Company Experience Record The following is the list of services provided by the ProRuralInvest NGO over the last five  years: Reference Work (Major Projects) xiii) Project "Promoting organic agriculture in Moldova" (June-December 2011),  financed by the Czech Development Agency implemented by NGO ,,ProRuralInvest” in  collaboration with Religious Catholic Mission Caritas Czech Republic-.  The aim of the project is to promote development of organic farming as viable alternative to the  economic development needs in Moldova.  The project includes the following activities:  1. Elaboration of Feasibility Study on development and identification of businesses opportunities in  organic farming in the Republic of Moldova.  2. Selection and training of 30 farmers in marketing and business planning in organic farming  3. Business plans for training producers (30 business plans)  4. Organizing a round table with experts in organic farming  5. Organization of two information seminars in organic farming  6. Develop publications (leaflets, brochures).  7. Achieving awareness campaign by publishing articles in the press, distribution of leaflets and  brochures that increases awareness about organic farming and organic food.  xii) "GREEN STEPS for promoting eco-tourism in “Codrii Orheiului " area, financed by  the World Bank Office in Moldova, Civil Society Program 2010 sustainable  development through eco-tourism "(June 2010 - November 2010)  The key aim of the project is promoting eco-tourism and nature conservation in Forest Orhei  using local human resources. The project is expected to run for a duration of 5.5 months. During  this period will be made complex and varied work activities:  • Develop and disseminate leaflets. Leaflets will be an informative materials and will send a  message of encouragement to the protection of green areas, rules of behavior, dangers may  arise, contact information.  • Conduct environmental education programs. Will be developed and implemented 10  workshops in schools open to pupils in Orhei. The seminars will be held in the most  picturesque places in the Codri Orhei. Main topics will be: "Respect for nature", "Ecology and  Tourism", "Ecotourism - Introduction", etc. two seminars per month will be conducted in the  first five months of the project. Expected to attend around 360 children.  • Attract local population and their involvement in solving environmental problems.  • Information to local authorities and the media on environmental issues. Will be published 10  articles in local media to inform people about problems and activities needed to be made for  their removal (9 items) and performance (one item).  • During the months of June-July will be carried out cleaning activities of two strips of wood  waste with lengths of 4.3 km and a width of 50 m each on both sides of the road located  between the villages Slobozia-Doamnei. and Ivancea on Orhei-Chisinau route.  • During the months August to November there will be works to install information boards, bookmarks, tables, chairs, urns, shrubs and trees will be planted in areas where greening is needed etc. xi) Providing consultancy services for developing and implementing awareness and education program on biodiversity conservation in the region Orhei (April 2010 - May 2013), financed by UNDP. The main activities of the project: • To develop awareness programs and information on biodiversity conservation in the region Orhei • To elaborate information materials for information program and population awareness on biodiversity conservation. • Implementation of information programs in local communities, primary and secondary schools on biodiversity conservation. • Arranging tourist routes in natural areas in and around Orhei National Park x) Promotion of Organic Agriculture by mediatization (desemination) of the EU requirements and to support the harmonization of local legislative framework to these requirements (April 2009-April 2010), funded by Soros Moldova. The project has the general objective: To promote organic farming as a viable alternative for solving socio-economic problems in Moldova.  Specific objectives:     * Support the development of specific rules on labelling and packaging of organic products under EU Regulation 834/2007 by organizing working groups with participation of local experts, round tables and meetings with the participation of specialists (MAFI, civil society, etc…)     * Support the development of national brand "Organic Agriculture in Moldova" by organizing a competition / round-table discussions for the selection and approval of national trade mark     * Promotion of Organic Agriculture by providing information and training for producers regarding the EU regulatory requirements on organic farming. Drafting and editing of various publications: RM Law in organic farming methods and production techniques in organic farming, leaflets, publications in mass media.     * Development and implementation of the Web page with updated information on organic farming, law, technology, products, markets, publications, etc. ....        