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Press Release
15 March 2024
Japan and UNDP will support Moldova to boost agriculture’s resilience to climate change and disasters
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Press Release
14 March 2024
UN Network on Migration and UNECE host review of Global Compact for Migration implementation
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Story
13 March 2024
Resilience through technology: The professional transformation of a refugee woman
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Moldova
In September 2015, the Republic of Moldova, alongside with 192 Member States of the United Nations committed to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future having at its heart the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030" (NDS) as well as the Government Action Plan ”Building a European Moldova” describe the short, medium and long-term strategic development vision of the country synchronizing the priorities, objectives, indicators and targets of international commitments taken by the Republic of Moldova, including the ones set in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to the national context.
The Sustainable Development Goals are being monitored and evaluated by the United Nations Country Team through the Country Results Reports developed in coordination with the Government.
As of 2022, the Government has committed to monitor and report annually on the level of achievement of the SDGs in the country which allows the state to make necessary interventions to adjust and/or accelerate the pace of SDGs implementation.
Publication
19 February 2024
2024 Moldova Refugee Response Plan (RRP) Objectives, Activities and Indicators and their Contribution to National Development Plans, January 2024
The 2024 Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation in Moldova represents an exemplary inter-agency and coordinated effort. The plan, developed through extensive consultations with diverse stakeholders, including government institutions, local authorities, the private sector, the UN, international NGOs, national and local civil society organizations, refugees themselves, and their host communities, exemplifies best practices in collaborative planning.
A key feature is the alignment between humanitarian community priorities and those of the Moldovan government. As enshrined in the 1951 Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), the primary responsibility for protecting and assisting refugees lies with national governments, who retain the ultimate responsibility for their welfare and lead the development and implementation of comprehensive refugee responses. UNHCR and other stakeholders support them in this, upholding the principles of solidarity and burden-sharing.
Fortunately, this ideal is a reality in Moldova. Since day one of the response, the government has demonstrated its commitment to refugee protection and inclusion, maintaining an open border policy and guaranteeing access to rights and services. Moreover, government institutions have shown exemplary leadership, promoting an evidence-based response aligned with international standards together with UNHCR and partners under the framework of the Refugee Coordination Model, and in line with the GCR. These efforts, widely recognized as best practices, have been supported by strong international solidarity for refugees from Ukraine and Moldovans.
As we move into the third year of the response, it is crucial that aid organizations continue supporting the government in fulfilling its obligations under international refugee law. Humanitarian activities must contribute not only to refugee well-being but also to the well-being of hosting communities. Therefore, this document presents an overview of how the 2024 Refugee Response Plan objectives and activities align with Moldova's national development plans and priorities, offering a framework to track their contributions to these priorities, and it is complemented by an RRP Annex that further elaborates the operationalization of the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus in Moldova. It is also the result of the strong collaboration between the government, Refugee Coordination Forum partners and the United Nations Country Team, a collaboration that enabled the country to smoothly respond to the surging needs following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This collaboration exemplifies how a whole-of-society approach, combined with international solidarity and burden-sharing, can empower countries of asylum to respond effectively while overcoming their own challenges and ensuring that no one is left behind.
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Publication
11 January 2024
Analysis of monetary poverty and wellbeing of households with children in 2022
The analytical report contains statistical information on the general characteristics of households with children according to the area of residence, number of children, type of household, quintiles, presence of migrants in households, their level of poverty and wellbeing.
The main source of information for the calculation of the standard set of poverty indicators is the Household Budget Survey (HBS), conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics. The main objective of the HBS is to determine multiple-aspect level of living standards of the population, including different socio-economic groups, in terms of income, expenditure, consumption, living conditions and other indicators that characterize the wellbeing of the population.
The report has been developed with the support of UNICEF Moldova.
The reports for the previous years can be found here.
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Publication
30 January 2024
Social Cohesion and Food Security: Using the Moldova 2022 Social Cohesion and Reconciliation Index to inform how the United Nations World Food Programme’s activities can sustain social cohesion
This research aims to use data from the Moldova SCORE 2022 survey to strengthen the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) evidence basis in Moldova, informing how WFP’s activities can sustain social cohesion between refugees and the host community, and whether WFP’s food security interventions can potentially contribute to social stability in general. This research is particularly prescient given the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to WFP in 2020 “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a diving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”i. The research subsequently set out to identify linkages between food security and social cohesion in Moldova by answering two overarching research questions:
How does food security influence horizontal social cohesion, particularly regarding attitudes towards refugees from Ukraine?
