Disinformation costs lives. It is one of the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have fallen victim to false information, creating a perpetual cycle of falsehoods that affect society's physical and mental health. To counter this, journalists and communication specialists have adapted and developed new strategies to debunk myths and fight disinformation. UNICEF has been working with the authorities in the Republic of Moldova to uphold the rights of children and youths, especially during crises. Since the onset of the pandemic, UNICEF Moldova established a partnership with the Association of Independent Press (API) to equip journalists and public communicators with the necessary skills to combat disinformation related to COVID-19 and immunization. Thanks to the generous support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), more than 73 journalists from 27 regional and national media organizations participated in four workshops in 2022. These workshops, held in Chisinau, Comrat, Cahul, and Soroca, focused on identifying, analyzing, and debunking fake news. Likewise, more than 120 students from four universities in Moldova learned about the importance of developing critical analysis abilities and identifying false information. Furthermore, from March to July 2023, 290 communicators and public sector specialists from 25 districts throughout the country participated in the training to enhance community communication and counter misinformation. The training modules covered various topics, from identifying credible sources to practical communication tools.  "The crises we've navigated through have revealed that a segment of the population is vulnerable to disinformation," says Viorica Zaharia, a journalist, media expert, and President of the Press Council. "Communicators from public institutions can have a significant impact. They can swiftly intervene to debunk myths, issue alerts to the community, and even launch small-scale information campaigns to combat and prevent disinformation."  "Effective communication is essential for any state institution as it creates a vital link between citizens and the governmental structures responsible for implementing public policies and services. The information shared must be clear, accessible, professionally presented, and above all, accurate," says Natalia Porubin, journalist, communicator, and member of the Moldovan Press Council.  According to those who participated in the training, the fight against disinformation is a complex challenge, especially in regions where the community needs more preparation to distinguish between authentic and manipulated information. "Specialists responsible for institutional communication must prioritize the quality and the sources of the information they release. Ongoing training is crucial for these specialists," says Lia Banari, Head of Protocol and Public Relations Service at the Ștefan Vodă District Council.  "Institutions need to do more than just report on their activities. They should cultivate strong relationships with the media and correct any false information circulating in the public area, thus allowing citizens to remain accurately informed," says Lilia Malencova, a media relations specialist with the General Directorate of Culture UTAG (Gagauzia). In partnership with API, UNICEF has developed an online training platform, Elearning.api.md, specifically designed for journalists, students, and communicators. The course 'Public Communication in Crisis Situations and to Combat Disinformation' is available on this platform in Romanian and Russian languages. Moreover, within this partnership, an interactive digital tool called the 'ABC of Disinformation' has been developed to help all the consumers of information products to document and verify statements in the public space. In alphabetical order, ABC presents some words, terms and expressions mainly related to misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccination. It also gives debunking falsehoods and necessary explanations, including references to credible sources and information verification platforms. In June 2023, with USAID support, UNICEF and API organized a discussion panel titled 'Data Diligence: Validating the Truth'. This event brought together numerous journalists, communication specialists from across the country, and public health experts, providing a unique opportunity to discuss challenges and strategies for combating the dissemination of fake news within society. The UNICEF project 'Empowering Journalists from Regional Media and Journalism Students and Increasing the Informational Resilience of the Public' was implemented by the Independent Press Association (API) with the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).  

Thanks to this opportunity, the interns will gain practical experience and acquire professional skills, useful for future employment in the labour market, including at the UN. At the same time the UN will benefit from the diverse knowledge and experience of the participants and will learn how to make UN programmes more inclusive for persons belonging to vulnerable groups. “The UN in Moldova is excited to launch the fifth Diversity Internship Programme. This programme celebrates our individual and collective diversity and the importance and imperative of diversity to achieve our collective ambitions as citizens and as members of the United Nations System. It gives all of us an opportunity to learn and exchange, to live up to the principle of leaving no one behind. Hopefully private and public organizations and institutions will follow our example”, said Simon Springett, the UN Resident Coordinator. The UN Diversity Internship program is an initiative, successfully conducted by the UN Moldova since 2016. It aims to support the inclusion of people belonging to vulnerable groups, who face discrimination in social, economic, public and political life, who have less opportunities of equal participation in decision making processes, good quality education, employment and professional development. At the same time, the initiative is also meant to be a learning opportunity for the UN. Many national and international studies and practices showed that direct contact with persons from underrepresented groups reduces considerably social distance and increases social tolerance and acceptance.

