Optim (Opportunities through Technologies and Innovation in Moldova) is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.
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30+Partners
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40+Succesful Interventions
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2600+beneficiaries
About Optim
Our mission
Optim is a market systems development (MSD) project that aims to stimulate selected market systems in Moldova, in order to have an inclusive and innovative society that is forceful enough to create opportunities for development for Moldova.
Our achievements
Since 2019, over 2,600 people (almost 40% of whom are from excluded groups) have taken up economic opportunities enabled by project interventions. A more significant indicator of lasting change is the way that market actors behave – what Optim ultimately aims to achieve by following the Market Systems Development approach.
Our goals
Optim Project's goal is for women and men, including those from excluded groups, to benefit from better economic opportunities and improved working conditions. During Phase II of the implementation (2023-2026), Optim expects to reach 6,000 beneficiaries and CHF 12 million net additional income.
What we do
Optim aims to offer Moldovan women and men, including excluded groups, better economic opportunities, and improved working conditions. During the first four years of the project over 2,600 people (almost 40% of whom are from excluded groups) have taken up economic opportunities enabled by project interventions.
The sectors in which we operate
1
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
During the years 2023-2026, Optim’s goal in the ICT sector is to address the lack of skilled workforce inclusively. Several success stories of the project’s first phase have shown encouraging results: since 2019, four training providers supported by the project (Iucosoft, DSpirit, WOX and IT Step Academy, PowerIT) started providing IT training for youth and adults in Balti and Comrat. Another key constraint for the project to be tackled is the fragmentation of the offer and improvement of the cooperation within the ICT sector that leads to the development of high-value products and services by local IT companies and will increase the visibility of small ICT companies towards external clients. Moving forward and in response to market dynamics, Optim will strengthen the component of its work in digitalization.
2
Agriculture (Agrifood)
Agrifood - the most significant sector in the Moldovan economy. It is the sector where the largest share of the population is employed but offers the lowest income across all sectors. In agriculture, Optim will seek to leverage the developing cooperation and association models to strengthen access to high-value markets for smallholder farmers or agricultural laborers, while also promoting stronger public-private dialogue spaces. It will strive to offer access to information, knowledge, finance, and digital literacy. Also, since 2019, Optim has been addressing the issue of fragmentation of the agricultural sector in Moldova with positive results. Optim has contributed to the adoption of efficient agricultural practices and new production technologies through the development of diverse services for small farmers all over the country, The introduction of innovative monitoring and field intervention solutions contributed to the decrease of farmers’ expenditures by 40% and increased their income.
Our partners
News
Read more about Optim's most prominent interventions in Agri and IT sectors in Moldova. Get inspired by these success stories.
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“Digital literacy in agriculture” – the what, how and why for a better sustainable agri-chain
Everyone who follows the changes in the world knows that farming is going digital. Euroalun, a local company that focuses on hazelnut growth, has developed a 5-day training course, called “Digital ...
‘Together We’re Stronger’: The Role of Business Associations in the Time of COVID-19
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are a test of the relevance of business associations – can associations support their members in such a difficult time? The crisis ...
Navigating Locally the Economic Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic
In Moldova, farmers and businesses are facing difficulties and increasing pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic. The most likely and indeed justified response in ...
EUROALUN and the wonder lab that revolutionizes the regional seedling materials market
Meet the Moldovan company, that partnered with local academia and incorporated European best practices to produce high-quality seedling material.
