Moldovan SMEs prepared to access green finance

Throughout the five modules, participants worked alongside trainers and experts in sustainability, financial planning, green finance, the circular economy and investment culture. The training combined theoretical explanations with practical exercises, case studies, work based on participants’ own business data and simulations of financing processes.

The practical approach was one of the programme’s core components. Participants analysed their businesses, financial data and investment ideas. By the end of the training, the entrepreneurs had gained access to tools they could continue to use, including self-assessment worksheets, financial planning templates, monitoring indicators, action plans and formulas that could be easily adapted to their own companies.

“Today, running a successful business is no longer only about selling and growing. It means knowing where to invest, how to manage costs, how to use resources more efficiently and, importantly, how to prepare for the opportunities emerging in the market.

This was our starting point when we designed the programme. We brought together topics that, until recently, may have seemed separate, such as finance, investment, sustainability, efficiency and access to funding. Today, however, they are part of the same conversation: how competitive a business is and how well prepared it is for the future.

We wanted entrepreneurs to leave the programme not only with new information, but also with a clearer understanding of their own businesses and practical tools they could use in their day-to-day decision-making.

Ultimately, this is the impact we seek: for an idea discussed today in a training room to become a better decision tomorrow, a well-planned investment or a more efficient and competitive business.”
Alina Ghilaș, Project Manager, Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova

For entrepreneurs, the programme provided an opportunity to engage directly with experts, clarify questions related to planning and financing, and test the tools presented using real situations from their companies. The exchange of experience among participants also brought together perspectives from different economic sectors and created a valuable networking space.

“One particularly important topic was making our business more environmentally friendly, as it generates a significant amount of waste. During the course, we identified where we could introduce circular practices and return recycled materials to the production cycle.”
Mariana Costin, Founder of Business Formula SRL

Throughout the five modules, participants analysed their businesses, identified opportunities to improve efficiency and learned to view sustainability not only as a market requirement, but also as an economic opportunity. Reducing waste, making better use of existing resources, improving financial planning and preparing a bankable project can generate savings, new products and tangible growth prospects.

“Each module of the course validated those aspects we had previously been uncertain about. The trainers provided explanations, and we now have a much clearer understanding of the next steps we need to take. We are a company committed to environmentally friendly construction, which is why we participated in the entire course. We wanted to understand how we could integrate these principles into our work and improve our business. We will apply many of the things we learned here, including reuse, recycling and resource efficiency.”
Silviu Răcilă, Founder of Hemp Build Solutions SRL

The SME Capacity-Building Programme has concluded in Chișinău, but its effects are already beginning to be reflected in the participants’ activities. The knowledge gained, practical tools and exchange of experience with trainers have been translated into new ideas, better-structured projects and concrete development opportunities.

Among the first results shared by the entrepreneurs are:

• the development of a new premium product made from mirror offcuts, transforming materials left over from the production process into a value-added resource;
• the design of a web application intended to provide users with easier access to useful services and solutions;
• securing a business development grant, which will enable the plans developed during the programme to be transformed into a concrete investment.

“At ODA, we see that access to finance starts with a well-structured business and well-informed decisions. This is why we invest in developing entrepreneurs’ skills and provide them with tools that help them analyse their businesses, plan investments based on real data and identify solutions that reduce costs and increase competitiveness.

This programme, delivered together with our partners, places these tools directly in the hands of entrepreneurs. We will continue to follow the initiatives developed by participants and, most importantly, how the knowledge gained here is transformed into investments and tangible results.”
Ana Sochircă, Head of the Entrepreneurial Training Section, ODA

The programme has ended, but the transformation of businesses continues. We will follow the progress of the initiatives developed by participants and highlight the stories of entrepreneurs who turn the knowledge gained into investments and tangible results.

These training sessions were organised within the project “Support for the SME Sector in the Republic of Moldova – Technical Assistance for Access to Credit”, funded by the European Union, managed by Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) and implemented by Solidarity Fund PL in Moldova in partnership with ODA.