They contend with high trade costs, limited transport infrastructure, and cumbersome border and customs regulations — all of which undermine the competitiveness of their exports and hinder economic growth. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions, and the global macroeconomic downturn, have further compounded these pre-existing structural challenges, eroding some of the hard-won achievements of the past decade.  So where do we go from here?  The challenges are daunting, but there is a window of opportunity to reshape the trajectory of development for Europe and Asia's LLDCs. Next year, world leaders will gather in Kigali, Rwanda, to agree on a new programme of action to transform the livelihoods of over half a billion people living in landlocked developing countries globally. In the lead-up to this momentous conference, the United Nations is joining the 14 LLDCs in Europe and Asia, along with their transit neighbours, development partners, and other stakeholders this week in Bangkok. The meeting will undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs (VPoA) - a major international development compact agreed upon in 2014, outlining key areas of development to improve landlocked economies. It will also discuss priorities for the formulation of the next Programme of Action. For Europe and Asia, these priorities should include, among other important elements, the following five key areas.  Transit and Trade facilitation  The urgency of better integrating Europe and Asia's LLDCs into the global trade landscape and value chains cannot be overstated, and freedom of transit - allowing LLDCs to move freely through their neighbouring countries under mutually agreed terms - holds the key to achieving this. By providing LLDCs with unimpeded access to international markets, freedom of transit can help Euro-Asia's LLDCs to diversify their economies, attract investments, and integrate into global trade networks. In turn, this will also help transit countries to harness untapped potentials of enhanced connectivity, trade, and regional integration. The continued establishment of efficient border infrastructure, such as one-stop border posts, SMART corridors, and intelligent transport systems (ITS), also remains of equal importance in their bid to increase trade. These measures have the potential to streamline and accelerate the movement of goods, ultimately reducing bottlenecks and trade expenses. For LLDCs in Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, and Moldova), proximity to more industrialized economies within the European Union (EU) offers distinctive prospects to access advanced markets and cutting-edge technologies, and an entry point to investment opportunities and economic integration. But none of this would be possible without adequate infrastructure in the LLDCs, their transit neighbours, and stronger partnership and collaboration to enhance connectivity.  Infrastructure development  Infrastructure development is a catalyst for overcoming the inherent geographical challenges and other structural constraints faced by LLDCs. Adequate and well-maintained infrastructure, including road, rail, and air networks, can facilitate the efficient movement of goods and people across borders, reducing transportation costs and transit times, while IT infrastructure is vital for digital solutions, streamlining trade processes, fostering economic diversification, and harnessing the potentials of e-commerce. It is important to highlight the strides that have been achieved in enhancing transport networks across many Euro-Asian LLDCs, such as the Asian Highway Network, Trans-Asian Railway Network, and Euro-Asian Transport Links. However, several LLDCs in Europe and Asia continue to grapple with inadequate infrastructure and disjointed connections between different modes of transportation. Prioritizing investments in infrastructure developments, particularly robust transportation networks will also enable the efficient movement of raw materials and finished products from LLDCs to global markets, facilitating value addition and fostering the growth of new manufacturing sectors.  Diversifying economies and embracing digital technologies  LLDCs need to create more diversified and resilient economies while embracing technological advancements. In European LLDCs, proximity to well-developed markets has influenced the availability of resources and the potential for economic diversification. However, many LLDCs in the region still rely heavily on a narrow range of commodities or industries for their export earnings and economic development. Diversifying LLDC economies will help mitigate the risks associated with commodity price fluctuations and market uncertainties and provide a more stable path for equitable growth and development. Every chance to connect with regional and worldwide value chains should be explored to overcome the challenges posed by limited domestic markets. LLDCs should also explore new technologies that allow local enterprises to sell into global markets. More involvement in online businesses, digital services, and helping small businesses and women entrepreneurs are important too. We have witnessed it time and again - by bridging digital and connectivity gaps, LLDCs can effectively improve productivity and competitiveness on the global stage. Building sustainable and climate-resilient economies  As a result of their location and greater reliance on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, Euro-Asia's LLDCs continue to be disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. At the same time, their capacity to adapt to climate change is constrained by limited resources and productive capacities, weak infrastructure, and institutional shortcomings. Addressing these limitations through sustainable development strategies, technology transfer and investments in climate-resilient infrastructure can enhance resilience against climate shocks. Simply put – preparedness, capacity to respond, climate-resilient roads, bridges, and disaster-resistant buildings can minimize the impact of extreme weather events, by reducing disruptions to trade and economic activities. Additionally, Euro-Asia's LLDCs need to have an enhanced voice in global climate negotiations and discussions, for their needs and priorities to be incorporated in the global climate discourse.  