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Story
23 November 2023
From gates to decoration products, Ion Caraja from Cahul gives iron a new life
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Press Release
23 November 2023
The European Union and UNDP contribute to reducing electricity bills in vulnerable households by replacing old appliances
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Story
22 November 2023
Kindergarten children in Ungheni are now able to build and program robots thanks to EU-UNDP support
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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 September 2023
Progress Report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Republic of Moldova 2023
This Progress Report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Republic of Moldova aims at understanding the progress in the implementation of SDGs since the last reporting, namely the 2020 National Voluntary Report (NVR) on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Key objectives of this progress report are:
analysing the overall progress achieved in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and identifying areas where progress has been made or where there are discrepancies between the expected results and the results actually achieved;
providing transparency of actions taken by the government and other stakeholders in achieving the SDGs;
serving as a tool for planning and making decisions regarding further actions to improve the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The report was developed with the support of UNDP Moldova and UNFPA Moldova.
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Publication
27 October 2023
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023
This publication is the latest instalment in the annual series jointly produced by UN Women and UN DESA. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of gender equality progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Halfway to the end point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world is failing to achieve gender equality, making it an increasingly distant goal. If current trends continue, more than 340 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030, and close to one in four will experience moderate or severe food insecurity. Growing vulnerability brought on by human-induced climate change is likely to worsen this outlook, as many as 236 million more women and girls will be food-insecure under a worst-case climate scenario.
The gender gap in power and leadership positions remains entrenched, and, at the current rate of progress, the next generation of women will still spend on average 2.3 more hours per day on unpaid care and domestic work than men. No country is within reach of eradicating intimate partner violence, and women’s share of workplace management positions will remain below parity even by 2050. Fair progress has been made in girls’ education, but completion rates remain below the universal mark.
With the clock ticking, urgency mounts.
This report advocates for an integrated, holistic approach to advancing gender equality, involving multistakeholder collaboration and sustained financial backing. Neglecting to amplify efforts and invest in gender parity jeopardizes the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
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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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Publication
27 October 2023
Mapping of Local CSOs in Refugee Response in Moldova
The collective efforts of Moldovan civil society organizations (CSOs), including women-led organizations (WLOs), women’s rights organizations (WROs), refugee-led organizations (RLOs) and initiative groups (IGs) have been instrumental in addressing the needs and promoting the rights of refugees from Ukraine who have sought protection in Moldova since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022.
Moldovan CSOs have played an important role in supporting and complementing the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, UN agencies and international NGOs, as well as the private sector and private citizens, to provide protection and services to refugees including at border reception points, in main urban centers and throughout the country. Despite their involvement and critical role in the refugee response, there was no comprehensive overview of the CSO ecosystem in Moldova, which left a gap in coordination and synergies critical for an effective humanitarian response.
In late 2022, UN Women and UNHCR commissioned a mapping of all local CSOs supporting the refugee response in Moldova, including WLOs, WROs, RLOs and IGs. The objective was to better understand the landscape of service providers, and to identify existing capacities and opportunities to enhance and support their meaningful engagement and participation in the refugee response.
The resulting report presents key findings and recommendations based on the results of interviews and focus group discussions with 58 Moldovan CSO representatives and front-line professionals carried out in March and April 2023, as well as the results of a survey conducted with almost two hundred CSOs in Moldova from January to February 2023.
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Publication
27 October 2023
Ukraine Refugee Response in Moldova: Gender Task Force 2022 Year in Review
The Gender Task Force (GTF) is a network of actors working to mainstream gender across the Refugee Response in the Republic of Moldova (Moldova) with the aim of ensuring that all persons in Moldova affected by the Ukrainian refugee crisis of ensuring that all persons in Republic of Moldova affected by the Ukrainian refugee crisis, have equitable access to quality and targeted humanitarian assistance, and can meaningfully participate in an equitable, effective, and efficient response.
