United Nations 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.

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Publication

14 May 2026

Ukraine Situation - Moldova: Refugee Response Plan 2025 Year End Report

In 2025, Refugee Response Plan partners collectively supported 74,681 refugees and vulnerable members of the host community across the country. Assistance continued across protection, child protection, gender- based violence prevention and response, education, health, cash, and basic needs, while targeted support was maintained for those facing heightened vulnerabilities. These efforts helped preserve access to essential services, reinforce referral pathways, and support the most vulnerable, while also contributing to inclusion and social cohesion at community level.
Important progress was also made in strengthening the national framework for refugee inclusion. The adoption of the “National Program on the Phased Integration of Foreigners, including Displaced Persons in the Republic of Moldova (2025–2027)” marked a step in anchoring refugee inclusion more firmly within Moldova’s national policy agenda. This was complemented by continued implementation of Temporary Protection and by more actionable sectoral efforts to support inclusion in education, health, social protection, and other public systems.
This progress also reflects the sustained commitment and leadership of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, working together with local public authorities, in sustaining an inclusive and nationally grounded refugee response.

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Publication

18 May 2026

Equality and Quality in Disability-Inclusive Human Support Provision (EQUIP): Foundational Papers and Checklist

Bridging Business and Human RightsApplying the Business and Human Rights (BHR) lens to human services (health, education, transport, social care, social protection and other essential services) means ensuring that both public and private providers, including those contracted by States, conduct human rights due diligence and apply principles that are explicitly disability-inclusive. In line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and OHCHR’s disability inclusion mandate and policy, this entails equal access, universal design, reasonable accommodation, accessible information and grievance mechanisms, and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations throughout policy design, procurement, service delivery, and remedy. Within this framework sits OHCHR’s EQUIP project, which advances efforts to embed disability-inclusive human service provision within the broader UNGPs implementation landscape. EQUIP, standing for "Equality and Quality in Disability-Inclusive Human Service Provision", is a project funded the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Disability Policy Development Institute (KODDI). The project aims to support service providers, both for-profit and non-profit, in aligning their work with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs).It addresses persistent structural challenges in the sector, such as, among others:Policy and funding gaps;Workforce instability;Limited integration of rights-based models;And minimal awareness of the UNGPs among service actors.Through a range of activities, most notably, foundational knowledge products, human rights risk mapping, thematic papers, and field-level mapping in two countries (Moldova and Mexico), the project seeks to provide practical tools and actionable pathways for advancing inclusive, sustainable, and rights-compliant support services.EQUIP's main output is the six foundational papers and the related checklist that frame the approach to disability-inclusive service provision. Each paper addresses a key dimension of the transformation toward inclusive, rights-based care and support systems:Foundational Paper 0 – Towards Rights-Based Care and SupportThis introductory paper frames care and support as a human rights enabler rather than a welfare service. It defines “care and support” through UN and ILO frameworks, emphasizing that fragmented or ideologically biased definitions can perpetuate paternalism and exclusion. It distinguishes between different types of providers (public, private, non-profit, and informal) and argues for a shared responsibility to uphold dignity, autonomy, and inclusion. The paper reinterprets “care” and “support” through a rights lens, positioning them as structural components of equality, rather than as charitable or medical acts. It also clarifies how both States and service providers bear obligations and responsibilities to realize CRPD rights through regulation, procurement, and business practice.Foundational Paper 1 – The State as Regulator and CustomerThis paper analyses the State’s dual role as market regulator and market participant, showing how public procurement, licensing, and funding decisions shape the structure and values of the care and support sector. It examines how States’ choices, such as prioritizing “efficiency” or institutional occupancy rates, can either reinforce segregation or promote independent living. Drawing on the UNGPs, it outlines practical steps for embedding human rights–based criteria in public contracts, budgeting, and oversight systems, including mandatory due diligence, user participation in regulation, and safeguards against conflicts of interest. It concludes that States cannot outsource their CRPD obligations through privatization: rather, they must ensure accountability and rights compliance throughout the care and support value chain.Foundational Paper 2 – User Agency and Democratising ServicesParticipation emerges as a core human right and a systemic precondition for rights-based care and support. This paper details how user agency must be embedded across governance, service design, and monitoring processes. It identifies persistent barriers, such as paternalistic cultures, tokenistic consultations, and regulatory blind spots, and highlights mechanisms for institutional transformation, including participatory budgeting, user advisory councils, and co-governance models. It stresses that participation must be inclusive and intersectional, accounting for barriers faced by women, children, people in institutions, or those in rural or low-income settings. The paper frames “democratisation” of care as both a safeguard against abuse and a practical means of improving service quality, innovation, and trust.Foundational Paper 3 – Business Models and Human Rights RisksThis paper examines how business models—defined by funding structures, governance, labour practices, and performance incentives—determine human rights outcomes. It identifies systemic risks linked to institutional, medicalized, or cost-efficiency logics, contrasting these with emerging rights-based models. Using a “traffic-light” typology, it classifies services as:Red – institutional or control-based models, with high human rights risks;Yellow – transitional or mixed models with limited autonomy but potential for reform;Green – rights-based, user-led services centred on autonomy, inclusion, and community participation.It highlights that most global services currently occupy the “yellow” category, requiring structural incentives, financing reform, and policy coherence to shift toward “green.” It also underscores decent work as a prerequisite for rights-respecting services, linking labour rights and user outcomes.Foundational Paper 4 – Human Rights Due Diligence and RemediesThis paper operationalizes the UNGPs’ second and third pillars, i.e. the corporate responsibility to respect and access to remedy, within the care and support sector. It defines human rights due diligence (HRDD) as a continuous process of identifying, preventing, mitigating, and addressing risks to people (not to institutions). It introduces a practical “involvement framework” distinguishing between cases of causation, contribution, and direct linkage, guiding appropriate responses for service providers. The paper also stresses the salience of CRPD rights, notably legal capacity (Article 12), community living (Article 19), and freedom from violence (Article 16), in HRDD design. Finally, it sets out mechanisms for tracking progress and ensuring user participation in remedy and accountability processes, including grievance mechanisms and feedback systems co-designed with users and workers.Foundational Paper 5 – The “Smart Mix” of MeasuresThe final paper consolidates the findings of the series into a coherent “smart mix” framework that integrates legal, policy, and market-based measures for aligning care and support systems with human rights standards. It recommends a blend of:Regulatory tools, such as mandatory human rights due diligence and public reporting;Economic incentives, including outcome-based procurement and funding mechanisms that reward inclusion and autonomy;Collaborative governance, featuring multi-stakeholder platforms and user co-management structures;Learning and innovation mechanisms, promoting data-sharing, ethical innovation, and capacity-building.ChecklistEQUIP also includes a practical checklist designed to help States and service providers translate the foundational papers into day-to-day decisions. Structured around disability-inclusive human rights due diligence and CRPD standards, it provides step-by-step prompts to assess whether policies, procurement, governance arrangements, staffing models, service delivery practices, and grievance mechanisms genuinely enable autonomy, accessibility, participation, and community inclusion. The checklist can be used both as a planning tool (to design or reform services and contracts) and as a monitoring tool (to identify gaps, track progress, and strengthen accountability), supporting continuous improvement across the full service cycle, from design and commissioning to delivery and remedy.The work concludes that sustainable transformation requires coordination between States, providers, workers, and organizations of persons with disabilities, underpinned by accountability, participation, and long-term investment in rights-based service ecosystems.VersionsFoundational Paper Series Introduction Foundational Paper No. 1: The State as regulator and customerFoundational Paper No. 2: User agency and democratization of care and support servicesFoundational Paper No. 3: Care and support service provider business models and human rights risksFoundational Paper No. 4: Human rights due diligence and remedies for the care and support service sectorFoundational Paper No. 5: Care and support service provision and the “smart mix”Checklist

