Impact Space 2024-2028

PROJECT FICHE „IMPACT SPACE”

Implementors:

• East Europe Foundation
• "EcoVisio" NGO
• "European Business Association" NGO
• "Alliance of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities of the Republic of Moldova" NGO

Donor: Sweden

Budget: 2,155,173 EUR

Implementation period: 2024-2028

Project summary:

The "Impact Space" project aims to support social enterprises by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to grow and achieve their intended social impact. The project will be inclusive, covering all regions of the country, including the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and the Transnistrian region.

The project will support the development platform for social entrepreneurship, including the platform in the Transnistrian region. Accelerators, hackathons, mentoring programs, and scholarships will be organized, benefiting social entrepreneurs by motivating and better preparing them.

Grants will be provided for the creation and development of social enterprises, and the idea of creating an Impact HUB in the Republic of Moldova will be tested.

Overall objective:

Vulnerable women and men[1] are more empowered and benefit from better employment opportunities provided by social enterprises.

Specific objectives:

1. Improving the legal framework and policies related to social entrepreneurship.
2. Strengthening the capacities of potential and existing social entrepreneurs.
3. Facilitating employment and improving the living standards of the most vulnerable groups by implementing impactful initiatives led by social entrepreneurs.
4. Creating the necessary conditions to build a viable ecosystem for social enterprises.

Estimated results:

• 1,000 vulnerable women and men will benefit from social entrepreneurship activities.
• 50 vulnerable women and men will be employed by social enterprises supported during the project implementation period.
• 80% of beneficiaries will be satisfied with the services and opportunities offered by the supported social enterprises.
• 50% of the political and legislative changes proposed by the Social Entrepreneurship Development Program (SEDP) will be approved by decision-makers.
• 6 public policies and legislative acts regarding social entrepreneurship will be analysed and supported in collaboration with decision-makers.
• 9 best practices in social entrepreneurship will be identified and widely disseminated.
• 300,000 people will be informed through the awareness campaign.
• 20/50% of training beneficiaries will develop competitive proposals.
• 9 innovations will be developed to support social enterprises.
• 5% of the innovations will be utilized by social enterprises.
• 45 social enterprises will address emerging issues as a result of mentoring and internship programs.
• 15 beneficiaries will report improved performance as a result of scholarships and participation in international events.
• 10 social enterprises will benefit from funding (the fund size is 350,000 EUR).
• 2 new contributors to the Impact Fund.
• 8/100% of team members will pass post-training tests with 80% or higher.
• 8/100% of participants in the study visit will be actively involved in preparing documentation for the establishment of the Impact Hub in Moldova.

[1] In the context of this project, vulnerable groups are: rural population, unemployed, NEET youth, vulnerable older people, informal workers, persons with disabilities, Roma, LGBT.