The GTF is mandated by the Government of Moldova and UNHCR, as part of the Refugee Coordination Structure under the Refugee Coordination Model, which provides the overarching framework for humanitarian coordination. Humanitarian actors have an obligation to promote gender equality through humanitarian actions in line with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) ‘Gender Equality Policy Statement’ (2008), the IASC Policy and Accountability Framework on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls in Humanitarian Action (2017), the Agenda for Humanity from the World Humanitarian Summit (2016), and the Grand Bargain. Humanitarian actors also have an obligation to support women’s and girls’ protection, participation and empowerment through targeted actions, as articulated in the Women, Peace and Security thematic agenda as outlined in United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The Annual Report aims to take stock of the results achieved by the GTF, show the impact that individual GTF members and the collective made on the response, acknowledge gaps and identify how to best focus shared efforts moving forward.
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Story
24 November 2023
From gates to decoration products, Ion Caraja from Cahul gives iron a new life
In Ion Caraja's workshop, iron takes on a new life, being transformed into gates, fences, balustrades or other decorative iron products.
His business was founded in 2014, specializing in metal processing and providing services for ornate metal garments. Initially, Ion Caraja had two employees. Today, he has six.
In 2021, the entrepreneur benefited from a grant worth 30 thousand euros, granted by the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
With this money, a metal cutting machine was bought, which significantly increased productivity, so where previously it produced one product per day, now it manages to make up to ten products per day.
"To make beautiful, quality things and to increase productivity, this programme is needed. It is welcome in our region and in the Cahul district," notes Ion Caraja.
Ion Caraja is one of the 75 entrepreneurs from the Cahul and Ungheni regions who benefited from a grant worth 30,000 euros within the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
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Story
24 November 2023
Kindergarten children in Ungheni are now able to build and program robots thanks to EU-UNDP support
Kindergarten “Steluța” is one of seven preschool institutions in Ungheni that has been equipped with tablets, LEGO® sets, computers, interactive whiteboards and projectors with which more than 2,000 children can develop their digital skills and competencies.
The carousel and other designs
Seated at their desks, with a tablet and a LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential set in front of them, the children of the Ungheni kindergarten “Steluța” begin their robotics lesson. Under the guidance of three teachers, or robotics trainers, the little ones gather every two weeks in a well-equipped room to learn how to build and program robots.
“The robots are not just assembled; they also do other things. They move, they light up—this is very impressive for children and motivates them to do robotics,” explains Maxim Tișco, one of the robotics trainers.
Maxim Tișco, along with two other fellow educators, supervises and instructs children in robot programming.
“First we get the children interested, create a plot and get them in the mood, and then the actual programming begins. We try to integrate robotics topics with the topics that children study in classes so that there is continuity,” says robotics trainer Aliona Grușca. “Today we're going to program a carousel,” say the educators to the class, who are ready to start assembling the parts. The carousel is one of the many designs that children can assemble with the available sets. They can also assemble helicopters, ferries and cars. “The Lego building ideas are very diverse, and programming is easy, even though at first glance it may seem complicated. First, we taught the children how to use digital devices: how to turn on the tablet, how to open an app, how to turn off the tablet,” adds Aliona Grușca. Educators become robotics trainers Robotics classes started in Ungheni kindergartens, preceded by a series of trainings for educators. Lucia Gavriliuc, director of the kindergarten “Steluța”, notes that three staff members of the kindergarten have been trained to conduct robotics classes in the preparatory groups. “We realise that robotics is a field that can provide children with a bright future. The earlier children start, the more interesting it is for them because we use age-appropriate techniques. We encourage creativity and support the development of skills in creating games, building robots, and using the Internet and computers in everyday life,” emphasizes Lucia Gavriliuc. Through May - June and September this year, 19 educators from seven kindergartens in Ungheni participated in a robotics training program. During the sessions, participants explored several interactive tablet games and learned how to use LEGO® sets. Robotics stimulates creativity and develops fine motor skills Ana Melnic has two children, and her six-year-old daughter Alexandra attends robotics classes. “I was sceptical at first and didn't expect the lessons to be like this,” Ana says. But within a few months of starting the classes, Ana began to notice positive changes in Alexandra’s behaviour and development. “Alexandra has become much more attentive, inquisitive, and has learned how to learn through play. Lego has become her favourite toy even at home.” Irina Cojocaru is a robotics trainer at the kindergarten “Steluța” and Victoria's mother, her daughter, also attends robotics classes. “As a parent, I can tell you that the kids really enjoy robotics. My daughter is delighted. She counts the days and asks when the next robotics class will be. At home, she shares with me what she built that day and how she did it,” says Irina Cojocaru. While previously the children were used to traditional constructors like LEGO® that they assembled at home, without motors and without programming, within a few months they had mastered the basics of robotics and learned additional skills. “These classes develop children's creativity and fine motor skills, as the LEGO® set contains very small parts, which trains their attention and memory, because at the end the robot will have to be disassembled,” notes Maxim Tișco. The educators also note that robotics makes children more responsible, persistent, attentive, and fosters the desire to work in groups. In 2022-2023, through the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, kindergartens in Ungheni and Cahul municipalities were equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors, computers, colour printers, tablets and LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential sets worth more than €146,000.
