News - Swiss

Bridges Between School and Professional Life: Call for Projects to Pilot Level 5 Vocational Training Programs Under the Second Swiss Contribution

The National Center for the Development of Vocational and Technical Education, as Program Operator under the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Program, is launching a call for projects for pre-university educational institutions and non-university tertiary colleges authorized/accredited by Order of the Minister of Education for the provision of Level 5 NQF/EQF qualifications that are to be piloted.

These projects aim to pilot at least six vocational training programs for Level 5 NQF/EQF, with a workplace learning component of at least 50%.

The total financial allocation is CHF 3,500,000, consisting of an 85% (CHF 2,975,000) Swiss contribution and 15% (CHF 525,000) co-financing provided by the beneficiaries. They may also request advances of 90% of the Swiss contribution, granted annually.

The eligibility, evaluation, and selection criteria, as well as the grant application documents, are set out in the Applicant’s Guide and its annexes, and the application period is April 8 –June 30, 2026.

Full details regarding the conditions for participation can be found here: https://www.cndipt.ro/operator-de-program

Swiss Contribution under implementation

The status of the programs under the second Swiss contribution in Romania is the focus of the meetings organized from March 24 to 27, 2026, by the Ministry of Finance, through the General Directorate for European Affairs and International Cooperation, in its capacity as the National Coordination Unit for the Switzerland–Romania Cooperation Program, together with representatives of the Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Swiss Contribution Office in Romania (SCO), as well as as those of the Program Operators and Program Component Operators.

The mission also provided a forum for a discussion between Mr. Florin-Alexandru Zaharia, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and the Swiss representatives, Ms. Debora Kern, Head of the Section for EU Member States, and Mr. Markus Bürli, Program Manager, regarding the programs in the SDC’s portfolio, as well as the state of bilateral relations.

The mission also included technical discussions with the Program Operators and Program Component Operators regarding ongoing programs, which have entered a complex phase marked primarily by the launch of activities, the drafting of guidelines for the launch of calls for proposals, the preparation and implementation of public procurement procedures, as well as collaboration within partnerships with Swiss institutions and international organizations.

Furthermore, as part of the activities carried out under the Public Security and Safety Program (Home Affairs), a field visit took place on March 26 in Slatina at the "Nicolae Golescu" Police Academy to exchange views on the implementation of the community policing concept and its expansion into rural areas, as well as on police training.

We appreciate the good cooperation and constructive discussions held with our Swiss and Romanian partners during this mission.

Call for selection of a Romanian partner university under the Dual Education (VET) Programme

The National Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Development (CNDIPT) has launched a call for the selection of a Romanian higher education institution to act as partner within the “Dual Education (VET)” Programme, implemented under the Swiss–Romanian Cooperation Programme.

The call targets universities with relevant expertise and experience in vocational education and training (VET), interested in contributing to the development of dual education policies and practices in Romania.

The selected Romanian partner will collaborate with a Swiss institution in the framework of Component 1 – “Policy dialogue in the field of dual education (VET)”, supporting activities such as policy analysis, stakeholder consultation, and the development of strategic frameworks for strengthening dual education at national level.

The partnership is part of a broader effort to improve the relevance and quality of vocational education, strengthen links between education and the labour market, and support the development of a modern dual education system in Romania.

Eligible applicants include accredited Romanian higher education institutions that demonstrate:

• relevant academic and institutional experience in VET,
• capacity to engage in policy development and international cooperation,
• administrative and financial capacity to implement project activities.

The selected partner will benefit from Swiss financial support, with a total eligible budget of up to CHF 150,000, covering activities related to analysis, consultations, and the development of policy recommendations and strategic documents.

Interested institutions are invited to consult the full call documentation, including eligibility criteria, application requirements, and the selection calendar, and to submit their applications within the specified deadline.

Full details are available here: http://www.cndipt.ro/anunturi-operator-componenta-de-program/

Open call for the selection of MHCATC centres

The Ministry of Health, through the National Center for Mental Health and Anti-Drug Action (CNSMLA), has launched a call for public healthcare units that include Mental Health Centers for the Prevention and Treatment of Addictions (MHCATC).

The call is part of the Health Programme “Strengthening the capacity to prevent and treat addictions among children and adolescents in Romania” and aims to strengthen services dedicated to child and adolescent mental health.

Four centers will be selected and will benefit from:

• staff training,
• the possibility to expand the multidisciplinary team with two additional positions,
• investments of approximately CHF 120,000 for infrastructure and equipment.

Aplication period: 16–30 March 2026 (23:59)
Applications should be submitted to: proiecte.cnsmla@gmail.com
For additional information:: Dr. Ioana Moraru – ioana.moraru@cnsm.org.ro

Launch of the Health Services Programme for the Prevention and Treatment of Addiction among Children and Adolescents

The Ministry of Finance, acting as the National Coordination Unit, participated in the launch event of the Health Services Programme – Increasing the Capacities for Prevention and Treatment of Addiction of Children and Adolescents in Romania, financed under the Second Swiss Contribution, held on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in Bucharest.

The Ministry of Finance was represented by Ms Cosmina Manolescu, Director General and Head of the National Coordination Unit, who addressed the importance of strengthening the capacity of the public health system to respond to a sensitive issue with major social impact and long-term consequences for the population. Ms Manolescu also underlined the role of the National Coordination Unit in ensuring strategic coherence and sound governance of programmes financed through the Swiss Contribution, as well as the importance of inter-institutional cooperation and partnerships with international actors. The newly launched programme reflects an integrated, evidence-based approach grounded in good practices and institutional accountability, in which prevention, treatment and professional training are addressed as components of a single public policy ecosystem.