How is access to resources linked to social stability and vertical cohesion?
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Publication
31 January 2024
Situation Analysis of Early Childhood Interventions (ECI) in the Republic of Moldova
This present Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Early Childhood Intervention in the Republic of Moldova describes the early childhood intervention (ECI) system, its programmes and services in the Republic of Moldova. The report provides evidence on national strengths and capacities, salient needs, and opportunities to establish and further support contemporary and sustainable programmes of ECI for children aged 0-3 years with developmental difficulties.
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Publication
27 October 2023
A Moldovan case study: empowering parents and caregivers through gender-responsive family policies
In the Republic of Moldova, the unequal distribution of unpaid care work limits women’s full participation in the labor force. As of 2012, World Bank data showed that women in the Republic of Moldova were spending a fifth of their day on unpaid domestic and care work, nearly double the 11.3 percent of their day that men dedicated to these tasks.
This disparity hampers women’s opportunities to engage in full-time or higher-paying jobs. While the labor force participation rates of men in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region align with global trends, the figures for women display significant variation. Though some countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia traditionally show a high rate of women’s participation in paid employment, the labour force participation rate of women in the Republic of Moldova stands at a relatively low 54 percent. This discrepancy underscores the challenges women face in reconciling unpaid work responsibilities with accessing labour market opportunities.
To address this issue, the Expanding Choices project in the Republic of Moldova adopts a rights-based and gender-transformative approach. This approach seeks to challenge and alter entrenched harmful gender norms and power structures that restrict women’s choices and opportunities. It strives to foster women’s economic empowerment and gender equality by advocating for women’s rights and agency, including their right to work, access to education and training, and participate in decision-making processes.
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Story
19 March 2024
Resilience through technology: The professional transformation of a refugee woman
In 2023, over 200 women from Moldova and Ukraine participated in the "Women in Online Work" (WoW) programme, taking advantage of opportunities for their personal development and professional requalification. One of the participants was Evghenia Hutsuliak, a refugee from Odessa, Ukraine, who crossed the border in hopes of finding a safe place for herself and her two children.Amidst difficulties, Evghenia discovered the WoW programme, which gave her the opportunity to requalify for work in the information technology (IT) sector, a dream she had long cherished even back when "home" meant Ukraine. Her story is not just about the determination and courage of a mother to secure a better future but also about the importance of access to education and professional training in crisis situations."The WoW programme was like a ray of light in the darkness for me," recalls Evghenia. "I was in a very difficult psychological state and didn't know which way to turn. Back then, when I didn't feel like talking to anyone, I stumbled upon this course among the numerous messages in an online group dedicated to refugee mothers. I felt it was exactly what I needed at that moment and didn't hesitate to apply. I was deeply impressed that this course was completely free and that no one expected anything in return from me. It was like a breath of fresh air and a new source of motivation to break free from the dead end."By participating in software testing (QA) courses offered through the programme, Evghenia developed the technical skills necessary to enter the IT job market – and also regained her confidence in the process."The course was not only about learning new skills but also about building a community," explains Evghenia. "I had the opportunity to interact with people who shared the same desire to learn and progress. It was a huge support for me in difficult times."Today, Evghenia is optimistically looking toward the future. After successfully completing the software testing (QA) course, she is determined to find a job in IT and continue her professional journey in this field."Through this initiative, we are encouraging more young women to get involved in science and technology," says Tatiana Udrea, a Programme Coordinator at UN Women Moldova. "In this way, the UN Women team is making continuous efforts to reduce inequalities, especially considering that we live in a digital age, and excluding women from this field would keep them out of decision-making processes and development."Irina Oriol, Director of Operations at the National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC) Moldova, also supports the programme. "We are delighted that our entire effort is generating visible results,” she says. “We see active involvement of girls and women in the IT sphere, and our mission is to encourage them to develop their professional skills, offering facilities even for girls and women from underrepresented or refugee backgrounds from Ukraine."Women’s participation in the IT sector generates new employment opportunities, and it also helps reduce gender disparities and wage inequalities. The flexibility of this profession makes it easier for women to balance work with childcare, thus offering them new ways to balance personal and professional life. According to the study "Motivations and Barriers of Girls and Women in STEM and ICT Fields," in the Republic of Moldova, women and girls are underrepresented in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. They occupy only 31 per cent of jobs in the sector and 19 per cent of digital professions.The WoW programme was implemented as part of the project "Creating Opportunities for Economic Resilience of Women from Local Communities and Women Displaced from Ukraine" by ATIC, with the support of UN Women Moldova and funding from the governments of the United States and Japan. The programme offers participants technical skills, career opportunities, mentoring and community support. Specific courses for the programme, including Social Media Management, Software Testing, Project Management and Graphic Design, were designed to meet the growing demand for these skills in the labor market and increase the number of girls and women active in these fields.