“First we get the children interested, create a plot and get them in the mood, and then the actual programming begins. We try to integrate robotics topics with the topics that children study in classes so that there is continuity,” says robotics trainer Aliona Grușca. “Today we're going to program a carousel,” say the educators to the class, who are ready to start assembling the parts. The carousel is one of the many designs that children can assemble with the available sets. They can also assemble helicopters, ferries and cars. “The Lego building ideas are very diverse, and programming is easy, even though at first glance it may seem complicated. First, we taught the children how to use digital devices: how to turn on the tablet, how to open an app, how to turn off the tablet,” adds Aliona Grușca. Educators become robotics trainers Robotics classes started in Ungheni kindergartens, preceded by a series of trainings for educators. Lucia Gavriliuc, director of the kindergarten “Steluța”, notes that three staff members of the kindergarten have been trained to conduct robotics classes in the preparatory groups. “We realise that robotics is a field that can provide children with a bright future. The earlier children start, the more interesting it is for them because we use age-appropriate techniques. We encourage creativity and support the development of skills in creating games, building robots, and using the Internet and computers in everyday life,” emphasizes Lucia Gavriliuc. Through May - June and September this year, 19 educators from seven kindergartens in Ungheni participated in a robotics training program. During the sessions, participants explored several interactive tablet games and learned how to use LEGO® sets. Robotics stimulates creativity and develops fine motor skills Ana Melnic has two children, and her six-year-old daughter Alexandra attends robotics classes. “I was sceptical at first and didn't expect the lessons to be like this,” Ana says. But within a few months of starting the classes, Ana began to notice positive changes in Alexandra’s behaviour and development. “Alexandra has become much more attentive, inquisitive, and has learned how to learn through play. Lego has become her favourite toy even at home.” Irina Cojocaru is a robotics trainer at the kindergarten “Steluța” and Victoria's mother, her daughter, also attends robotics classes. “As a parent, I can tell you that the kids really enjoy robotics. My daughter is delighted. She counts the days and asks when the next robotics class will be. At home, she shares with me what she built that day and how she did it,” says Irina Cojocaru. While previously the children were used to traditional constructors like LEGO® that they assembled at home, without motors and without programming, within a few months they had mastered the basics of robotics and learned additional skills. “These classes develop children's creativity and fine motor skills, as the LEGO® set contains very small parts, which trains their attention and memory, because at the end the robot will have to be disassembled,” notes Maxim Tișco. The educators also note that robotics makes children more responsible, persistent, attentive, and fosters the desire to work in groups. In 2022-2023, through the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, kindergartens in Ungheni and Cahul municipalities were equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors, computers, colour printers, tablets and LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Essential sets worth more than €146,000.
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Story
21 November 2023
A refugee’s dream: „sit outside, see the trees and breathe”
A few years ago, after celebrating their last day at school, Vova and his classmates went to the seaside in Odesa. The then 14-year-old decided to jump off a cliff into the water, a decision that would change his life forever.
On 1 June, 2015, on Children’s Day, Vova had his first spinal surgery. The boy would spend four more months in the hospital undergoing various procedures.
“I brought my personal belongings to the hospital. We felt like we had moved there,” his mother Irina recalls.
Now 22, the young man, together with his mother and his younger sister live in Bender, Republic of Moldova. They left their seventh-floor apartment, life and friends in Odesa, seeking safety from the ongoing war.
