ESTDEV opens call for development cooperation projects in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova

The Estonian International Development Centre (ESTDEV) launched a call for proposals today for development cooperation projects in three of Estonia’s eastern neighbourhood countries: Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

ESTDEV’s CEO, Klen Jäärats, says that supporting countries in the Eastern neighborhood of the European Union has long been a priority of Estonian foreign policy. “Operating in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova gives us the opportunity to promote Estonia’s and the European Union’s own democratic and rule-of-law neighbourhood, by employing Estonia’s best skills and knowledge. Previous application rounds for our Eastern partners have been successful among ESTDEV’s partners, and we hope for great interest this time as well,” Jäärats said.

Ukraine

ESTDEV is looking for projects to support the development of democracy and rule of law in Ukraine through the use of Estonian and EU best practices.

Proposals must support activities that correspond to at least one of the lines of action described below:

• Action line 1: Alleviate damage to civil society caused by the war of Russian aggression; promote good governance and the development of democracy (including activities related to EU integration); strengthen independent media and combat disinformation; promote small businesses, including preparations for entering the EU internal market; and promote modern education.
  • Expected budget: 2,250,000 euros
• Action line 2: Support educational innovation, including enhancing the quality and accessibility of education by developing and implementing an educational technology solution.
  • Expected budget: 300,000 euros
• Action line 3: Citizen-centred digital service delivery and cyber-centredness.
  • Expected budget: 400,000 euros

Projects may address multiple action lines but funding will come from the budget of only one line of action.

Georgia

This call for proposals will support activities corresponding to at least one of the following lines of action:

• Support the development of good governance and democracy.
• Strengthen independent media and combat disinformation.
• Empower civil society, including the promotion of gender equality.
• Promote modern education.

The estimated budget for this application round is 100,000 euros. Project funds must be utilised between 1 March 2024 and 31 December 2024.

Moldova

This round will support activities that correspond to at least one of the following lines of action:

• Support EU integration with the European Union, including at the regional level.
• Promote modern education.
• Support small businesses.
• Strengthen independent media and combat disinformation.
• Increase governmental digitisation and cyber resilience.

The estimated budget for the application round is 150,000 euros. The project funds must be utilised between 1 March 2024 and 31 December 2024.

The applicant will contribute 5% of the total budget for the Georgian and the Moldovan projects, whereas the projects in Ukraine will be fully funded.  More information on the conditions for each call can be found on our website under the call information.

There will be an informational meeting on 24 January, where all applicants can learn more about the call for proposals, application evaluation, etc. Please click here for more information (in Estonian).