“Strengthening trust, integrity and compliance in and between SME’s and public sector in Moldova (STIC)” Main Phase 1: 01.12.2024 – 30.11.2028 - 4 years

It is confirmed by private and public stakeholders, media and civil society organizations in Moldova, that the relationship between Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and public sector is driven by mistrust and fear, bureaucratic complexity and an organizational culture that tolerates abusive behaviours. In recognition of this, Moldova has advanced in strengthening the anticorruption legal framework with direct and indirect impact on SMEs. The “Strengthening trust, integrity and compliance in and between SME’s and Public Sector (STIC)”, project shall therefore facilitate genuine and change oriented dialogues between SMEs (including business associations) and public sector actors at all administrative levels. The focus of the first phase is on sectors of strategic importance to Moldova, namely agri-food and construction. The STIC project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC fills a niche no other donor or state actor is presently addressing. Actions aimed at reducing red tape and corruption are in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16.5 (substantially reducing corruption in all its forms) and it is expected that they will increase trust in the Moldovan economy, boost growth and reduce outmigration.

This tender aims to identify a facilitation unit to implement SDC’s first phase related to the STIC project in Moldova. The overall goal is to enhance trust, change social norms, strengthen simplified integrity and compliance mechanism, reduce corruption risks in both the public and private sectors and reduce incentives for shadow and black economy in the agri-food and construction sector in Moldova. This tender covers a first phase of 4 years (planned for 1 December 2024 – 30 November 2028).