A Regional Social Business Hub opened in Tiraspol today, July 28, 2022. It was launched with the EUR 45,000 financial support provided by the European Union to help expand social entrepreneurship opportunities on the left bank of the Dniester.

The Regional Social Business Hub in Tiraspol was created as part of the “Harnessing the CSOs’ potential to promote and develop the social entrepreneurship in Moldova” project funded by the European Union, cofunded by Sweden and implemented by the East Europe Foundation in partnership with Keystone Moldova and the Contact Center.

“Social entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst for the economic integration of youth and vulnerable people, as well as for the development of the communities in which it takes place. After the first Social Business Development and Support Center was created in Singerei we are happy that this concept is now being extended to cover Tiraspol. The European Union supports the social business concept both in its member states and in partner countries, while experience shows that it has a strong impact on community development and on the well-being of vulnerable groups. With this in mind, the European Union will foster the development of social entrepreneurs in the region for the sake of an inclusive society and economy and for the benefit of Moldovan citizens”, said Gintautas Baranauskas, deputy head of the Cooperation Unit within the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova.

The Social Entrepreneurs Association in Tiraspol, which will coordinate the activity of the local Social Business Hub, aims to create a business ecosystem based on several aspects, such as: public policies for social entrepreneurship, financial resources, social entrepreneurship culture, technical support, human capital and markets.

“Social entrepreneurship is the most important part of the socio-economic development of society because it determines a more sustainable economic development of the socially vulnerable segments of the population. Additionally, social entrepreneurship is the most important area for promoting innovation. We believe that the Social Business Hub in Tiraspol will expand the opportunities for social entrepreneurs, have an impact on businesses and provide the necessary legal and advisory support”, says Inna Barisnicova, president of the Social Entrepreneurs Association in Tiraspol.

The European Union and Sweden are offering grants totaling EUR 180,000 to help develop four Regional Social Business Hubs in Moldova, specifically in Singerei, Chisinau, Cahul and Tiraspol, which will apply the same operating mechanism.

Regional social business Hubs created with the European Union’s assistance will provide offline and online mentoring sessions, experience exchange, facilitation of building connections with other organizations, access to e-learning platforms, smart solutions for business, digital and e-commerce solutions.

Context information:

Social entrepreneurship represents an economic activity (production, works or services) aimed to solve social problems within a community.

The “Harnessing the CSOs’ potential to promote and develop the social entrepreneurship in Moldova” project funded by the European Union and cofunded by Sweden was developed to provide economic and social opportunities to disadvantaged people through the prism of social entrepreneurship with the active involvement of civil society. The project aims to build the capacities of the Moldovan civil society to create social enterprises which will contribute to a sustainable economic growth of communities. The project has a budget of over EUR 1,123,000 and is to be implemented by December 2024.

For more information please write to www.antreprenoriatsocial.md or contact Dina Sevcenco, Program Coordinator at dina.sevcenco@eef.md or on +37369275788.