The special bed that Vova sleeps in was brought by Irina disassembled from Odesa. The bed was donated to the family by friends and family and would be too expensive for them to buy themselves.
“My mother often took me to the sea, where I liked to watch the waves, the sunset, breathe the salt air. Since we’ve been in the Transnistrian region, I’ve never been able to go outside because my old wheelchair is no longer suitable for me,” the young man said.
On 23 October 2023, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and AOSIRM, the Association of People with Disability in Moldova, went to Bender, where they distributed wheelchairs to refugees from Ukraine who depend on wheelchairs to move around.
„The first thing I’m going to do when I sit in my new wheelchair is go outside. Simply sit outside, see the trees and breathe,” Vova says.
Forced displacement disproportionately affects people with disabilities. Around 12 million people with disabilities have been forcibly displaced by persecution, violence and human rights violations.
They are often more vulnerable to violence and exploitation, face barriers in accessing basic services and are often excluded from educational and professional opportunities.
At UNHCR Moldova, we work to ensure that people with disabilities have access to vital services and the opportunity to apply their skills and abilities for the benefit of themselves, their families and their communities.
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Story
21 November 2023
With the support of the EU and UNDP Moldova, a quail farm is being developed in the south of the country
The idea for this business was an old one that came to fruition thanks to a 4,000 euro grant from the “EU4Moldova: Focal Regions” Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
With the help of European investment, the Stefoglo couple built a room in the courtyard of their house, where they created all the conditions for raising quail chicks. At the same time, they purchased the equipment and technologies needed to launch the business.
“We purchased ten cages for two thousand quails, a power generator, an incubator for 1,200 eggs, air conditioners, germicidal lamps, a grain crusher, a refrigerator, a feather plucker, a ventilation system, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Thanks to this EU grant, we were able to turn our dream into a profitable business,” says Alexandra Stefoglo enthusiastically.
“Quail raised in Găvănoasa are sold all over the country”
Alexandra and Fiodor are the only ones in their region to open a quail farm. They had no education in animal husbandry, so they had to learn everything on the go to get their business up and running. Alexandra is a 53-year-old technology teacher at the local secondary school, while her husband Fiodor is retired and devotes all his free time to quails.
In the beginning, the Stefoglo couple opened a small farm for 150 quails. Gradually, the business grew, and now, with the help of a modern hatchery, they manage to raise almost 1,000 quails every month. Half of them are sold in several villages of the Cahul district, as well as all over the country.
Quail chicks are raised in environmentally friendly conditions and are fed on corn, wheat, barley and soybeans without any other harmful food additives.
“Starting a quail farm doesn't require a large investment. The main thing is to have the desire to see the business through to the end, and the income will not be long in coming. Our consumers love quail meat. We have sales coming in all the time and we are thinking about expanding the business,” says Alexandra.
Quail eggs are also popular and are nutritionally superior to chicken eggs.
“We produce over 3,000 fresh quail eggs every week. We sell them to order, on social media, to restaurant owners – they're in high demand right now. Quail eggs are very good for health. They improve memory, especially in the elderly, so people come and buy them,” Alexandra explains.
In promoting the business on social media, the Stefoglo couple is helped by their daughter Cristina, who also delivers orders to customers and does bookkeeping.
“We deliver fresh quail meat weekly throughout the Cahul district and beyond. Those wishing to purchase our products can find us on social media and call us to place an order,” says Cristina.
The Stefoglos want to purchase an electric smokehouse in the near future to delight their customers with a new product.
“We have a lot of requests to produce smoked meat as well, which is something we want and hope to achieve in the near future,” Alexandra says hopefully.
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Story
21 November 2023
A company from Cahul specializing in the manufacture of wet wipes has benefited from support from the EU and UNDP Moldova
Seven years ago, the entrepreneur Haralampie Bălteanu launched the company as a family business, but over the years it has grown and today has ten employees.
According to Haralampie Bălteanu, this field requires a lot of investment, patience and work. Initially, his company manufactured wet wipes under its own brand, and later began manufacturing under various brands to order.
"Our range of products has expanded and includes around 50 products under different brands, products from the hygiene or household range," mentions Haralampie Bălteanu.