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Publication

27 April 2026

Developments of the institutional crisis in the Găgăuzia region

This analytical note aims to clarify the legal and administrative causes of the institutional crisis in Găgăuzia region, the obstacles hindering a resolution and the solutions identified by the competent national institutions. The note does not separately analyze the political determinants of the crisis, although they are referenced where they influence the behavior of the actors involved.The structure of the note is organized into five sections. Section I presents the general context of the crisis. Section II describes the mechanisms of the electoral deadlock: the structural causes, the chronology of the dispute between the People’s Assembly of Găgăuzia (PAG) and the Comrat Territorial Office of the State Chancellery and the emergence of the second round of judicial conflict. Section III analyzes the PAG’s efforts to overcome the impasse and the solutions proposed by the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova (CEC) - including three distinct scenarios, with varying degrees of legitimacy and political risk. Section IV examines developments in the current phase of the crisis: the PAG’s appeal to international organizations, the referral to the Constitutional Court by the Ministry of Justice and the persistence of the deadlock despite the resumption of parliamentary dialogue. Section V formulates conclusions regarding the nature, deepening and risk of the institutional crisis evolving into a profound political crisis, with consequences extending beyond the regional electoral framework.This product was developed by the ADEPT Association, with the support of “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova” project, implemented by UNDP Moldova and funded by Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The content of this material belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, including UNDP, its member states, or the donors.

