Deadline Date: May 18, 2026
The United Nations Development Programme is now accepting applications to support SMEs in improving efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.
The focus areas, of the initiative include improving energy efficiency, reducing energy consumption and costs, promoting renewable energy adoption, integrating circular economy principles, enhancing SME operational efficiency, reducing CO₂ emissions, supporting job creation and retention, increasing women’s participation in economic activity, modernising enterprises, optimizing resource use, strengthening business resilience, and improving export and market competitiveness.
The competition is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova under the Confidence Building Measures Programme funded by the European Union and the AdTrade Project funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom. It targets enterprises located on the left bank of the Dniester River and aims to support at least 21 businesses in adopting sustainable and efficient production practices.
Selected enterprises will receive non-reimbursable support in the form of equipment, goods, works, and services required to implement approved business proposals. The support is designed to directly contribute to reducing energy costs, improving efficiency, and enhancing overall business performance in line with project objectives.
In addition to financial assistance, beneficiaries will receive technical support, including basic energy efficiency assessments, guidance on defining project needs, support in designing monitoring approaches, and ongoing mentoring throughout the implementation period to ensure effective delivery of project results.
The programme is divided into two funding lots. The first lot, implemented under the EU Trust Building Measures Programme, focuses on reducing energy costs, deploying modern energy efficiency solutions, using renewable energy sources, integrating circular economy principles, and strengthening overall business resilience. It supports a minimum of six business projects, with funding of up to $35,000 per enterprise.
The second lot, implemented under the AdTrade project, supports innovative and growth-oriented enterprises, particularly those led by women or focused on technological modernisation, productivity improvement, energy efficiency, and market or export expansion. It supports at least 15 business projects, with assistance of up to USD 15,000 per enterprise.
Certain categories of expenses are not eligible under the programme, including purchases not approved in advance, items unrelated to project objectives, construction or renovation of buildings, expenses already covered by other funding sources, and costs incurred before official project approval and implementation.
For more information, visit UNDP.