Financial Support and capacity building  Given the heightened dependence of Euro-Asia's LLDCs on external finance both to address their macroeconomic challenges and to finance their development needs, they are highly reliant on developments in the global economy, including the international financial markets and the aid architecture. LLDCs often face limitations in terms of mobilising the financial resources necessary to support their development needs. During the current poly-crisis, these financing needs have widened further, with many LLDCs carrying growing debt burdens, which impede their development efforts.   The next Programme of Action needs to focus urgently on the debt issue in a comprehensive manner. Adequate financial support from various sources, including domestic revenues, international aid, and multilateral institutions, will be essential to bridge funding gaps and enable critical development projects. Development partners, International Financial Institutions, Regional Development Banks, multilateral institutions, and the private sector should prioritize targeted assistance in financing for development and long-term solution to debt. , This is indispensable in addressing the multifaceted challenges of LLDCs.   Ultimately, Euro-Asia's LLDCs cannot do it alone.  Forging the widest possible coalition of multi-stakeholder partnerships among LLDCs and transit countries as well as development partners and the private sector, is now more critical than ever as we embark on a new decade of action for LLDCs. The global community must stand together to support these countries, fostering an environment of growth, prosperity, and integration into the global economy. Only through collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision, the LLDCs can overcome their challenges and embark on a journey towards a brighter future for their people.  With the Third United Nations Conference on LLDCs on the horizon, the regional review meeting in Bangkok this week presents a unique opportunity for Euro-Asia's LLDCs to rally global support and forge partnerships for transformative change. The meeting will set the stage for meaningful dialogues, innovative ideas, collective aspirations, exchange of best practices and experiences among LLDCs, transit countries, and development partners, as leaders and policymakers strive to unlock the immense potential of LLDCs in Asia and Europe.  Together, we can create pathways to prosperity for Euro-Asia's LLDCs and ensure that they are not left behind in our shared journey toward sustainable development.  Rabab Fatima is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.  

According to the Minister of Environment, Iordanca-Rodica Iordanov, by the adoption of the program, the Republic of Moldova has aimed to align with the global efforts to limit the negative impact of climate change: "The National Climate Change Adaptation Programme until 2030 seeks to ensure the integration of adaptation measures into sectoral policies, in synergy with climate change adaptation policy documents, as well as in the field of disaster risk management. The program has been developed to enhance the climate resilience of the country. For this purpose, targeted policy actions are necessary. Therefore, the program focuses on several sectors vulnerable to climate change."  The Programme sets objectives aimed at increasing the climate resilience of six priority sectors: agriculture, health, transportation, energy, water, and the forestry sector, and is accompanied by an action plan for preventing and overcoming risks and vulnerabilities caused by climate change.  The documents provide specific interventions in each of the six sectors. In the forestry sector, there will be an emphasis on increasing forested areas, which currently stand at only 11% of the territory of the Republic of Moldova – coverage which is too low to mitigate the effects of climate change. The EU average of forestation, for example, is 30-45%. In the agricultural sector, the promotion of drought-adapted species, as well as use of the anti-hail nets and measures that would protect crops during early frosts, will be encouraged. In the transport sector, the standards for the construction and maintenance of road infrastructure are to be reviewed and improved, taking into account the damages caused by climate change.  In the health sector, existing clinical protocols will be adjusted or new protocols will be developed for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused or exacerbated by climate change.  In the energy sector, the electricity supply infrastructure is set to be improved to minimize losses caused by extreme weather events.  One of the measures for the water sector involves encouraging citizens and the private sector to adopt water reuse measures for household and industrial needs. The Republic of Moldova is one of Europe’s most climate change-vulnerable countries, particularly prone to floods and droughts. The floods of 2008 alone caused damages worth over US$120 million, and the droughts that occurred between 2007 and 2012 caused economic losses of over one billion dollars, affecting 80% of the country's territory.