In 2020, thanks to the grant competition for entrepreneurs conducted out by the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, financed by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF, machines that manufacture alcohol wipes were procured.
"Thanks to this project, we managed to enter the market with new products: wipes in a plastic tube with alcohol. It's like a universal machine that allowed us to expand the range of products a little," says the entrepreneur.
Haralampie Bălteanu is one of the 75 entrepreneurs from Cahul and Ungheni regions who benefited from a grant worth 30,000 euros within the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
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Press Release
24 November 2023
The European Union and UNDP contribute to reducing electricity bills in vulnerable households by replacing old appliances
The programme helps vulnerable households to reduce their electricity costs by replacing old appliances with new, energy-efficient equipment in line with the Government's efforts to increase energy efficiency in the residential sector.
"About half of the energy consumption in the Republic of Moldova belongs to households, and household appliances have an important share in consumption. By replacing energy-intensive appliances, we help vulnerable families to reduce their energy bills, at the same time increasing the comfort of their homes," said Victor Parlicov, Minister of Energy.
The launch of the programme, with a total budget estimated at US$5.8 million, was possible with European Union financing through the "Addressing the impacts of the energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova" programme, implemented by UNDP Moldova.
"We are launching this programme today with the objective that one day all Moldovan consumers will be able to upgrade their household appliances into new ones that consume less energy. While such move will generate more savings to each one of you, it will also contribute to your country’s efforts to combat climate change, as less energy consumption translates to fewer carbon emissions," said Jānis Mažeiks, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova.
In its initial stage, the "Rabla for Household Appliances" programme is implemented by UNDP Moldova in partnership with the Agency for Energy Efficiency (AEE), which made vouchers available to approximately 50,000 families to buy LED lamps, and an additional 6,000 families to buy large equipment.
"I would like to express our appreciation to the valuable partners who played a crucial role in making this programme possible. We extend our gratitude to the European Union for supporting energy-vulnerable households and for their vital assistance in realising our vision for a more sustainable energy future in Moldova. Savings at the household level are pivotal in conserving Moldova's essential energy resources. By replacing old household equipment with modern, energy-efficient models, we're taking a much-needed step in reducing energy usage and ensuring the most vulnerable Moldovans are the first to benefit from sustainable solutions," said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.
The programme offers financial support, through vouchers, of up to 80% of the cost of a refrigerator, electric stove, or washing machine. At the same time, in order to redeem the voucher, the beneficiary will have to pay the 20% contribution and hand over a used electrical appliance of the same type in exchange. The products may be picked up for recycling by the appliance stores upon delivery of the new equipment, and the contribution will go to the special account of the AEE which will be capitalized to offer more vouchers to an extended number of families, thus making it possible to increase the number of beneficiaries.
"When developing the given programme, we put a special emphasis on digitalization and ensuring equal opportunities for all energy-vulnerable families, regardless of age or access to information technologies. The preliminary results confirmed expectations, thus from the first days of launch, 82-year-old beneficiaries were also identified who easily redeemed the voucher without having to stand in line somewhere or go to some institution to submit certain applications in order to benefit from a voucher," said Ion Muntean, Director of the Agency for Energy Efficiency.
It is believed that, with the implementation of this programme, vulnerable consumers will benefit from lower electricity bills due to the use of more economical and energy-efficient equipment and light bulbs.
"These vouchers help us a lot to renew old household appliances, which we do not have the financial possibility to change. It would mean saving money for a long time, which is not easy for a family with six children and a disabled grandfather. We chose a refrigerator—we have the old one from our parents—and it might not be so energy efficient anymore. We first went to one of the stores indicated in the voucher to inform ourselves ahead of time,” said Mariana Mariț, a beneficiary who used a voucher for large equipment during the program's launch ceremony.
Vouchers are awarded to consumers registered in 2022 on the compensatii.gov.md platform, who have been identified as having a very high energy vulnerability category. Only eligible beneficiaries will be notified in stages via SMS messages, e-mail or phone about the availability of vouchers in their personal accounts on the compensatii.gov.md online platform. Families who register themselves for compensations this year will be eligible for a future vouchers programme to be implemented in 2024 by the National Center for Sustainable Energy, created through reorganization of AEE.