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Story
19 March 2024
"The commercial gateway of Europe" has opened for pots produced in Moldova
We're talking about the self-watering Happy Plants pots made by Santino company in Chișinău, which have won over many nature lovers, not only in Moldova, but also abroad. Why are they called smart? Because they are based on an innovative concept that ensures automatic watering of the plants, reducing the time needed for their care. "In such a pot, a plant can be watered much less often than usually and can be supplied with water at the root, if it doesn't like surface watering. In addition, our system helps identify the amount of water poured into the pot and when it should be watered again," explains Andrei Ursu, the company's sales manager. Thanks to the quality of the products, the company competes with major international manufacturers. Some even ended up copying the product, but this has only motivated the team to continue working with inspiration. The manager states that Santino is well anchored both in the Eastern and Western markets and enjoys sales on Amazon. The collaborations so far are just a few of the company's steps towards development. One of the major sales objectives was to become a trusted partner for Germany, considered the "commercial gateway of Europe". Thanks to the UNDP project "Advanced cross-river capacities for trade" (AdTrade), funded by Sweden and the United Kingdom, Santino managed to position itself on the German market.In Germany, 80 percent of the networks sell in retail, which means that by distributing products there, you export throughout Europe. "We always wanted to access the German market. To get there, it's not enough to be good; it's very important to show that you are a reliable partner. Previously, exhibitions we attended helped us to be seen, but due to the pandemic, we couldn't do this, which complicated our launch”, says the company's sales manager. Thanks to the UNDP/AdTrade project, Santino managed to promote exports to Germany, participate in training sessions, exhibitions, and find partners. "AdTrade helped us identify a list of potential clients in Germany. Working with them helped us understand the needs and specifics of the market. After five years of trying, we managed to have a vision of this market, a good presence on Amazon Germany, find a partner with whom we signed a contract this year and we will participate together at 'Spoga Gafa 2024', the largest international exhibition in gardening,” says Andrei Ursu. The export quantity and the quality of the pots were achieved thanks to the closed production cycle, starting from designing and manufacturing the molds to casting and packaging the pots. The company has a philosophy of sustainable business. Santino has the ability to reuse materials after processing the product, owning a recycling plant. Moreover, standardizing boxes according to European parameters is very important to establish and maintain relationships with foreign partners."Thanks to AdTrade, we managed to overcome the difficult stage caused first by the pandemic, then by other crises, becoming visible to foreign partners and developing our export capacities. Thus, the company grows with much more safer steps, at an accelerated pace. Sometimes, developing export capacities doesn't depend on machinery or production processes, but on the relationships established with foreign partners and the image a company has in their eyes. This case is proof that, in any situation, even under the conditions of multiple crises currently affecting us, external support is a solution and can give wings to a company to achieve its goals,” says Andrei Ursu from Santino. Now, Santino has just one thing to do: to deliver smart products made in Moldova all over the world map, bringing comfort to people and adding colour to homes.Santino is one of the 32 companies from both banks of the Nistru river that have increased their export capacities and established international collaborations within the Export Accelerator, a component of the UNDP/AdTrade project. The companies have benefited from assistance in implementing quality management systems, developing online stores, websites, or product presentation catalogues, establishing business partnerships, and other services necessary to increase competitiveness and access foreign markets. During 2024, at least 26 more companies will benefit from assistance under this component.
