OREANDA-NEWS. August 21, 2008. Eurasia Foundation’s (EF) Moldova Representative Office awards grants and implements projects in the areas of anti-corruption, European integration and free and fair elections. EF not only awards grants to local organizations, but also works to build the capacity of these organizations for long-term sustainability, reported the press-centre of Eurasia Foundation.

EF recently worked with Expert Grup, an independent economic and social policy think tank, to develop an annual report evaluating the government's implementation of the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (EGPRSP) and the European Union (EU)-Moldova Action Plan. As a member of the consortium, Expert Grup produced a 273-page State of the Country report for the Republic of Moldova, analyzing everything from living standards to energy efficiency.

While Expert Grup achieved its main goal of producing an independent report on Moldovan affairs, working with Eurasia Foundation challenged Expert Grup to rethink its accounting policies. Executive Director Valeriu Prohnitchi said implementing EF’s required accounting procedures was “very difficult.”

EF works closely with each of its grantees to guide them through the demanding process of proving they are spending grant money responsibly. “We care a lot more about making sure that our partners are able to sustain their mission than just about whether or not they achieved the objective of the project,” Eurasia Foundation Regional Vice President Andrew Wilson said.

EF demands that each grantee not only meets its high standards, but also adheres to those of the country in which they operate. By helping its grantees comply with financial policies and procedures, EF helps build the capacity of its partners to seek and win funding from other sources. “Although we have tough standards, it is well known in the nonprofit community that if organizations can successfully meet EF’s standards, they can work with any donor,” Mr. Wilson added.