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18 May 2026

In pursuit of balance: A Moldovan family’s story of parenthood and life choices

In a world where life seems to move faster every day and family decisions are increasingly shaped by uncertainty; there are couples who no longer focus on “how many children do we have?” but rather on “how do we raise them?” The story of Ecaterina and Nicolae Jigău is one of them — a story about conscious choices, balance, and a genuine partnership built over time.The two have known each other, quite literally, their whole lives. They have been together since middle school, went through important stages of life side by side, including a period spent abroad, and after returning home, decided to officially start their family journey together.Ecaterina and Nicolae are both professionally active, so they share household responsibilities and childcare equally. Photo: @UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu Grăjdianu
Ecaterina is also known for launching a parenting blog in 2013 — a space where she documented family memories and shared their experiences. Today, she works as a communications and public relations manager. Her husband works for a company specializing in the production and export of dried fruits, nuts, and organic products.Their family includes two children — Bogdan (11) and Nicoleta (7) and a life that, while not free of challenges, is built on a carefully negotiated balance, day by day.The Jigău couple believe that what truly matters is not the number of children, but the quality of time spent with them. Photo:@UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu Grăjdianu
Deciding to have children: Between desire and realityEcaterina says they both come from families with three children, but that did not determine their own choice or create pressure to follow the same model.“My husband has two brothers, and I have two sisters. From the beginning, we wanted one or two children; two felt perfect. After having our first child, we realized that financially and emotionally, raising more children would be very difficult.”Their perspective is not unique. Although many people in Moldova still believe that the ideal family has two or three children, demographic reality tells a different story. According to the Generations and Gender Survey (Wave II), Moldova’s total fertility rate in 2024 was 1.66 children per woman — below the level needed to maintain a stable population.Although many people in Moldova consider the ideal family to be one with two or three children, an increasing number of couples are choosing to have one or two children. @Photo: UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu Grăjdianu
For the Jigău family, the decision was mainly guided by the wish to offer their children a stable and thoughtfully built environment.“For us, two children means the golden middle. We can provide everything they need. Children require a lot of emotional involvement, and for that reason, two is perfect for us.”Family Planning: A shared decision, tot an individual responsibilityBehind this decision was another important choice — conscious family planning.“Both pregnancies were planned. Before our first child, we did all the necessary tests and prepared in advance before trying to conceive. We did the same before our second child — medical tests, vitamins, everything needed. My husband also did tests so we could both be prepared.”For them, family planning changes the traditional perspective: responsibility does not belong only to the woman, but equally to both partners.At the same time, Ecaterina admits they did not use specialized family planning services at the time.“We didn’t go to free family planning centers. Honestly, we didn’t even know they existed.”Today, couples in Moldova can access family planning services free of charge through primary healthcare centers and reproductive health offices.These services are available thanks to support from international partners, including United Nations Population Fund, which has helped improve access to reproductive health services. Reproductive health centers have been modernized, and family doctors have been trained to provide counselling on contraception and family planning.A father who does not “Help” — He participatesIf there is one pillar of their family, Ecaterina says, it is the father’s involvement.“My husband is an example. He attended every ultrasound appointment. He always made time for it — there was never a discussion about whether he should go or not. Even more importantly, the very first moments of our children’s lives were spent in his arms. I had C-sections, and he stayed with me in the hospital the whole time. The children’s first physical contact was with their father.”Nicolae was actively involved throughout both pregnancies, attending all ultrasound appointments. Photo: @UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu GrăjdianuThat involvement did not stop after birth — it became part of everyday family life.“He makes breakfast, takes them to activities, attends Bogdan’s basketball games, reads to them before bedtime, and they love playing chess together. He is very present in their lives. Since we are both working, we share everything equally. When one of us can’t do something, the other steps in. We do it together.”Their personal experience reflects a wider social change. According to the same survey, the share of families where household responsibilities are equally shared has doubled — from 12.7% in 2020 to 25.8% in 2024.In 2024, the share of families where household responsibilities are shared equally has doubled. Photo: @UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu GrăjdianuNicolae also benefited from paternity leave, introduced in Moldova in 2016. Since 2024, it has been extended to 15 fully paid calendar days, which fathers can use during the child’s first year of life.This is part of a broader package of family-friendly measures implemented by the Government, with support from international partners including UNFPA and civil society organizations. These include keeping both salary and maternity allowance during leave, more flexible childcare leave options that can be shared between parents, flexible work arrangements, and expanded childcare services for children under three.Real Life: Costs, compromises and choicesBeyond emotional balance, family life also comes with financial challenges.“Life in Moldova, especially in Chișinău, is very expensive. Everything moves at an alarming pace. Extra-curricular activities are costly. Bogdan studies English and plays basketball, while Nicoleta studies music. These are choices that require effort and money. Both parents need to work to afford raising two children and giving them opportunities after school.”Both Ecaterina and Nicolae work to provide their two children with good living conditions and educational activities. Photo: @UNFPA Moldova/Eugeniu Grăjdianu
This financial pressure directly affects decisions about family size.“Income was one of the reasons — though not the only one — why we decided to stop at two children. My health also mattered, since both births were by C-section. Honestly, we feel comfortable as a family of four.”Ecaterina says progress has been made in supporting families with children, but some gaps remain.“It’s good that there are now more public daycare options, especially for young families. We didn’t have access to free daycare back then. Financial allowances have also increased. But there are still areas that need investment — healthcare, for example, where waiting times can be long, and many people choose private services instead. It would also help if there were more affordable extracurricular activities in kindergartens and schools — dance, volleyball, basketball — even for a symbolic fee. That would especially help mothers, who are often still the main caregivers, to work full-time without needing to leave work early. Youth centers start at age 14, so there are not enough options for younger children.”Raising children: Respect, not controlThe way they raise their children says perhaps the most about the family’s values.“A child is not an object that you create and then shape however you want. We treat our children like individuals. There is no violence in our home — only clear boundaries and dialogue. If they face a problem, we tell them to come to us. Everyone makes mistakes; what matters is learning from them. At the same time, we encourage independence and responsibility.”The Jigău family reflects a growing trend: the two-child family remains the most common model, but increasingly it is the result of conscious decisions adapted to everyday realities.It becomes less about how many children you can have and more about how much you can offer; less about how much you want and more about how much time and support you have.Their own example says it best:“We do everything together. The way we live is the example we give our children. They see what happens in the family and naturally learn from it.”Their story shows clearly that balance does not happen by accident. It is built — through informed choices, mutual involvement, and support both within the family and from the state.For more families to be able to make conscious and confident decisions, public policies, family planning services, and social support need to go hand in hand — offering not only options, but also the confidence people need to stay, to have children when they feel ready, to make informed choices, and to truly feel supported.