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Story
19 March 2024
Personalized clothes for children made in Cahul
The business specializes in the production of textile and knitwear for children up to one year of age.The distinctive feature of the brand is the possibility to customize the clothes to order."Our mission is to help parents choose comfortable clothes for their babies. Therefore, we can make various models of clothes: models with or without covered legs, with or without anti-scratch elements, with or without embroidery. We can customize the set of clothes, for example, we can inscribe the child's name on this set or any other inscription that the parents want," says Natalia Botnari.In 2022, with financial support in the amount of 14,000 euros obtained within the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, Natalia Botnari purchased several sewing and embroidery equipment."Thank to this support, the equipment provided has helped us to improve quality and sales and save money. The funds we saved for equipment were directed to purchasing fabrics in larger quantities and promotion of our production," notes Natalia Botnari.These investments had a significant impact on product quality and helped increase the number of processed orders. In addition, three new jobs were created within the business, thus strengthening its development and expansion.The products signed by "PAMPY" are sold in a store in the center of Cahul, where the whole range of products is displayed.
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Story
05 March 2024
Seeds and fertilizer bring relief to Moldovan farmers
The Republic of Moldova is at high risk of drought and extreme weather events, two challenges exacerbated by climate change.Family farmers and others in the agriculture sector are the most vulnerable to the impacts of these extreme events. The severe drought in 2022, for example, was devastating for smallholder farmers.Ion Portari, 49, is one of a dozen farmers who, together with his family, lives and works in and around the sparsely populated rural village of Lingura, in Cantemir, a southern district of the Republic of Moldova. For Ion, his wife and his family, making a decent livelihood from their five hectares of farmland has been increasingly difficult, compounded by unpredictable weather patterns attributed to climate change and the socioeconomic impact of the war in Ukraine. To run the farm and provide for their daily necessities, the Portari family relies on additional income sources. Ion works as the director of the Cultural Club in Crăciun, while his wife Victoria travels occasionally to Italy for employment opportunities. In 2023, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) distributed 30 tonnes of seeds and 60 tonnes of fertilizer to 1 224 small farmers in the Calarasi, Rascani and Cantemir districts. In the Lingura commune, FAO distributed 1 350 kg of fertilizer and 675 kg of seeds to 27 families.FAO’s work in the area is part of a project aimed at providing emergency support for agricultural producers amid socioeconomic and energy crises. The project, implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and financed by the Austrian Development Agency––the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation––will run through 2024.Ion received 25 kg of drought-resistant maize seeds and enough fertilizer for his one-hectare plot, leading to a significantly improved harvest.“We harvested approximately 800 kg of yield which was much better than in 2022, when we didn't even have anything to harvest,” Ion explained. “Another farmer who used traditional seeds and no fertilizers yeilded only 200–300 kg from one hectare – it’s such a loss after all the hard work and investment,” he added comparing his results with a neighboring farmer.With his savings, Ion was able to hire additional help for the maize harvest. Farming livelihoods can be precarious, but when an extreme event like drought occurs, the impact can often lead emergency situations. As a result, the increasing costs of farming inputs make economics of agriculture challenging. “The mathematics of agriculture is simple,” Ion said. “When you weigh the yield, you know if you have worked efficiently, and you can plan for the coming year. If there is no rain, no irrigation, and we have no resilience to climate changes or different extreme weather events, we are bound to fail. The expenses are very high: labor, fertilizers, wages – everything needs to be paid. Even smaller support from projects such as this one can significantly help us face these challenges.”The past few years have been difficult, Ion observed.“As farmers, we’ve have been hanging on these past two years only with passion and faith that it might get better, it might rain, we might manage,” Ion said. “Yet it’s getting riskier.”Gunther Zimmer, head of the Austrian Development Agency’s office in Chisinau, emphasized the critical importance of the support provided for those most in need.“In 2023, smallholder farmers in the Republic of Moldova received urgent and tailored support to mitigate the impacts of the war in Ukraine and last year’s drought,” he said. “I am grateful to our partners FAO and UNDP for making that happen. Together, we ensure that the most vulnerable people receive access to enhanced livelihood opportunities, decent work and productive employment.”Switzerland joined the project at the end of 2023, offering USD 2 million in support through the Moldova 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Partnerships Trust Fund. This is on top of the USD 2 million already funded by Austria. The funding aims to improve the livelihoods of Ion and nearly 12 000 other farmers by boosting the sustainability of their farming production.Under the direction of the Resident Coordinator Office in Moldova, UN agencies have joined their efforts to support the government and its citizens in facing the challenges ensuring that no one is left behind.