His Excellency Mr Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to Romania, reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to bilateral cooperation and to supporting interventions with systemic impact, built on expertise, knowledge transfer and strong partnerships.

Ms Luminița Odobescu, State Adviser within the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, reconfirmed the Romanian Government’s support for this programme, highlighting the strategic relevance of investments in prevention, mental health and the protection of children and adolescents, as well as the need for a coherent approach assumed at government level.

The UNICEF Representative in Romania, Ms Anna Riatti, emphasized the innovative nature of the programme and UNICEF’s intention to build on the experience and results achieved in Romania in order to develop replicable models and solutions that can subsequently be adapted and applied in other regions of the world facing similar vulnerabilities.

The event brought together representatives of the Romanian Government, the Embassy of Switzerland, UNICEF, central and local public authorities in the health sector, as well as national and international experts. Discussions confirmed a shared understanding of the need for a coordinated intervention combining institutional capacity-building, improved mental health services and increased levels of education and awareness among children, adolescents and their families.

The programme aims to contribute to strengthening the resilience of the public health system and to protecting younger generations through sustainable measures that are tested and adapted to the national context, in full alignment with the objectives of the Second Swiss Contribution in Romania.

Launch of the Security and Public Safety (Justice) Programme: Switzerland and Romania strengthen their cooperation to consolidate the rule of law

The Security and Public Safety Programme, financed under the Swiss–Romanian Cooperation Programme as part of the second Swiss Contribution and managed by the Ministry of Justice as Programme Operator, was launched on Wednesday, 3 December, in Bucharest. The programme supports the Romanian state’s capacity to respond to increasingly complex challenges in the fields of criminality and citizen protection.

As the National Coordination Unit, the Ministry of Finance is responsible for ensuring coherence, continuity and stability across the entire Swiss–Romanian Cooperation Programme. The event reconfirmed the need for strong and timely coordination, capable of supporting projects as they advance and of providing judicial institutions with the predictable framework they require to operate effectively.

Attending the event, the Minister of Finance, Alexandru Nazare, highlighted the strategic role of the programme in modernising judicial instruments and strengthening the rule of law.

“This is a well-targeted programme, built on solid Swiss expertise, exactly in the areas where Romania needs support the most: financial crime, the use of specialised investigative software, damage recovery and the protection of vulnerable individuals,” he stated in his intervention.

The programme has a total budget of CHF 11.76 million, of which CHF 10 million represent non-reimbursable funding. Its structure addresses key areas of today’s justice system: combating organised crime, corruption and financial offences; investigating digital crimes; strengthening the national asset-recovery framework; and developing a child-friendly justice system. Each component is based on the experience accumulated during the first Swiss Contribution and on sustained dialogue with judicial institutions and Swiss partners.

The Security and Public Safety (Justice) Programme provides the judicial system with modern tools, specialised training and international expertise, bringing together the contributions of the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the National Anticorruption Directorate, ANABI, the Superior Council of Magistracy, the National Institute of Magistracy and Swiss partners such as the Basel Institute. Experts present at the conference emphasised the integrated nature of these interventions and their potential to strengthen operational coherence across institutions in a field where case complexity continues to grow.

Launch of the Civic Engagement Programme: a new step in strengthening Swiss–Romanian cooperation

Switzerland and Romania marked, on 28 October 2025, the official launch of the Civic Engagement Programme, part of the second Swiss Contribution to the EU Member States, an important initiative aimed at strengthening civil society and promoting democratic values. Through this programme, Romania takes a further step toward building a mature civil society, capable of contributing actively to good governance, social dialogue, and community cohesion.

Over 130 participants, representatives of civil society organisations, the diplomatic community, and public institutions—gathered in Bucharest to celebrate the start of a Programme dedicated to fostering citizens’ active involvement in public life and to developing a solid, transparent, and inclusive civic space. The event brought together representatives of the Embassy of Switzerland in Bucharest, the National Coordination Unit, the Swiss Contribution Office, and the Programme Operator.

The Ministry of Finance, through the National Coordination Unit (NCU), ensures the overall coordination of the Swiss–Romanian Cooperation Programme at national level. During the event, Ms Raluca Diaconeasa-Gîrniță, Head of Unit within the Directorate-General for European Affairs and International Cooperation, underlined the importance of synergies among the programmes financed through the Swiss Contribution and their role in reducing socio-economic disparities and promoting sustainable development:

“The Civic Engagement Programme is a pillar designed to stimulate lasting change and to transform the diversity of initiatives into a coherent, citizen-centred effort that responds to the needs of the community.”

With a total allocation of CHF 14 million, the Civic Engagement Programme finances, through two calls for proposals, initiatives supporting civic participation, transparency, environmental and biodiversity protection, non-discrimination, media freedom, and assistance for vulnerable groups. During the event, representatives of the organisations proposed for funding discussed their submitted projects in a dedicated panel, and the second call for proposals, promoting civic involvement and participation, was officially presented.

The Programme is implemented by a consortium composed of the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society, the Foundation for Partnership, and KEK–CDC Switzerland, acting as the Programme Operator. (elvetiaromania.ro)