The Independent Journalism Center Offers Funding Opportunity for Civic Initiatives in the Republic of Moldova

The Independent Journalism Center (IJC) has launched a new grant competition aimed at fostering critical thinking, encouraging civic engagement, and supporting public participation in communities across the Republic of Moldova. This opportunity is open to independent journalists, opinion leaders (including community leaders), vloggers, bloggers, civil society organizations, media outlets, and communication agencies.

Two projects will be awarded grants of up to €12,000 each, with the implementation period set between July 15 and November 15, 2025. The application deadline is June 27 at 6:00 PM.

This competition is part of the “Critical Support for Independent Media in Moldova (CRIMM)” project, funded by the United Kingdom’s International Development Programme and implemented by Internews in partnership with the Independent Journalism Center of Moldova.

The initiative seeks to fund impactful projects that:

• Promote civic engagement and public participation,
• Address topics such as European integration, democratic values, and civic responsibility,
• Combat disinformation and propaganda, including in the electoral context,
• Produce interactive and creative content,
• Promote media and information literacy,
• Reach the public via online campaigns, storytelling, multimedia, innovative formats, and accessible platforms.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be residents of the Republic of Moldova;
• Represent a legally registered organization in Moldova or, if applying as individuals, partner with a legal entity;
• Use new technologies creatively for content production and distribution;
• Show a clear intention to continue activities beyond the project duration;
• Be willing to collaborate with a mentor provided by IJC to ensure ethical, balanced, and stereotype-free content.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed by IJC and a panel of independent experts based on:

• Quality and creativity of the project idea,
• Coherence and feasibility of the activity plan,
• Clarity of the monitoring and evaluation method,
• Team experience and capacity to implement the project.

Required Documents

To be eligible, applicants must submit:

• A project description using the standard form,
• A detailed budget, including salary expenses, using the standard budget form,
• Registration documents of the applicant organization,
• Contact information.

Applicants must commit to submit narrative and financial reports by the deadline if their project is selected for funding.

Applications should be sent via email to the Deputy Director of IJC, Anastasia Nani, at: anani@ijc.md. For additional questions, contact her directly at: +373 22 234 236.

The Independent Journalism Center upholds the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination. Selection is based solely on applicants’ professional competencies, and the evaluation process ensures the confidentiality of all submitted information.

As the first non-governmental media organization in Moldova, the IJC has been supporting free press and helping journalists uphold ethical standards for over 30 years.

For more details, interested applicants are encouraged to visit the IJC official website.