Details about the programme can be consulted on the ecovoucher.md website. Should applicants need support in redeeming the voucher, the Support Center at the Agency for Energy Efficiency may be contacted on 0 8005 5005.
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Press Release
21 November 2023
Inspiring Schools: Discover the best Moldovan schools nurturing a safe environment
Wondering what such an institution looks like? We'll tell you.
By the end of this year, you will discover friendly educational institutions within the national campaign „Schools that inspire”. In this regard, several videos, articles and posts will be promoted to illustrate institutions that develop, support and promote programs and initiatives for the physical and psycho-emotional well-being of every person in the school environment.
The schools were selected following a public announcement, launched at the end of September on social media. In a single week we received 105 files from the whole country, especially from schools in villages and districts.
They described their experience and achievements according to the indicators included in the questionnaire, naming: decent hygiene conditions and separate changing rooms; access to health information in compulsory/optional lessons and in extracurricular activities; socio-educational inclusion of vulnerable groups; promoting equal opportunities for girls and boys; prevention of bullying among students and teachers; ensuring a friendly environment for employees in the institution and outside the institution; attracting young teachers; supporting volunteer actions and collaborating with Youth Centers, etc.
All campaign materials will be published on the Facebook pages of the Ministry of Education and Research, UNFPA Moldova and Suntparinte.md, as well as on the official websites of these institutions.
The campaign is carried out as part of the Youth Empowerment Program through the development of life skills, supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Republic of Moldova, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, the Media Center for Youth and Suntparinte.md , with the financial support of Great Britain and Sweden.
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Press Release
21 November 2023
Italia contribuie cu 10 milioane de euro la sporirea rezilienței energetice în Moldova
Contribuția Italiei va permite autorităților să acopere compensațiile direct în factură în următoarea perioadă de încălzire pentru gospodăriile vulnerabile din punct de vedere energetic.
Datorită finanțării oferite de Guvernul Italiei, vor fi instalate contoare inteligente în gospodăriile care se confruntă cu un consum ridicat de energie și cu povara de a achita facturile. Această acțiune va contribui la o utilizare mai rațională a electricității, în special în orele de vârf. Datele colectate vor fi utilizate pentru elaborarea unor noi politici de eficiență energetică. Cu ajutorul rețelelor inteligente, consumatorii vor avea mai multe oferte din care să aleagă, putând opta pentru tarife flexibile. Astfel, aceștia vor putea utiliza aparatele electrocasnice în orele în care energia este mai ieftină.
„În general, în cadrul Platformei de Sprijin pentru Moldova, Italia contribuie cu 20 de milioane de euro la reziliența sectorului energetic din Republica Moldova. Mă bucur în mod deosebit că o componentă a acestui acord cu PNUD va fi dedicată instalării de contoare inteligente de energie electrică. Aceste dispozitive vor fi de mare ajutor familiilor din Republica Moldova, în special celor mai vulnerabile. Acestea vor contribui la eficientizarea rețelei de distribuție, la creșterea siguranței și la capacitatea de a gestiona energia electrică produsă din surse regenerabile. Mai multă eficiență înseamnă mai puțină vulnerabilitate”, a menționat Lorenzo Tomassoni, Ambasadorul Italiei în Republica Moldova.
„Cu suportul Italiei vom continua programul de digitalizare a sectorului energetic, prin extinderea numărului de contoare de generație nouă, care permit preluarea datelor de la distanță, în timp real, ceea ce pentru noi reprezintă primul pas spre tarife diferențiate la energie. Tot mulțumită Italiei vom putea mări numărul de clădiri publice ce vor beneficia de investiții în măsuri de eficiență energetică, astfel încât banii economisiți să poată fi redirecționați în alte scopuri. Noi plătim de circa trei ori mai mult pentru energie nu din cauză că avem tarife mari, ci pentru că nu am investit în eficiență energetică”, a spus Victor Parlicov, Ministrul Energiei al Republicii Moldova.
