Call for Applications: Communication Labs for CSOs from the Republic of Moldova

The EU-funded Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility project invites civil society organisations (CSOs) from the Republic of Moldova to apply for the 2026 Communication Labs (Comm.Labs) – a practical capacity-building programme supporting CSOs to develop and implement their own communication campaigns with EU support.

The 2026 Comm.Labs will help Moldovan CSOs strengthen their strategic communication skills to support sustainability of their organisations, diversify available resources, increase public awareness of their work and build trust with communities and supporters.

Up to 10 Moldovan civil society organisations will be selected to participate in the Comm. Labs with their campaign ideas. At the end of the capacity-building and mentoring process, up to 3 campaign ideas will be selected to receive EU support of up to EUR 8,000 for production, implementation, and launch.

Apply Here by 1 July 2026

NOTE!

Applications are accepted in English only via the online application form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-CommLabs

Please carefully read the Guidelines for Applicants (in English or in Romanian) and check the eligibility criteria before applying.

Note: The Application Form has 35 questions, some of which will require more significant input. We strongly advise applicants to check the PDF version of the Application Form (available here) before starting the online application process. The Application is likely to take several hours, and you may require input from your colleagues. Please make sure you do not leave the submission to the last day before the deadline. Should you experience any issues with the Application Form, please contact us at dc@eapcivilsociety.eu

Join Info Session on 15 June 2026!

Join Info Session on 15 June 2026, to learn more about the Comm. Labs!

When: Monday, 15 June, 2026  / 13:00 Brussels time

Here’s what you can expect:

• Detailed insights into the Comm. Labs programme.
• Step-by-step guidance on the application process.
• Tips for crafting a compelling application.
• Q&A session to address all your queries.

Register for Info Session here.

Why join the Communication Labs?

By participating in the Comm. Labs, selected CSOs will benefit from:

1. Practical capacity building: participants will strengthen their skills in strategic communication, audience analysis, messaging, storytelling, budgeting, media engagement, campaign planning, and campaign evaluation.

2. Tailored mentorship: each team will work with a dedicated mentor to refine its campaign idea, define target audiences and key messages, develop a realistic implementation plan, prepare a budget, and set campaign indicators.

3. Networking and peer learning: the programme will bring together Moldovan CSOs from different regions and fields of work, creating space for exchange, cooperation, and learning from peers and experts.

4. Support for campaign development: participants will work on real campaign ideas linked to their organisation’s mission, communities, and sustainability needs.

5. Potential EU support for implementation: up to 3 selected campaigns will receive EU support of up to EUR 8,000 for campaign production and implementation.

   What campaign ideas can be proposed?

   The 2026 Communication Labs will focus primarily on campaigns that strengthen the sustainability of civil society organisations and promote public support for CSOs’ work.

   Campaign ideas should be connected to the applicant organisation’s mission, activities, and target communities, while also encouraging citizens, communities, businesses, or other stakeholders to support civil society through fundraising or resource mobilisation mechanisms.

   Campaigns shall focus on one or more of the following:

the 2% Designation Mechanism;

individual donations and recurring giving;

1. community fundraising or crowdfunding;

2. membership or supporter schemes;

3. partnerships with local businesses;

4. non-financial support (e.g. in-kind donations, volunteering, etc.)

5. other realistic fundraising or resource mobilisation mechanisms relevant to the organisation.

   Please consult the Guidelines for Applicants (in English or in Romanian) for more details on eligible and ineligible ideas!

   Campaigns may include storytelling, social media and digital outreach, videos, public events, community engagement activities, media work, explanatory materials, fundraising drives, or other communication formats.

   For example, a campaign may:

   1.explain how the 2% Designation Mechanism works and why citizens should use it, and invite publick to allocate funds to a CSO;

   2. encourage small regular donations to support a local initiative;promote community support for a specific social, environmental, cultural, or civic project;

   3. build a stronger supporter base around the organisation’s mission and activities;

   4. show how civil society contributes to Moldova’s development and why public support matters.

   Campaign ideas submitted at the application stage are considered initial concepts. Selected organisations will further develop, refine, and improve their campaign ideas during the Communication Labs with support from mentors and experts.

   Who can apply?

   Participation is open to officially registered civil society organisations in Moldova. Preference will be given to local and regional organisations, especially CSOs operating outside the capital and those with strong links to their communities.

