the applicants, and check if the application file is complete. Incomplete files will not be evaluated.
STAGE 2: Interview, which will be organized online on the Zoom platform. In this stage, each selected person will present their motivation for participation and a series of indicators that will be achieved after completing the internship or participating in various events.
Applicants will be evaluated equally and fairly, being assessed objectively and independently.
- Selection Criteria
6.1 Selection Criteria for Internships
Motivation and Relevance of Participation
- Clarity of the participation objective
- Relevance of the chosen company to the field of activity
- Justification of the connection between the host company and development needs
Ability to Leverage Experience
- Clear identification of learning aspects
- Methods of integrating knowledge into the enterprise's activities
- Adoption of best practices and applicable solutions
Networks and Partnerships – Estimated Potential
- Estimation of the number and type of relevant interactions
- Identification of potential partners / investors / collaborators
- Planning follow-up actions
Anticipated Impact on the Enterprise
- Potential impact on the quality of products/services
- Clear intentions regarding initiatives or improvements post-internship
- Planning for internal dissemination or community sharing
Applicant's Experience in Social Entrepreneurship
6.2 Selection Criteria for Scholarships to Participate in International Events
Motivation and Relevance of Participation
- Clarity of the participation objective
- Correlation between the event's theme and the field of activity
- Justification of the selection based on development needs
Ability to Leverage Experience
- Anticipated benefits and access to know-how
- Realistic plan for integrating what is learned
Networks and Partnerships – Estimated Potential
- Estimation of the number and type of relevant interactions
- Planning concrete follow-up actions
Anticipated Economic and Social Impact
- Potential for increasing international visibility
- Ideas for improvements or new products resulting from participation
- Planning for internal dissemination or community sharing
Applicant's Experience in Social Entrepreneurship
- Conditions for Submitting Applications
Applicants are requested to complete the following forms by accessing the corresponding links:
- Scholarship application form: https://forms.gle/onTmoDjmkTJHVRbD7
- Internship application form: https://forms.gle/aGat7zvKKwLzRQdw8
To complete the form, the following documents must be uploaded:
- The company’s statute describing the mission and principles of social entrepreneurship, or the annual report specifying the social, environmental impact, etc.
- Proof of affiliation with the social enterprise
- CV with professional experience
- The completed form(s) must be submitted by June 25, 2025, inclusive.
Incomplete forms will not be evaluated.