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Story
18 March 2024
An artisan from Slobozia Mare made her business out of her passion for knitting and crocheting
She opened a workshop, where she knits woolen clothes and weaves rugs from natural sheep felt.Ina Minciună exposes her articles on social networks. The buyers also come from there. In the same way, the artisan participates in various events organized in the country, fairs, exhibitions."The idea of trying to get support from development partners came to me in 2019, when I became a craftswoman. Thus, I participated in various projects and so, step by step, I started to develop my business and my professional activity. Thanks to support from the European Union, I purchased garden furniture. In addition to my handicraft activity, we also provide tourism services,” says Ina Minciună.Ina Minciună is a member of the VIA Cahul tourism cluster, financially supported by the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF. Thanks to the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, Ina Minciună benefited from a financial support of 2500 euros, with which she furnished her rural house. Several swings, benches, patio furniture, a pergola and deck chairs were purchased."Being a hard-working family with many ideas, we are diversified in three activities. I am in the craft business and my husband is a winemaker. Our mother owns a gastronomic workshop," notes Ina Minciună.The woman and her family provide tourism services for local and foreign guests."We are happy for the fact that we are appreciated for developing business at home," concludes Ina Minciună.
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Press Release
18 March 2024
Japan and UNDP will support Moldova to boost agriculture’s resilience to climate change and disasters
“The past few years have been difficult for the farmers all over the world, and particularly for Moldovan farmers which were affected by climate change and droughts, the various types of economic pressure from Russia, and high prices of raw materials also caused by Russia’s war. I can only pay great respect to the way Moldova's farmers and the entire society have managed to cope with such challenges. I feel proud to stand with such brave people. We thank the UNDP and other UN agencies and the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture for their effective help in implementing this project,” said Yoichiro Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Moldova. The one-year project, entitled “Enhancing human security in Moldova through agri-food resilience to intensifying external and climate shocks”, will facilitate access to technologies and expertise for upgrading agro-meteorological and hydrological monitoring systems. As such, the data analytics to support agricultural planning and mitigate climate hazards will be improved and early warning systems for the agricultural sector will be enhanced. “Extreme weather events due to climate change have been lately happening every year in Moldova. They affect primarily the agricultural sector on which the economy and most of the population's livelihoods depend. One of the actions in this new project is a practical mitigation of climate risks through upgrading the agro-meteorological and hydrological observation network. The upgraded network will allow for having more accurate data to make well informed and timely decisions in the field of agriculture. This Japan-UNDP partnership contributes to reduction of the agricultural and economic losses caused by the natural hazards and helps Moldova to be more prepared to face climate shocks,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.The State Hydro-meteorological Service will benefit from support for upgrading of the agrometeorological observation network - Automatic Weather Stations. The existing agrometeorological posts will be equipped with automatic observation systems with sensors that will track more variables, such as: wind speed and direction; air temperature and humidity; precipitation; air pressure; solar radiation; sunshine duration; soil temperature; soil moisture; snow depth; leaf wetness; camera (for present weather and monitoring plant growth stages). These will support informed decision-making in increasing agricultural productivity, resilience and sustainability.By extension and automatization of hydrometeorological observations, flood and drought forecasting capabilities will improve, helping to ensure that appropriate hydrological data, forecasts, and warnings (for flash floods and floods) are available to all relevant national agencies and population, including farmers, to reduce and mitigate damage to the country's population and businesses. Moldovan professionals in climate services will strengthen their knowledge based on Japan's experience, which is the global leader in innovation, development, and implementation of an effective early warning system. The Japan expertise support will enable application of modern data analysis tools and methodologies.To enhance capacities at local level, at least seven district towns will be assisted with the development of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction plans. At the same time, at least 20 representatives of local public authorities will be trained and informed on accessing finance for climate related activities, thus supporting their climate change adaptation efforts. Currently, with UNDP support, the State Hydro-meteorological Service is undergoing a reform to enhance its climate services with the agricultural sector being a priority. The key to improving the probability of forecasts lies in extending the observations network and integrating all observation points into a unified system. This integration will enable better coordination and enhance the forecast accuracy.
