Country Focus
Romania consistently ranks among the top three countries with the highest incidence of bullying in schools, with one-third of elementary and high school students reporting that they have been victims of physical and psychological abuse in schools. Stakeholders consulted in Romania’s landscape analysis highlighted that bullying is a key driver of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, substance abuse, conduct and behavioural issues among Romanian youth.
Consulted stakeholders highlighted that Romania has adopted progressive mental health policies, aligning with the European Union’s comprehensive approach. However, the landscape analysis revealed the need for clearer implementation guidelines, particularly for addressing bullying through evidence-based interventions. Strengthening stakeholder collaboration will be crucial.

What we’re funding in Romania
Proof-of-concept funding:
Proof-of-concept (POC) funding up to $250,000 CAD will be awarded to early-stage projects that can implement, test and refine solutions to country-specific personal, social, and/or environmental factors impacting young people’s mental health and wellbeing in one of the 12 countries.
In Romania, we’re funding POC ideas to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying. These innovative solutions will focus on school-based anti-bullying interventions with the goal of promoting safe school environments for young people aged 10-19 and their school staff.
Transition-to-scale funding:
Transition-to-scale (TTS) funding between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD will be awarded to support tested mental health promotion and prevention approaches that align with country-specific priorities along their scaling journey to help catalyze their sustainability and impact.
In Romania, we’re funding TTS approaches to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying. These innovative solutions will focus on school-based anti-bullying interventions with the goal of promoting safe school environments for young people aged 10-19 and their school staff.
Ecosystem catalyst funding:
Ecosystem catalyst (EC) funding between $200,000 CAD and $300,000 CAD will be awarded to organizations that can address priority barriers to scale, such as legislation, evidence, coordination, and mobilize demand to help mental health initiatives succeed and grow in one of 12 priority countries.
In Romania, we’re funding EC proposals that can engage various national-level stakeholders, including the private sector, with the goal of developing national-level implementation guidance and coordination mechanisms on solutions to prevent bullying, including cyberbullying.
Funded Innovations

Youth against aggression and violence!
Organisation de mise en œuvre : Societatea de Educatie Contraceptiva si Sexuala
Type de projet : Démonstration de principe
Lieu : Bucharest, Bacau and Tulcea counties, Romania
Domaine(s) thématique(s): Arts
Status: Funded