Who we are?
The Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) is a non-governmental and non-profit organization that promotes the socio-economic development of rural communities in the Republic of Moldova in order to increase the level of civic involvement of the population in the villages of the Republic of Moldova and hold public institutions accountable to citizens.
Our Mission
Alarmed by the general level of underdevelopment and isolation of rural communities from the Republic of Moldova and the concerning gap in development dynamics between urban and rural areas, the iRi mission is to facilitate initiatives that generate or facilitate development processes in disadvantaged/marginalized communities from Moldova.
General Directions
Main activity directions of the Institute for Rural Initiatives are activities and policies that facilitate social and economic initiatives in rural areas of Moldova, promote a spirit of social cohesion, improve the quality of education and responsible governance in villages and small towns of Moldova, and stimulate a spirit of civic activism benefitting the community.
Cooperation
The Institute for Rural Initiatives is open for cooperation with any social actor or institution interested in growing social and economic initiatives in rural communities from the Republic of Moldova. If you are interested in cooperation, please contact us via email office@iri.md or you might choose to send us a message online using our contact form.
iRi Activity
Having had two decades of activity (20 years), the Institute for Rural Initiatives has grown considerably, from very small projects implemented with no paid staff and without an office (2003-2006) to very complex programs in 2 permanent offices across the country (starting in 2014). During these 20 years of activity, iRi has promoted social initiatives aimed at increasing the level of social inclusion and human rights in its partner communities, improving the educational system, and promoting civic activism in Moldovan villages and small towns. Since 2003, the organization has continuously implemented over 60 projects in 132 communities in 29 districts across the country.
All Activities
Youth Dialog
The Institute for Rural Initiatives (iRi) launches the “Youth Dialog” project, an initiative dedicated to strengthening youth civic engagement and promoting social cohesion in five rural communities across the Republic of Moldova. During this period, the project will be contributing to building a sustainable platform for dialogue and cooperation between…
Reviving Civic Dialogue
Project Title Implementation Period Target Region General Objective Context and Identified Challenges Main Objectives Target Groups Disclaimer Project Title “Reviving Civic Dialogue” Implementation Period August 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026 Target Region Drochia district, Republic of Moldova General Objective To revitalize existing civic dialogue platforms in Drochia district in…
MEET UA: assisting Ukrainian kids and youth rehabilitate and integrate into Moldovan society
Problem Background Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, the terrible war brought overnight a number of social, economic, political and humanitarian challenges and first of all lives lost, tragedies in many families. Apart from the serious geo-political implications, apart from the sudden growth of prices and other uncertainties in Moldovan society –…
What our partners say about us
We worked with 18 countries in 18 years, with a lot of excellent partners, but so far we are most impressed with iRi in every aspects.
The Institute for Rural Initiatives is the place where schoolchildren from all backgrounds are challenged and inspired to become outstanding individuals and citizens.
Thank you very much, iRi! You are THE organization that succeeded to activate the spirit of community participation and civic activism in our village. Because of your work, dedication and guidance our community is more inclusive and more united.