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Press Release
14 March 2024
UN Network on Migration and UNECE host review of Global Compact for Migration implementation
Organized by UNECE and the United Nations Network on Migration , and co-chaired by Spain and the Republic of Moldova, the findings from the event, the first of five around the world, will inform the 2026 International Migration Review Forum. The Regional Review was held ahead of the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development (13-14 March) in response to the call for stronger linkages between the GCM and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum. In her summary, co-chair H.E. Pilar Cancela, State Secretary for Migration in Spain, noted growing shortages in skilled labour in the region are exacerbated by the challenge posed by skills recognition, the lack of flexible, rights-based pathways to reduce the deadly toll irregular migration takes globally, the centrality of strong data to support evidence-based decision-making, and the need to confront negative perceptions of migrants and migration. Co-chair H.E. Jana Costachi, Moldova's State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that over half of the world's international migrants in 2020 were located within the UNECE region, driven by employment opportunities, family unification, education and the impact of climate change and environmental disasters. “Despite the predominance of regular migration channels, there are persistent challenges ensuring the safety and the legality of this movement,” she said. “Tragically, thousands of migrants have lost their lives during journey, highlighting that urgency of enhanced cooperation and humanitarian assistance to mitigate such risks.” UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean stated "If we are to achieve the SDGs, we need to consider the impact of migration at all levels and on all outcomes, beyond the migration-specific Targets. As in other areas of sustainable development, there is a strong need for better data on migration. With support from UNECE, the statistics community continues to seek novel ways to meet the data needs that our member countries face." Cooperation to improve national systems of registering asylum seekers and refugees, and to streamline related definitions, is one example of this in practice. UNECE also recently issued guidance on how to use surveys and administrative sources for measuring how immigrants fare in their host countries compared to the main population. As a reflection of its importance, improving the collection and use of data on international migration statistics is the first objective of the Global Compact. In her powerful statement to the closing session, youth delegate Feblezi Huebi from the Migrant and Youth Platform noted the “countless obstacles they (youth) face in their pursuit of a better future” including language barriers, socio-economic challenges and discrimination. “By prioritizing youth inclusion and addressing the identified priorities of access to education, trafficking of persons, regular pathways, alternatives to detention, and labour exploitation, we can create a more just, equitable, and inclusive future for all young migrants across our region,” she said. OHCHR Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif said the GCM offers a “offers a powerful counter-narrative” to the “dehumanizing rhetoric and divisive narratives” on migration emerging at a time when more than 60 countries around the world head to the polls. “As we evaluate progress under the Global Compact, it is crucial to integrate its principles into the ongoing negotiations and implementation of legal and policy frameworks within the UNECE region,” she added. “The Global Compact serves as a guiding compass, steering decision-makers towards policies that prioritize human rights, dignity, and respect for all migrants, and that ensures their meaningful participation in all decisions affecting them.” Seven European donor countries reaffirmed their support for the Migration-MPTF and called upon other Member States to contribute to its efforts to support GCM implementation, pointing to the success of M-MPTF-funded initiatives including in Tajikistan and North Macedonia addressing issues such as migration-related vulnerabilities of families left behind and enhanced data collection.
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Press Release
13 March 2024
Chisinau Municipality leads resilience efforts in Moldova
In 2021, Chisinau municipality was the first city in the Republic of Moldova to join the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction's - UNDRR flagship initiative, Making Cities Resilient 2030. Globally, over 1,500 cities have joined this initiative. This step confirmed the city's commitment to increasing its resilience and readiness for forthcoming challenges, encompassing disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.During the initial phase in November 2020, Chisinau organized multiple workshops involving over 40 stakeholders, including representatives from telecommunications and energy providers. In these workshops, the local authorities utilized the Preliminary and Detailed Disaster Resilience Scorecard assessments, along with the Public Health System Resilience assessment scorecard.Drawing upon conclusions and recommendations from these assessments, Chisinau municipality, in February 2023 initiated the development of a Resilience Strategy for the period of 2024-2030. Over the course of the remainder of the year, local authorities, in collaboration with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ROECA), and with the financial support of USAID BHA and the Government of Japan, organized an interactive and participatory process involving diverse stakeholders, including central authorities, civil society, citizens, private sector, and representatives of international development partners such as the International Organization for Migration, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. One of the key findings is that Chisinau will encounter challenges in the future due to the increasing urban population and the deteriorating technical condition of both, residential buildings and road infrastructure. Over 81% of Chisinau's population resides in apartment buildings that suffer from a lack of maintenance and insufficient investment over the past two decades. The last assessment of residential building conditions was conducted in 2005, revealing that approximately 83% of the 25,000 examined buildings exhibited significant wear and tear.Overall, these discussions and workshops helped to better understand the needs and obstacles encountered by the local community, thereby identifying priority areas for resilience building: (1) strengthening governance; (2) enhancing critical infrastructure and (3) fostering societal resilience. The draft Strategy includes an action plan for the period 2024-2027, comprising objectives, actions, indicators, implementation costs, and timelines for achieving the actions. The document is expected to be adopted by June 2024. A mid-term evaluation review of the action plan is scheduled for the end of 2027. Continuation of the strategy is expected and highly regarded by the Municipality of Chisinau. Based on the evaluation results of the mid-term evaluation, a new action plan for the next three year period (2027-2030) could follow. The attainment of these important milestones over the last several years, position Chisinau to assume a leadership role in offering assistance and policy guidance to other cities and towns, both domestically and internationally. For example, within the framework of Making Cities Resilient 2030, Chisinau has already shared its experiences in resilience-building efforts with cities in Ukraine and Kazakhstan and has engaged in knowledge exchange with Portuguese municipalities. These direct links with other participating cities through exchange visits, experience sharing, and innovative project development should generate a continuous momentum for the successful implementation of all resilience measures.
