GRANTURI ȘI FINANȚĂRI

Open Call for Proposals -Apply for grants under the Moldova Media Information Integrity and Democracy (M-MIIND) programme

Moldova Media Information Integrity and Democracy (M-MIIND) Resilience Building Grants

Anticipated Implementation Period: January 2027 – November 2029

International Media Support (IMS) invites eligible organisations to apply for grants under the Moldova Media Information Integrity and Democracy (M-MIIND) programme. This call supports projects that advance public understanding of Moldova's EU integration process and Gender equality through content creation and civic engagement initiatives. Grants are intended to produce high-quality, evidence-based, accessible, and impactful work that strengthens citizens' knowledge of EU accession/gender equality, challenges disinformation, and fosters informed public debate to build resilience. The call is divided in Track 1 focusing on EU-accession content and Track 2 on Gender-focused content.

This call is open to media outlets registered in Moldova (national, regional, local and hyperlocal) using various platforms. It is anticipated that up to 12 media outlets in total will receive funding under the two Tracks.

This is a competitive call and applications submitted after the deadline will be rejected. Applications must be submitted by 23:59 CET (Central European Time), 15 November 2026.

The application must be submitted in English in the provided application form. Applicants must indicate which track they are applying under and can only apply for support under one track. Only one application per organisation is allowed to be submitted. Kindly see the selection criteria and scoring grid below which the independent committee will use for selection in this call.

The Two Tracks:

TRACK 1 - EU accession content

Objective

The objective of this Track is to support initiatives that contribute to:

• Advancing public knowledge and understanding of the EU accession process and its implications for Moldova;
• Increasing access to high-quality accurate, evidence-based, and citizen-relevant information on EU integration;
• Increasing societal resilience against disinformation and hostile propaganda about EU membership;
• Strengthening informed civic participation and engagement with EU accession reform processes;
• Addressing emotional and cognitive patterns conditioning public susceptibility to distorted interpretations of the EU accession process and related issues;
• Amplifying the voices of underrepresented communities — including rural populations, youth, minorities, and marginalised groups — in the accession conversation.

Thematic Focus Areas

Proposals should address at least one of the following thematic areas:

• EU institutions, treaties, and accession conditionality: what EU membership means in practice;
• Rule of law, anti-corruption, and judicial reform in the context of EU accession;
• Citizens' rights and opportunities under EU membership (free movement, economic access, social rights);
• Increasing societal resilience against disinformation and propaganda about EU integration;
• Sectoral reforms forming part of the EU accession process: including in but not limited to agriculture, environment, trade, energy, and digital transition, etc.;
• Youth and Moldova's European future: civic identity, opportunities, and cross-border mobility.

Target Audiences & Communities

Special consideration will be given to projects that:

• Target audiences with limited access to reliable information on EU accession, including language minority groups and the population of Găgăuzia and the Transnistrian region;
• Reach communities that have been historically excluded from civic and policy discussions related to the EU;
• Engage youth, women, and first-time voters as active participants in EU civic processes;
• Address the specific needs of rural, marginalised, self-isolated or underserved communities;
• Ensure audience engagement.

TRACK 2 - Gender-focused content

Objective

The objective of this Track is to support initiatives that contribute to:

• Advancing gender equality and challenging discriminatory norms and practices;
• Increasing public access to accurate, intersectional, and empowering gender-related content;
• Addressing cognitive and emotional patterns conditioning public susceptibility to gender-toxic and discriminatory narratives, perceptions, attitudes; 
• Amplifying the voices of women, girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other gender marginalised groups.

Thematic Focus Areas

Proposals should address at least one of the following thematic areas:

• Intersectionality: gender and ethnicity, disability, age, or LGBTQIA+ identity;
• Gender-based violence: prevention, survivor support, desired systemic change;
• Women's economic empowerment and labour rights;
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR);
• Gender stereotypes in media, advertising, and popular culture;
• Men and masculinities: engaging men in gender equality work.

Target Audiences & Communities

Special consideration will be given to projects that:

• Target audiences disproportionately affected by gender inequality, including women, girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and gender-diverse people;
• Reach communities with historically limited access to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) education and resources;
• Engage men and boys as allies and agents of change;
• Target audiences disproportionately affected by gender-toxic and discriminatory discourses, such as low-income men, Russian-speaking communities isolated from the mainstream discourse, traditionalist groups; 
• Address the specific needs of rural, marginalised, or underserved communities and the populations of Găgăuzia and the Transnistrian region.

Please check Eligibility Requirements in this call along with further supporting information for your review here: NORAD M-MIIND Supporting Pack

Deadline and Application

• Submission deadline: 23:59 CET (Central European Time), 15 November 2026
• Applicants can download the application package here: NORAD M-MIIND Supporting Pack. Applications can be submitted by clicking the “Apply” button in this link.
• Contact: moldovaprocurement@mediasupport.org      

Questions and Clarifications

Questions regarding this Call for Proposals must be submitted in writing to the Contact listed here no later than 28 October 2026: moldovaprocurement@mediasupport.org. Please write M-MIIND/RBG in Subject line. Questions received after this deadline may not be considered. Responses to questions will be consolidated, anonymised and shared on IMS website by 30 October 2026. 

IMS does not currently plan to hold an online information session. Should IMS decide that an information session is necessary, details will be published on the IMS website together with the responses to interested applicants' questions.

Incomplete application packages may be considered ineligible. Where a template is provided, applicants must use the designated template. Applications submitted using alternative formats may be considered incomplete.

Application package:

1. Project Proposal, submitted using the provided Application Template (download Application Package), including a preliminary content production plan.
2. Budget Proposal submitted using the provided Budget Template (download Application Package).
3. Registration Certificate, confirming that the organisation is legally registered and was officially incorporated at least one year prior to the application deadline.
4. Organisation Track Record, outlining the organisation’s relevant experience, expertise and key results achieved over the past five years. Please list 3 relevant projects of particular relevance to the proposal, including project value/budget.
5. Signed Declaration of Honour, submitted using the provided Declaration Template (download Application Package).
6. Proof of adherence to the Code of Ethics of Journalists in the Republic of Moldova, or formal endorse the Code of Ethics of Journalists in the Republic of Moldova.

IMS reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel this Call for Proposals. Any amendments, clarifications, responses to questions, or additional information related to this call will be published on the IMS website.

This call for project proposals is made possible with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development cooperation. The content of this call is the sole responsibility of International Media Support.