Organization of informative and training seminars for potential organic  producers. ix) “Stabilization of Potential Illegal Migrants by generating of work opportunities in Moldova” financed by Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Czech Republic and implemented by “Caritas” Czech Republic and  “ProRuralInvest”, Republic of Moldova (January 2007-December 2007). Financed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Czech Republic, implemented in Moldova by Caritas, Czech Republic and ProRuralInvest, Moldova The goal of the project is to increase rural incomes and stabilization of Potential Illegal Migrants in Moldova. The purpose of the project is to strengthen business development and support services in rural communities. The project has the following main components: Creation of effective self-owned and sustainable rural businesses/farmers organizations ,assist creation of businesses in villages Costesti (Ialoveni raion), Halubaia (Cahul raion), Ribnita region and Sloboda/Rashkov (Camenca raion). Improved access to legal advice; Improved access to savings and credit Capacity building in local NGOs, providing support services to rural citizens and their communities; viii) Organic Chain Development in the Southern Caucasus and Moldova (July 2005 - July 2009) financed by financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Netherlands, implemented in Moldova by Avalon Foundation, The Netherlands and ProRuralInvest, Moldova The objective of the project is to support Organic chain development in the Southern Caucasus, and Moldova leading to higher standard of living in rural areas of the region and increased supply of organic products to the consumers through the development of Organic Agriculture. The project consisted of the following main activities: •Establish an International network for knowledge and skills •Dissemination of existing general information material on organic agriculture in the Republic of Moldova •Conduct Awareness Campaign •Promotion of the Legal and Institutional Framework for Ecological Agriculture •Encourage initial ecological farming development through exemplary piecemeal approaches •Organize exchange of experience and compare notes to Moldavian organic farmers for selected farmers/organizations and consumers •Establish exchange of information tools and links between Moldavian Organic Farmers and Marketing structure •Support the creation of demonstration organic agriculture farms, groups or associations in Moldova •Marketing Activities for organic products Experience in the field of agriculture and agricultural education activities. Over 61% of the country’s population is concentrated in the rural area and agriculture is the main income raising activity. As a result of land privatization, more than one million people became landowners. The transfer of land parcels and value quotas into private hands has created the basis for private farming. But, new farmers had insufficient knowledge and experience in agriculture. Within the component, we worked on solving problems which farmers confronted with: lack of trust in own forces, insufficient information, limited access to qualitative inputs, lack of financial resources, marketing of the products. The success in this field of activity was achieved due to the use of high advanced technologies and efficient use of physical and human resources. Creation of 176 demonstration plots in the region of Donduseni, Comrat and Baimaclia was one of the models used by the ProRuralInvest with a view to proving training to farmers in using high advanced technologies and disseminating the information and creating marketing groups. The demonstration plots included most agricultural activities such as: ecological production, potato, pepper, tomato, medicinal and decorative plants, mushroom production; pig, rabbit production, poultry farming and beekeeping. These examples were accepted by the farmers. Another model was creation of production groups that enables farmers to buy qualitative inputs, reduce costs of production and produce the necessary quantity for sale. The Associations of beekeepers were created in Baimaclia and Donduseni as well as a branch of the Association of rabbit producers. Also, Business Cooperatives “Pention-Service Agro” from Baimaclia and “Donaprocom” from Donduşeni were created with a view to supplying qualitative inputs to farmers and agricultural consultations. All these models were replicated in the communities that benefited of the assistance with the support of regional and local consultants, institutions and companies the project collaborated with. The farmers who were interested in creation and development of an agricultural business were provided both theoretical and practical consultations. During three years of activities, over 200 seminars were organized and 6900 persons attended them. Over 28000 consultations were provided. Also for the regional and local consultants, private business farmers we organized study visits in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Russia which was oriented to upgrade the professional skills of the consultants in the sphere of information and consulting by means of sharing experience, establishing close contacts between participants, exchange of data bases, scholar models, methodical programs and to become familiar with the activities of small/medium-sized farmers, with methods and technologies applied in agronomy and livestock, with crediting terms and facilities, and the results achieved in the private sector. vii) “Stabilization of Potential Illegal Migrants by generating of work opportunities in Moldova” (December 31, 2006 - December 31, 2007) financed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Czech Republic, implemented in Moldova by Caritas, Czech Republic and ProRuralInvest, Moldova The goal of the project is to increase rural incomes and stabilization of Potential Illegal Migrants in Moldova. The purpose of the project is to strengthen business development and support services in rural communities. The project has the following main components: •Creation of effective self-owned and sustainable rural businesses/farmers organizations ,assist creation of businesses in villages Costesti (Ialoveni raion), Halubaia (Cahul raion), Ribnita region and Sloboda/Rashkov (Camenca raion). •Improved access to legal advice; •Improved access to savings and credit •Capacity building in local NGOs, providing support services to rural citizens and their communities; vi) „Campaign to Fight Illegal Migration” (May 1, 2005-May 31, 2006) The project aims was increasing the awareness among rural citizens of the risks of illegal migration and