   To be eligible, the applying organisation must:

   1. be officially registered and operating in Moldova;

   2. have a clear mandate and at least two years of proven experience contributing to social change, community engagement, policy development, or related areas in Moldova;

   3. be committed to active participation in all stages of the Communication Labs, including capacity building, content development, and campaign implementation.

   Legal registration is required because the programme includes mentoring, structured monitoring, and the implementation of funded communication campaigns. Registration is also necessary to enable organisations to receive donations and benefits from fundraising mechanisms, where applicable.

   The Lead Applicant should:

   1. be a citizen of Moldova; in exceptional cases, citizens of other EaP countries may be eligible;

   2. be over 18 years old;

   3. be a current member or employee of the applying CSO;

   4. have a relevant role and level of responsibility within the organisation, allowing them to lead the proposed campaign;

   5. have a working knowledge of written and spoken English;

   6. be able to lead the team and actively participate in the Communication Labs.

   Each selected organisation will create a team of up to 3 participants involved in campaign development and participation in programme activities.

   Please carefully read the Guidelines for Applicants (in English or in Romanian).

   How will the Comm. Labs work?

   The Comm. Labs will include two main stages.

   Stage 1: Capacity Building, Mentorship and Campaign Development / September – November 2026

   Up to 10 selected CSOs will take part in a series of offline and online activities, including:

   1. a 2-day kick-off event in Chisinau, scheduled for 8 – 9 September 2026;

   2. online capacity-building sessions;

   3. individual mentoring;

   4. campaign planning and content development;

   5. a final event in Chisinau in November 2026.

   During this stage, teams will refine their campaign ideas, define objectives, identify target audiences, develop key messages, prepare implementation plans and budgets, and define indicators for measuring campaign results.

   At the end of the mentoring process, participants will submit their final campaign ideas to the Selection Committee. Up to 3 campaigns will be selected for EU support, subject to approval by the Contracting Authority.

   Stage 2: Campaign Production, Implementation and Evaluation / December 2026 – July 2027

   Up to three selected organisations will receive support to produce and implement their campaigns. The Project may cover costs such as design, production, printing, social media advertising, and other campaign-related activities, depending on the needs and scope of each selected campaign.

   Campaign implementation is expected to start not earlier than in January 2027 and to finish by June 2027, followed by monitoring and evaluation.

   

   @ European Union, 2026

   Financial support:

   Participation in the Communication Labs is free of charge and covered by the European Union.

   Up to 3 selected campaigns may receive EU support of up to EUR 8,000 each. The exact type and amount of support will be determined case by case, depending on the campaign scope, needs, and approved budget. Funds will be transferred to the official bank account of the successful CSO.

   How to apply?

   To apply, please:

   1. Read the Guidelines for Applicants carefully (in English or in Romanian).

   2. Check the eligibility criteria.

   3. Prepare the required information and documents

   4. Complete the online application form in English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026-CommLabs

   5. Submit your application by 1 July 2026, 23:00 CET.

   Applicants may submit only one application under this Call.

   Please note: the application form includes several questions that require input from your organisation and team. We recommend reviewing the application form in advance and not leaving the submission until the final day.

   How will applications be evaluated?

   Applications will be assessed in three steps:

   1. Administrative check – deadline compliance, completeness, and eligibility.

   2. Assessment of CSO and Lead Applicant capacity – experience, role, and commitment.

   3. Evaluation of the campaign idea – relevance, alignment with Comm.Labs objectives and EU priorities, societal need, clarity of problem definition, contribution to financial sustainability, long-term effects, and feasibility.

   The Selection Committee will shortlist up to 10 best-scoring applications. Selected applicants will be informed by email by 3 August 2026 and invited to join the Communication Labs.

   Questions? 

   Join the Info Session for potential applicants on June 15, 2026 to learn more about the application process and get your questions answered. Register for Info Session here.

   Questions and requests for clarification can also be sent to: dc@eapcivilsociety.eu

   Please note that individual eligibility opinions cannot be provided before submission. Questions and answers relevant to all applicants will be published on the EaP Civil Society Facility website.

   What else do you need to know?

   Campaign ideas submitted during the application process are considered initial drafts. Selected ideas will undergo comprehensive development during the Labs.

   English language requirements apply to the application process and communication with our Project. Campaign materials should be developed primarily in the local languages. Communication between participating teams and assigned mentors can be facilitated in Romanian as well. Important: at least one person from your team (a Lead Applicant) should be able to communicate in English!

   Detailed steps, criteria, and evaluation grid are available in the Guidelines for Applicants (in English or in Romanian).