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15 May 2026

Family-friendly spaces and workplace childcare facilities are becoming increasingly popular among private sector companies

Companies in the Republic of Moldova are increasingly integrating family-friendly policies to support women’s return to the labour market and create conditions that help employees better balance professional and family life.The growing interest in support services for families and employees — including workplace childcare facilities and flexible working arrangements — comes amid the need to encourage women’s participation in the labour market and improve staff retention.One such example is ,,Bucuria S.A.” which has joined the initiative promoted by UNFPA in Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova , aimed at developing family-friendly workplace policies. Bucuria is one of the 25 private companies in Moldova planning, over the next two years, to adopt family-friendly workplace policies, including the development of a mini childcare facility for children aged 0–3 and a psycho-emotional support group for employees.On the occasion of the International Day of Families, UNFPA and Bucuria symbolically marked this partnership through an event organized at the company’s headquarters, bringing together employees and their children to celebrate and discuss future perspectives.“It has been proven that workplace support policies and measures help families achieve a real balance between professional and personal life,” said Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA Representative in Moldova. “At the same time, these policies represent a win-win strategy for both employers and employees: flexible and hybrid work arrangements help reduce staff turnover and absenteeism, workplace childcare services facilitate women’s return to the labour market and talent attraction, while paternity leave increases women’s chances of returning to work after maternity leave.”“We are honoured to join this partnership with UNFPA and contribute to the development of family-friendly policies within Bucuria S.A.,” said Ecaterina Cechina, Executive Director of Bucuria S.A., highlighting the importance of this initiative for the company’s organizational culture and employee wellbeing. “We want to provide our employees with an environment where they feel supported, can harmoniously combine professional and family life, and where women can return to work with confidence, without having to choose between family, children and career advancement.”The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova, Sergiu Harea, noted that the involvement of the private sector in promoting family-friendly policies is becoming increasingly important in a changing economic and demographic context:“Through this partnership, we aim to encourage and support companies that invest in the well-being of their employees and in creating a more inclusive working environment for families. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to promote and give visibility to these initiatives on its institutional platforms, so that good practice examples can inspire more companies in the Republic of Moldova to adopt family-friendly policies.”Currently, official data show that only 46% of parents with children under the age of two are economically active, while the employment rate of women with children under six remains low — only half of them are employed. At the same time, women take on the majority of household responsibilities in 68% of couples, creating a “double burden” that limits their economic and professional opportunities.“I have been working at Bucuria factory for 13 years, and knowing that, while I am at work, my child is in a safe place, cared for and engaged in activities, would mean a lot to me. I would feel much calmer and be able to focus better on my work. That is why we support this project and are happy that Bucuria factory wants to create such a space for employees,” said Elena Mîrza, an employee of Bucuria S.A.“This is a very welcome project for both the company’s employees and their children, as safe spaces will be created where children can stay securely and engage in activities appropriate for their age. Currently, parents are often forced to leave their children at home with older siblings, which creates stress and may pose risks for children,” said Alexandru, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Department at Bucuria factory and father of two daughters.The “Generations and Gender” (GGS) Study (UNFPA, 2024) confirms that these barriers are driven both by persistent gender stereotypes and limited access to childcare services. In this context, expanding childcare services and family-friendly infrastructure becomes a public policy priority, while the private sector can complement state efforts by offering concrete support solutions for employees with young children.The UNFPA–Bucuria partnership is part of the project ,,Enhancing women’s resilience and excellence through inclusive and family-friendly employment opportunities”, implemented by UNFPA and UN Women with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). The project complements public sector interventions, including the national programme “Working Parents – Children in Crèches” implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.

