USAID Hosts First International Faith and Community Based Initiatives Conference

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), together with the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, recently hosted the first International Faith and Community Based Initiatives Conference in Chisinau, Moldova. The Conference provided faith and community-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with training on capacity building, information about funding from USAID, and an opportunity to build partnerships among NGOs and with government entities.

In addition to workshops on relationship building and collaboration among organizations, the Conference included programs on anti-trafficking, strategic fundraising, and grant proposals. USAID partnered with ORT USA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Moldova, and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Moldova to provide these trainings.

This is expected to be the first of many conferences that will engage and support faith and community-based NGOs. The meetings will help build the capacity of NGOs and enable them to better partner with the U.S. Government and other large donors, and ultimately to be more effective in their development work.

"Faith and community-based organizations are vital partners in USAID's development efforts. The Moldova conference is a good example of the innovative strategies we are pursuing to strengthen these organizations' effectiveness, not only as USAID partners but, more important, as collaborative groups. Moldova's civil society will now be better equipped to address some of its most critical needs," said USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore.

For more information about the Conference and USAID's Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, visit www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_partnerships/fbci.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

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