The Czech initiative Semínkovna together with the Moldovan organization Ao Gradina Moldovei completed the Challenge Fund project “United by seeds: launching the Czech-Moldovan seed libraries in Moldova”. The aim of the project was to create a pilot network of seed libraries in Moldova based on the model that has been operating in the Czech Republic for many years. Local seed libraries can help address the issue of access to available locally grown food. At the libraries, people are able to get basic sets of different seeds that can be propagated and have their own seeds next season. The project started 20 seed libraries in different sub-regions with an emphasis on the most vulnerable groups in rural areas.

This project is one of the 3 Challenge Fund projects that the Czech Republic supported in Moldova last year as part of cooperation with the United Nations Development Program. While the rest of the Challenge Fund projects deliver technical innovations, Semínkovna focused on helping vulnerable communities in the Moldovan countryside. It is an exemplary implementation of the transfer of a Czech solution, showing the potential of Czech innovators across the priority areas of Czech development cooperation. “‘United by seeds’ demonstrates the transformative power of cooperation and the potential of Czech innovators to drive positive change.”  says Pavel Faus, Project Manager of the Czech-UNDP Partnership at UNDP IRH. 

At the final public event, Semínkovna and Ao Gradina Moldovei presented the results of the project to date and at the same time outlined the way forward. The long-term goal is to change the system of registration of seeds for sale, which is currently very complicated and represents a significant problem for small farmers. The final event served as a platform for the meeting of all relevant partners, including international organizations and farmers from Transnistria. The event also served as an important opportunity to consolidate valuable partnerships that were established during the duration of the project.

Since 2018, the Partnership for Sustainable Development Goals between the Czech Republic and the United Nations Development Program has supported 17 Challenge Fund projects in Moldova.

Currently there is an ongoing call for applications for Czech Challenge Fund 2023. The deadline for submitting your application is 20^th August 2023. Find out more at our website!

About the Czech-UNDP Partnership for SDGs

The partnership of the Czech Republic and UNDP supports innovative solutions from the private sector of the Czech Republic, non-governmental organizations, universities, state institutions, research centers and individuals for solving specific development challenges in priority countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Zambia). The implementation of projects and expertise is financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.