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12 May 2026

A Ray of Sunshine in the Midst of War

“We spent the night in a bomb shelter,” she recalls. “Then the children came to get us, grabbed our suitcases, and we left.”At 72 years old, Olga fled Ukraine together with her husband, Semyon, leaving behind decades of work, memories, and a life they had built together. They found refuge in Rîbnița, on the left bank of the Nistru River, where relatives were able to offer them temporary support during an uncertain time.“We arrived during a difficult time that we hadn’t expected at all,” Olga says quietly.Before the war, Olga was the main accountant at a private company for over 20 years. She and Semyon also worked at the same factory earlier in their lives — a place where they first met. Today, like many older people forced to flee the war, Olga is no longer employed, but she remains determined to move forward.“For me, the most important thing is health,” she says. “I decided to walk 8,000 steps every day — or at least every other day.”Olga fled the war in Ukraine and found safety in Ribnita.Finding accommodation proved difficult. Olga and Semyon had to move apartments twice, each move taking an emotional and financial cost.“Our utility bills practically tripled,” she explains. “That was, of course, a lot of work for us.”Stability finally came through rental assistance provided by IOM, with financial support from the European Union. The programme offers cash for rent to vulnerable families who have fled the war in Ukraine and are now residing on the left bank of the Nistru River, helping them secure safer and more dignified living conditions.“Of course, it’s going to be very hard, and we’re very grateful,” Olga says. “It’s an old apartment, but it has good energy.”Thanks to the programme, Olga and Semyon can focus less on survival and more on rebuilding their daily lives.With the generous financial support of the European Union, IOM Moldova is providing rental assistance to 100 vulnerable families displaced by the full-scale war in Ukraine, helping them meet basic housing needs and regain a sense of stability.Despite the hardship she has endured, Olga refuses to let war define her present. She keeps herself active by attending a sports club and a mosaic art group, where creativity has become both therapy and expression.“I’m just happy that I made it with my own hands,” she smiles. “I worked on this picture for about a month and a half or two.”When she first saw the design, the meaning was immediate.“You know, when I saw it, I said, ‘War.’ And suddenly, a ray of sunshine in the midst of this war.”Learning is another part of Olga’s resilience. She has started studying Romanian — a challenge she embraces with humour and determination.“For example, Bună ziua — Hello, Bună dimineața — Good morning,” she says. “The grammar is complicated, and maybe it’s harder at my age, but it’s good brain training.”She also dreams of returning to something she once loved: writing. Before the war, Olga kept a blog, and she hopes to start again when the time feels right.Like many displaced Ukrainians, Olga follows the news closely. The hope of returning home remains strong.“We really want to go home,” she says. “We’re hopeful. We hope that peace will prevail soon. That’s all we need. And we’ll come back.”Until that day comes, support that restores dignity — a safe home, a sense of routine, the space to create and learn — makes all the difference.For Olga, each day in Rîbnița is another step forward, guided by resilience, hope, and the quiet courage to keep going.

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11 May 2026

Inclusion begins with friendship

During a mathematics lesson, Andrei looks up from his notebook with a visible sense of relief. Just a few minutes earlier, the problem he was working on had seemed difficult, but after receiving a few suggestions from his classmates, he managed to solve it. At Ion Creangă Theoretical High School, moments like these are part of everyday school life - where students learn to support one another and build trust. Here, inclusion is reflected in the way children, teachers, and parents work together. It is not always easy, but meaningful and lasting relationships are built over time.“The most important thing is to be a good classmate. We learn together, but it is just as important to respect one another,” says Evelina, a ninth-grade student.The school is attended by 563 students, including 26 children with disabilities and special educational needs. For these children, the support of peers and teachers plays a vital role in helping them feel included and more confident in themselves.Nicoleta and Evelina have known Andrei since first grade. Andrei has special educational needs, but this has never prevented them from growing up together and learning that diversity is not a barrier, but a strength.“In our class, every child feels accepted. We support each other and work together. Our teachers encourage us to express our opinions and create a positive atmosphere,” says Nicoleta.Behind this culture of respect stands an active partnership between teachers, students, and parents. The school’s principal, Svetlana Dintiu, who also serves as the school psychologist, believes that an inclusive school begins with the way these relationships are built.“A truly inclusive school is a space where every student feels accepted, valued and supported in reaching their full potential,” she says.To support this approach, teachers regularly participate in training and mentoring programmes that help them better understand each child’s needs and strengthen relationships with families.One of the educators promoting this approach is Zinaida Caraja, Deputy Director for Education. She participated in training sessions focused on strengthening school-family partnerships, organized within the UNICEF project “Empowering children, parents, teachers and communities to promote inclusive education in the Republic of Moldova,” implemented by CCF Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova and the Republican Center for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance, with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom.After completing the training, she became a mentor for her colleagues, sharing the methods and approaches she had learned. The results are already evident in closer collaboration between teachers and parents, as well as in a more open and child-centered educational environment.“I understood even better how important partnership with parents truly is. When schools and families work together, children become more confident and are able to progress further,” says Zinaida Caraja.Maria Suvac, a support teacher, also plays an essential role in supporting children’s progress, having worked for eight years with students at the Inclusive Education Resource Center.She speaks with emotion about the small achievements that, over time, help children develop confidence and independence. For her, collaboration with parents is just as important as working directly with students.“You need a great deal of patience and empathy when working with parents,” says Maria Suvac.Parents take part in school activities, maintain constant communication with teachers, and closely follow their children’s progress. Many students are also involved in extracurricular activities - such as dance, painting, embroidery, or modelling - where they further develop their talents and self-confidence.“Parents are open and cooperative, and we work together very well. They are active and genuinely interested in their children’s development,” the teacher adds.For Andrei, Nicoleta, and Evelina, the most important lesson is how to be human - a lesson learned far beyond textbooks. In their classroom, they have learned not to judge without understanding, to communicate openly, and to make an effort to understand one another.This is how inclusion is built at Ion Creangă Theoretical High School - through friendship, collaboration, and respect. These are values that will stay with them long after they leave school.

