NONA project partners gather in Chisinau for the second transnational meeting

From June 17th to 20th, the City Hall of Chisinau Municipality, the Moldovan project partner of the NONA project, hosted the second transnational meeting of the NONA project in Chisinau, Moldova. The event gathered partners to discuss project progress and plan future activities. Victor Buzu, project manager, and Ion Ceban, General Mayor of Chisinau, welcomed the participants, followed by an introduction from the Chief Architect of Chisinau Municipality, Svetlana Dogotaru. During the three-day transnational meeting, the project partners worked on several activities:

Project methodology and pilot actions

Led by the Geodetic Institute of Slovenia GIS, the meeting commenced with an update on the progress in project methodology. This was followed by a collaborative session where partners worked in groups to apply the methodology in the planning and preparation of pilot actions, concluding with a wrap-up focused on the activities. Partners also visited the Chisinau pilot site at Moara Rosie 5 to assess its potential for future project activities. 

Community building and communication strategy

The second day opened with further contributions from GIS on the implementation of Action A1.1: Building a Community of Practitioners and Investors for New Territorial Development Governance. This initiative, co-led by ISKRIVA and URBASOFIA, will be carried out through Project Expert Groups (PEGs) and Local Action Groups (LAGs) within the partnership consortium. Partners received detailed guidance on how to engage in these groups. Project partner MARA presented the communication strategy and facilitated a workshop on engaging stakeholders to support pilot actions. This included a peer-to-peer session where individual pilot groups worked together, sharing experiences and concluding with brief presentations from each group.

Showcasing good practices: Artcor Creative Hub

During the visit, partners were introduced to Artcor Creative Hub, located in the historical center of Chisinau, in the courtyard of the Art Academy. Mișa Țurcanu, Community and Communication Manager at Artcor highlighted its role as a pioneering infrastructure supporting Moldova’s creative industries. Launched in 2019, Artcor fosters innovation and collaboration within the local and regional creative sectors, serving as an inspiring example of good practice for the NONA partnership. The Chisinau meeting also provided an opportunity for participants to experience local culture with a tour of the famous Cricova Winery, home to a 120km underground cellar, and a joint dinner.