UNDP, Sweden, and United Kingdom launched four grant competitions for developing innovative businesses on both banks of the Nistru river

July 22, 2021

Entrepreneurs, business support organizations and civil society organizations from both banks of the Nistru river may apply for four grant competitions for business development and exports’ promotion. The support will be provided in the framework of the “Advanced cross-river capacities for trade” (AdTrade) project, implemented by UNDP with financial support provided by Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The grant competition “Joint exports through innovation and association” is open for project proposals to be submitted by producers and processors from both banks of the Nistru river, who are willing to create joint partnerships with importers/distributors from abroad to increase competitiveness of provided products and supplied services, to modernize the technological process and to promote exports. The selected project proposals will be awarded grants of up to US$75,000 each to procure innovative equipment and machinery. The winning partnerships will benefit from business development consultancy. The projects submitting a proof of EU importer’s interest (shop chain, distributor, etc.) for the improved product, which will be obtained by the respective partnership because of using the requested equipment shall be admitted to the call.

The application forms and the contest participation requirements, as well as the criteria for assessing project proposals are available here. The deadline for submitting applications is 13 August 2021,16:00.

Under the “Development of support and advocacy capacities of the business support organizations” grant competition, AdTrade Project will select at least five projects developed and submitted by consortia established by business support organizations from both banks of the Nistru river. The winning projects will benefit from financial assistance of up to $40,000 each to identify the needs and to provide the necessary support to the private sector, to enhance the public-private dialogue, to formulate feasible policy solutions for improving business environment on both banks of the Nistru river, etc. The competition will focus mainly on enhancing women’s business associations from the Transnistrian region, which would represent the needs of their members – women-entrepreneurs, including women with disabilities.

The application forms and the contest participation requirements, as well as the criteria for assessing project proposals are available here.The deadline for submitting applications is 16 August 2021, 16:00.

The grant competition for advancement of women’s and girls’ access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in Transnistrian region envisages to select two pilot initiatives for digital literacy and access facilitation to STEM among women and girls from the left bank of the Nistru river, especially the ones from disadvantaged groups. Project proposals will be accepted from consortia of civil society organizations and academia, schools, or representative of private sector from both banks of the Nistru river. The winning proposals will benefit from grants up to $30,000 each.

The application forms and the contest participation requirements, as well as the criteria for assessing project proposals are available here. The deadline for submitting applications is 18 August 2021, 16:00.

The grant competition “Acceleration of export companies’ potential” is meant for companies from both banks of the Nistru river needing assistance to increase their competitiveness and export potential in line with the European standards and norms. Assistance will be provided over a period of 24 months by specialized national and international companies/organizations, experts’ teams, and the costs will be covered by AdTrade project for the following types of services: accessing new markets, marketing, sales, promotion of products, participation in exhibitions and fairs, increasing productivity, adoption of quality standards, sanitary and phytosanitary certification of products, etc.

The application forms and the contest participation requirements, as well as the criteria for assessing project proposals are available here. The deadline for submitting applications is 12 August 2021, 16:00.

Over the next weeks, the AdTrade Project will organize information sessions regarding the participation requirements and application to the grant competitions.

The grants’ assistance provided by Sweden and the United Kingdom in the framework of the UNDP “Advanced cross-river capacities for trade” (AdTrade) project will contribute to improving the business environment, creating working places and establishing partnerships, hence allowing the enterprises from both banks of the Nistru River to overcome the negative impact of the pandemic crisis, while the companies from the left bank of the Nistru river would get the possibility to access the trade mechanisms available on the right bank, to increase their knowledge and skills, as well as to increase their trade volumes and diversify sale markets.