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07 May 2026

When the right support changes a child’s educational journey

For Nadejda Grigorii, a support teacher at the “Alexandr Pushkin” Theoretical High School in Căușeni, inclusion begins with simple things: a child’s courage to answer in class, a smile, or progress that once seemed impossible. For her, these moments are more than results — they are signs that a child is starting to believe in themselves.“Inclusion is not just a theoretical concept, but a daily practice. It’s about patience, flexibility, and seeing the potential in every child, not their difficulties,” she says.Originally trained as a primary school teacher, Nadejda has been working as a support teacher for six years. To better respond to her students’ needs, she retrained in special psycho-pedagogy at the “Ion Creangă” State Pedagogical University and continues to attend training courses, including those focused on supporting children with autism.At her school, 322 students are enrolled, including 41 refugee children from Ukraine and 21 children with disabilities and special educational needs. The school also serves as a hub institution, with students commuting daily from the nearby villages of Grădinița and Grigorievca.Small steps, real changeNadejda’s day starts with discussions with teachers about children’s needs and planning educational interventions. During lessons, she supports students, helping them understand tasks and integrate into classroom activities.“My day is very full. I spend many hours working directly with children. Even breaks are not really breaks — they’re time for observation, communication, and individual support. Sometimes, it’s simply about being there for a child who needs you,” she says.After classes, her work continues in the Resource Center, where she organizes individual and group activities to develop attention, memory, speech, and social skills.“In the Resource Center, some children can’t stay focused for more than a few minutes. We work together, step by step. After some time, you see them complete a task from beginning to end. For me, these small changes matter the most — they’re the moments when a child begins to believe in themselves.”To support children’s balanced development, activities go beyond academic support. Children also take part in nature trips, museum visits, creative activities, cooking workshops organized together with the Vocational School in Căușeni, and road safety lessons held in partnership with the police.Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It shows in small steps — in gestures that may seem insignificant to others.“A child who used to avoid communication now starts to greet others and make eye contact. These changes aren’t always visible to everyone, but for us, they are real victories,” Nadejda shares.When school and family work togetherOne of the most important lessons Nadejda has learned in recent years is the role of collaboration between school and family.“It’s the foundation of success. Without parents’ involvement, results are hard to sustain in the long term. When there is trust and communication, the child receives support both at home and at school. Family relationships improve, and tears of despair turn into tears of joy.”Participating in mentorship sessions focused on school–family partnerships helped her better understand the role of parents in the educational process and develop skills to build trust-based dialogue.The “Alexandr Pushkin” Theoretical High School is one of the institutions benefiting from the UNICEF project “Empowering children, parents, teachers, and communities to promote inclusive education in the Republic of Moldova.”Under this project, implemented by CCF Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research and the Republican Center for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance, and funded by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, 63 teachers and education specialists from nine districts were trained as trainers.These trainers, in turn, have provided mentorship to over 550 teachers — from beginners to experienced educators who choose to keep learning and growing to better respond to the needs of all children.“These trainings helped me look differently at collaboration with parents. I learned how to build trust-based dialogue and involve them more actively. Parents know their child best, and when we work together, the results are completely different,” says Nadejda.When a child starts to believe in themselvesFor Nadejda, the greatest achievement is not a better grade or a newly acquired skill, but the moment a child starts to believe in themselves.“With the right support, a child can unlock their potential and become more independent. But most importantly, they begin to believe in themselves,” she says.For children with special educational needs, this support means not only better school results, but also greater independence and a sense of belonging within the school community.“Inclusion is not something difficult or impossible. It’s about taking steps towards each other. The most important thing is to see the child not as a diagnosis, but as a person. Every child needs to be accepted.”

