ADA/DevRAM

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE AUSTRIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND EUROPEAN UNION

The project aims to increase the competitiveness of the agri-food sector in Moldova through integration into domestic and global value chains, especially in the soya sector.

Together with its consortium partner, the Moldovan NGO Pro Didactica, Donau Soja is implementing a project to increase the competitiveness of the Moldovan agri-food sector, with a special focus on the soya value chain. This EU-financed and ADA-managed project aims to improve existing quality standards, and to strengthen capacities in vocational education and agricultural training.

The project complements the Moldovan component of the regionally-organised strategic partnership between ADA and Donau Soja, which supports the building of sustainable and inclusive value chains for non-GMO and organic soya in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Moldova and Ukraine.

ADA has awarded a grant to a project consortium consisting of Donau Soja and the Pro Didactica education centre to implement activities consisting of four components:

Component 1: Enhancing capacities for innovation and education in agriculture in Moldova
Component 2: Increasing access to market and advancing the demand for certified and organic agri-food products in national and foreign markets
Component 3: Using standards and certification to raise the performance of value chains
Component 4: Promoting an enabling environment to ensure quality standards in the agri-food sector (including organic agriculture and products) and aligning Moldova’s legal framework and policy documents with EU quality standards
One of the priorities for successfully implementing these activities is quality assurance. This will consider social and environmental standards and safeguards, as well as gender equality. The project will directly and indirectly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 15. The direct project beneficiaries are approximately 300 soya producers, four collectors, 15 feed and food producers, the Moldovan Centre of Excellence in Horticulture and Agricultural Technologies, and six VET Institutions. Additionally, 550 employees from all the value chain stakeholders, 150 teachers from all the schools involved, and 150 students directly benefit from the project.