provide the rural population with alternatives to earn a living in their own country. The project was implemented in the Southern region of the country. Those villages have been selected which have not benefited previously or benefited little from technical assistance projects. The project consisted of the following main activities: •Develop a public awareness campaign to fight illegal migration •Creation and development of businesses by project beneficiaries v) Organization of reunions of business women from rural area of the Republic of Moldova” (January 21, 2005-June 21, 2005) The overall project goal was to create/develop an informal network of EERWP grant beneficiaries, open to all interested business women. The project consisted of the following main activities: •Undertake a beneficiaries’ needs assessment The needs assessment was performed prior to organizing the meetings of project beneficiaries, based on a questionnaire which contained questions regarding the training needs, the indicators to be collected for the database and information on the organizational aspects of the regional and national events •Update and develop a database of EERWP grant beneficiaries and other interested rural women entrepreneurs The existent database of the Soros EERW Program was developed having added new indicators. The information for the database was collected during the needs assessment process, adding additional questions to the questionnaire. The database includes 72 project beneficiaries, both EERWP beneficiaries and other interested rural women entrepreneurs •Organize three regional and one networking event for EERWP grant beneficiaries and other interested rural women entrepreneurs. During the project period, there have been organized three regional networking events in form of project beneficiaries’ meetings. iv) Support to Establishment and Operation of a Loan Guarantee Fund (S-LGF), financed by DFID (Aug 2004-Feb 2006) The main objective of the Loan Guarantee Fund is to support sustainable economic growth by facilitating access to credit sources for rural citizens who wish to start or develop a private business. The main activity of the LGF consists in provision of partial guarantees to rural businesses applying to participating financial institutions (PFIs) to cover commercial risk associated with the final borrower. The loan guarantees provide access to PFIs credit sources to a greater number of rural entrepreneurs who otherwise could not obtain a credit due to the insufficiency of collateral. iii) Information campaign for the creation and consultation of the public opinion on Genetically Modified Organisms within “Development of the National Bio safety Framework for the Republic of Moldova”, financed by UK Embassy (Feb 2004- Nov 2004) The overall project goal was to create and consult the public opinion in the Republic of Moldova on the Genetically Modified Organisms. The project consisted of the following main activities: •organization of seminars •organization of press conferences; •dissemination of the issue in the mass media; •Production of the film “Genetically Modified Organisms” and its broadcast on the TV Moldova 1 channel and topical seminars; •Carrying out of opinion polls (1100 questionnaires), including a web-opinion poll on the level of information and attitude towards GMO consumption; •Editing and dissemination of a brochure and leaflets on OMG etc. ii) Dissemination of the Third Party Arbitration Court Experience (TPAC), financed by DFID within SGS (Nov 2003-Nov 2004) The purpose of the project is to enable rural citizens, by raising their awareness and provision of support, to exercise their legal rights to utilize their natural and physical assets (obtained during privatization) for the development of sustainable livelihoods. The main outputs of the project were the following: •Improved knowledge and access to legal advice and support in safeguarding legal ownership status of rural citizens following privatization of land and other physical assets; •Creation of 3 new permanent TPACs, in Ocnita, Orhei, Cahul and their capacity building. i) Support to Rural Investment and Services Project, financed by DFID (Nov 2002-Feb 2006) The project is financed by DFID and managed by Landell-Mills, Management Consultants UK Company. The specialists of the ProRuralInvest NGO manage and coordinate the activity of SRISP project which consists of two elements: consolidation of DFID’s previous Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Pilot Project (SRLPP), and implementation of the Rural Business Development Component (RBDC) of the World Bank’s Rural Investment and Service project (RISP), which is the first phase of the Rural Support Services Development Programme. The goal of the project is to increase rural incomes and to reduce poverty in Moldova. The purpose of the project is to strengthen business development and support services in rural communities. The project has the following main components: •Creation of effective self-owned and sustainable rural businesses/farmers organizations (assist creation of 900 businesses within 3,3 years); •Moldovan Development Agencies providing effective support services to new rural enterprises and farmer organizations; •Improved access to legal advice; •Improved access to savings and credit. •Support to revitalization and maintenance of social sphere assets by community involvement and business development; •Evidence based approaches and policies for support of rural livelihoods and community development made available to the World Bank, Government of Moldova and other development partners; •Capacity building in local NGOs, providing support services to rural citizens and their communities; •Partnerships between local government, the private sector and civil society demonstrating potential for improved service delivery to rural communities in pilot areas.