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Press Release

20 May 2026

Five UN interns, representatives of marginalized groups successfully completed the internship program

The interns undertook six-month internships across six United Nations entities: the UN Resident Coordinator Office, UN Human Rights, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women.Launched in 2016 as a pilot initiative to empower youth and promote equality and non-discrimination, the program has since grown into a significant platform for inclusion. Over the years, 67 participants—women, men, and persons of diverse gender identities—have strengthened their understanding of the work of UN Moldova and have gone on to champion diversity, equality, and inclusion within their communities. Reflecting on the program’s evolution, UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, Yesim Oruc, emphasized that the seventh edition marks not an endpoint but the beginning of a deeper level of engagement with alumni. She highlighted that this continued collaboration is expected to nurture a new generation of young professionals across various fields, including within the United Nations system, noting that several former interns have already joined UN agencies as colleagues or consultants.The UN Moldova Diversity Internship Program aims to promote non-discrimination and foster the inclusion of people from marginalized groups, who continue to face barriers to equal participation in decision-making processes, access to quality education, employment, and professional development opportunities.In addition to their daily assignments, interns participated in a wide range of human rights trainings, networking events, and study visits. These included open-door sessions at key national institutions such as the Equality Council, the People’s Advocate Office, the Republican Centre for Psycho-Pedagogic Assistance, and the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

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Press Release

18 May 2026

More than 80 young people from the north and south of the country participated in the “Youth-Driven Green Innovation” hackathon, supported by UNDP and the EU

The events took place in the town of Cupcini, Edineț district, on 16-17 May and in the city of Cahul on 4-5 April. A similar event was held in March in ChișinăuFor 48 hours, 20 teams of enthusiastic young people from the two regions worked intensively, guided by experts and mentors. Participants had the opportunity to work in teams, receive mentoring from experts, develop a concrete solution and present it to a multidisciplinary jury.In Cahul, the winning solutions were:waste management using artificial intelligence, which enables intelligent waste recognition directly at the source, without the need for an internet connection;reducing financial losses and food waste by supporting businesses in making data-driven decisions through a platform that replaces intuitive processes with precise and relevant analyses;producing container-grown seedlings with protected roots from valuable species (oak, black pine, Sophora japonica, Evodia daniellii) using an innovative production method. This ensures high yield per square meter, flexibility in planting, and a survival rate of over 90% for forest seedlings.“We are very pleased that, over the course of the two-day hackathon, we managed to develop a working prototype of our solution. AI systems are often expensive and resource-intensive, but we tried to find a more affordable, efficient, and practical solution. It was a very valuable experience for our team, and we will certainly continue to develop this idea,” said Nichita Grădinar of Proton Team, a participant in the hackathon in Cahul.In Edineț, the following solutions were selected: a mushroom farm where residual mycelium is reused. The mycelium is transformed into biodegradable containers for planting seedlings and saplings. The containers decompose within 30 days directly in the soil, nourishing the plants’ roots. The solution replaces plastic and utilizes agricultural waste;the conversion of animal waste into natural fertilizer through controlled composting. This circular economy system reduces pollution and restores soil fertility;the monitoring of inventory and product shelf-life data using AI tools. The goal is to reduce food waste by up to 50% and create social value.“For us, this was our first time participating in a hackathon and it was a very valuable opportunity. In a short period, we researched and developed the idea from scratch and along the way we learned a lot about the circular economy and the green transition. The mentors’ support helped us move in the right direction, and now we are seriously considering the practical steps for implementing our solution,” said Mihail Gurămultă of the EcoMush team, Center of Excellence in Horticulture and Agricultural Technologies in Țaul.The “Youth-Driven Green Innovation” hackathons served as a space for learning and collaboration, where young people developed their teamwork skills, critical thinking, and the ability to design sustainable business models.“The green transition isn’t just about policies, but also about bold ideas turned into concrete solutions for the economy and the environment. By organizing hackathons in the center, south, and north of the country, we are creating an ecosystem where startups can grow, experiment, and truly meet market needs, actively contributing to a more sustainable economy,” said Virginia Bîlici, Project Manager at UNDP Moldova.Participants will continue to receive dedicated support for developing their ideas and will take part in a pre-acceleration programme for innovation in the field of green transition, designed to transform concepts into applicable and scalable solutions.

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Press Release

18 May 2026

United Kingdom and UNFPA in Moldova expand partnership to protect Ukrainian refugees and Moldovan vulnerable communities