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Press Release
07 March 2024
UN Moldova joint statement on International Women’s Day - “Invest in women: Accelerate progress”
The world is at a crucial crossroad for gender equality. With increasing conflicts, climate change and polarizing societies, standing up for women’s rights is more important than ever.According to the Progress Report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Republic of Moldova 2023, Moldova has achieved considerable results in achieving gender equality and empowering women. Gender equality is at the heart of the UN Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2023-2027. With UN Moldova and its partners’ support women’s rights were advanced into national and local policies, gender perspectives were introduced in the medium-term Budgetary Framework and gender-responsive indicators were established in budgetary programs and internal audits to ensure resource allocation for gender equality promotion. At the same time, with UN support, the Government approved two national documents, crucial for gender equality and women empowerment: the National Programme on Gender Equality and the National Programme for Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Girls 2023-2027. Efforts to combat violence against women and girls led to the establishment under Government coordination of a National Agency to oversee relevant legislation and policies on gender-based violence with support from UN agencies and development partners. Together, we worked fiercely to curb gender stereotypes for women and girls to enjoy full gender equality where all legal, social and economic barriers to their empowerment have been removed.However, many women and girls still face marginalization, injustice and discrimination and are denied access to their rights. Moreover, recent crises that affected the country: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate disasters, and increased cost of life have hit women and girls the hardest, because of pre-existing gender inequalities. The UN Country Team together with Government, CSOs, private sector and development partners will continue to work to ensure that women’s and girls’ rights are mainstreamed across all socio-economic areas being the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and a healthy planet for future generations. UN Moldova will continue its mission of providing inclusive support to all women, encompassing refugee women and girls, as well as women from marginalized minorities.We will continue to call for the advancement of women’s political participation at all levels of governance as a vital step towards achieving gender equality and the elimination of all forms of violence against women. We will continue to work with women’s organizations and feminist movements and support women leaders in all their diversity and abilities – including young women, refugee women, stateless women, women with disabilities, Roma women and LGBTQI+ to transform social norms and prevent any type of violence or discrimination faced by women. “Invest in women: Accelerate progress” is this year’s International Women’s Day theme. We need investments to end violence against women and girls, to ensure decent work as well as inclusion of women in the decision-making process at all levels. We need women in digital technologies, peacebuilding, climate action, and across all sectors of the economy. Recognizing women’s rights as an investment issue is critical for creating transformative solutions that enable women to realize their rights, escape the cycle of poverty, and truly thrive. Investing in women is a human rights imperative and a cornerstone for building inclusive societies. Progress for women will benefit all of us.Join us on this International Women’s Day and every day to contribute to a future built on equality and dignity for all.
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Press Release
18 March 2024
Students will learn about responsible energy use and reducing climate impact behaviour
The modules are developed with the support of the European Union and UNDP Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Environment and the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova."We want to educate generations that are aware of the challenges in the energy sector and environmental issues, promoting a sustainable lifestyle," says Cristina Pereteatcu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Energy."The Ministry of Education and Research supports the concept of the project to integrate energy and environmental education in schools so that students are able to contribute to sustainability," says Valentina Olaru, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Research.The educational package includes 84 teaching products – methodological guides and lesson plans developed by teachers and experts in the field of energy and environment. Teachers who show interest in the subject are invited to participate in the process of testing teaching resources. They will benefit from professional training.
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