The funding builds on UK support provided since 2022, when the war in Ukraine increased protection risks and placed additional pressure on Moldova’s protection services. The new phase of the partnership will help sustain frontline services, while strengthening the national systems, referral pathways and civil society partnerships needed to make survivor-centered protection more accessible and sustainable.“Moldova continues to show remarkable solidarity and resilience in the face of ongoing regional challenges. The UK stands firmly alongside Moldova in supporting those most affected — particularly women and children, refugees, and vulnerable communities. Supporting women and girls remains a key priority for the UK Foreign Secretary. Our focus is on protecting dignity, strengthening local systems, and ensuring that support is sustainable and led by those closest to the needs. Together with trusted partners and the Government of Moldova, we are working to ensure that people feel safer, supported, and better equipped to rebuild their lives”, stated Fern Horine, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.With UK support, UNFPA will continue to strengthen community-based services for women and girls, including static and mobile Women and Girls Safe Spaces. To date, these Safe Spaces have provided essential support to more than 150,000 women and girls, offering confidential access to psychosocial counseling, legal information, referrals and case management for survivors and women at risk. “For a woman experiencing violence, the most important thing is knowing where to turn, being believed, and receiving support safely and confidentially,” said Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA in Moldova Representative. “The UK Government has been a steadfast partner to UNFPA Moldova since the start of the refugee response. This new contribution allows us to continue life-saving support for women and girls, while investing in the national systems that will protect survivors over the long term. Together, we are helping Moldova move from emergency response toward sustainable, survivor-centered protection.”In the next phase, UNFPA will also support the gradual transition of Safe Spaces into government-led day centers for women survivors of violence.This will help preserve the trust, reach and accessibility built during the emergency response, while embedding these services in Moldova’s national protection system. The programme will also support crisis and shelter services, targeted assistance for survivors facing urgent protection risks, and specialized pathways for women and girls with disabilities who may be unable to reach services on their own.At national level, UNFPA will continue working with authorities and civil society partners to strengthen gender-based violence governance, case management, data systems, workforce capacity and referral pathways, in line with Moldova’s national priorities, the Istanbul Convention and European standards.The partnership will also address emerging protection challenges, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence and cross-border referral pathways for Ukrainian refugee women moving between Moldova and Ukraine who may require continuity of care.UK support will also contribute to the joint UNFPA-UNICEF “Breaking the Cycle” programme, which addresses the links between violence against women and violence against children through parenting support, community prevention, engagement of boys and men, and strengthened services for women and children experiencing violence.Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the United Kingdom has been one of UNFPA Moldova’s key partners in ensuring that women and girls affected by the crisis can access protection, dignity and support. The expanded partnership will help sustain essential services while contributing to long-term reforms that strengthen Moldova’s protection system for refugees and host communities alike.

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Press Release

15 May 2026

Women’s Caucus in the Parliament of the XII Legislature, officially launched

Members of the Women's Caucus, together with the Ambassador of Sweden to Chișinău and UN Women Moldova representatives.The launch session included discussions on the achievements of the Women’s Caucus from the previous legislature, the priorities for the 2025–2029 mandate, and the adoption of the Platform’s Regulation.The Republic of Moldova currently has a record number of 41 women MPs, with the current legislature reaching the highest level of women’s political representation in the country’s history. This progress has been made possible largely through the implementation of gender quotas in the electoral process - a mechanism that contributes to increasing women’s participation in political life and decision-making processes.Globally, the Republic of Moldova is among 78 of the 193 United Nations Member States that have introduced gender quotas to accelerate women’s political representation. Reports and international experience demonstrate that more gender-balanced parliaments promote more inclusive public policies and advance legislation that better responds to the needs and realities of women and men alike.These advances also contributed to the Republic of Moldova ranking 7th globally in the Gender Gap Index last year, placing the country in the world’s top 10 for the first time in its history.The event also highlighted the achievements of the Women’s Caucus from the previous legislature. These include the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and ILO Convention No. 190 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work, the establishment of the National Agency for Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and the Family Justice Centre, as well as legislative amendments criminalizing multiple forms of gender-based violence, including digital violence.Additional reforms promoted and adopted include provisions allowing women to receive both salaries and maternity benefits simultaneously, as well as the introduction of alternative childcare services for children under the age of three. Another important milestone was the adoption of legislation on equal pay for work of equal value, aimed at reducing the gender pay gap between women and men.In her remarks, Doina Gherman, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, stated: “European Union accession also means strengthening women’s rights and equal opportunities. Even though we represent different political forces, we are united by common objectives: combating violence, protecting children, supporting mothers, and ensuring women’s active participation in public life.”Ambassador of Sweden to Chișinău, H.E. Petra Lärke, highlighted: “I wish the best of luck to the newly established Women’s Caucus of the Parliament of Moldova. Sweden has a long tradition of multiparty dialogue and building platforms that bring political actors together across party lines, also through different projects here in Moldova. Therefore, we especially value the spirit of cooperation that has marked the work of the Women’s Caucus in Moldova. Collaboration across the aisle strengthens democratic practice, accelerates progress on gender equality and ensures that reforms benefit the population from a diversity of perspectives. Hopefully, also in this legislature members from different political backgrounds can unite around shared priorities.”“The Platform has the mandate, and now, the institutional framework to continue advancing a more inclusive and gender-sensitive legislative and oversight agenda, and its members will not be walking this journey alone. UN Women will continue to support the Women’s Caucus through technical expertise, policy guidance, and capacity building, ensuring that commitments to gender equality and women’s participation are transformed into concrete policies and results for all women and girls”, said Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Moldova Country Representative.Participants also discussed the next steps for strengthening the Women’s Caucus capacities, building partnerships, and advancing a legislative agenda that fully responds to the needs of women and girls in the Republic of Moldova.The launch event was organized with the support of UN Women Moldova and financial assistance from Sweden.

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