Cu sprijinul Guvernului Italiei și al PNUD, pe mai multe clădiri publice de importanță critică, inclusiv spitale, vor fi instalate panouri fotovoltaice. Prin urmare, instituțiile vor putea să reducă semnificativ facturile pentru energie, iar economiile ar putea fi direcționate pentru îmbunătățirea serviciilor esențiale oferite populației.
Totodată, asociațiile de proprietari vor fi ajutate să implementeze măsuri de reabilitare energetică în clădirile rezidențiale, cum ar fi: izolarea clădirilor, înlocuirea ferestrelor, izolarea termică a fațadelor, a pardoselii în subsol, instalarea panourilor fotovoltaice pe acoperișuri, modernizarea sistemelor de distribuție a încălzirii și multe altele.
„Apreciem contribuția Guvernului Italiei, care va aduce beneficii pe două dimensiuni. Va suplimenta resursele Fondului de reducere a vulnerabilității energetice, care oferă compensații direct în factură persoanelor din Moldova care se confruntă cu sărăcia energetică. Totodată, parteneriatul Italia-PNUD va susține implementarea măsurilor de eficiență energetică și în special a tehnologiilor precum contoarele inteligente, care accelerează tranziția energetică”, a declarat Daniela Gasparikova, Reprezentantă rezidentă PNUD în Republica Moldova.
„Programul de compensații la energie este unul inovativ, un nou model prin care Guvernul poate fi aproape de gospodăriile din Republica Moldova. Vreau să mulțumesc poporului italian și echipei PNUD Moldova pentru că sunt alături de cetățenii Republicii Moldova, precum și echipei ministerului pentru dedicația și efortul depus. Nu în ultimul rând, vreau să vă îndemn pe fiecare să utilizăm eficient și rațional resursele energetice”, a afirmat Alexei Buzu, Ministrul Muncii și Protecției Sociale al Republicii Moldova.
Fondul de Vulnerabilitate Energetică a fost creat în 2022 de Guvernul Republicii Moldova, cu sprijinul Uniunii Europene, Slovaciei și PNUD, în scopul atenuării sărăciei energetice, agravate de crizele multiple.
În sezonul de încălzire 2022-2023, aproximativ 895.000 de gospodării au beneficiat de compensații la factură. Conform evaluării PNUD a impactului Fondului, compensațiile au redus nivelul sărăciei energetice cu 43% și a avut cel mai mare impact asupra familiilor cele mai vulnerabile; au fost compensate până la 57% din costurile facturilor pentru gazul natural și 59% din costurile facturilor pentru energia termică.
PNUD și Uniunea Europeană, precum și alți parteneri de dezvoltare, vor continua să ofere sprijin și în sezonul de încălzire 2023-2024 pentru operaționalizarea Fondului. Totodată, se vor desfășura ample campanii de informare și conștientizare a necesității de a economisi energia.
Fondul de reducere a vulnerabilității energetice este completat de alte intervenții susținute de PNUD, inclusiv un program prin care populația este îndemnată să înlocuiască electrocasnicele vechi cu cele eficiente din punct de vedere energetic.
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Press Release
20 November 2023
Moldova: Mainstreaming ageing goes beyond social inclusion, says UN human rights expert
“Moldova is at a turning point in adapting to demographic transformation and making the necessary changes that will allow older persons to enjoy a better standard of living,” said Claudia Mahler, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, in a statement at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.
Mahler welcomed the recent adoption by the Government of a Programme for Active and Healthy Ageing (2023-2027). “In a country where older persons are highly dependent on social benefits as their main source of income, I commend the increase in the minimum pension rate in 2022,” she said.
“Mainstreaming ageing goes beyond social inclusion and it is essential that older persons are recognised as rights holders,” the expert said. She warned that all the human rights challenges posed by an ageing and shrinking society are mainly seen as social and economic issues, which tend to create dependency rather than an enabling and empowering environment for older persons.
Mahler urged the Government of Moldova to review its vision of ageing and adopt a human rights-based approach when developing and implementing domestic legislation, as well as policies, programmes and practices affecting older persons.
The Independent Expert pointed to recent and ongoing crises, including the energy crisis and the refugee crisis caused by the Russian Federation’s full-scale armed attack on Ukraine, to explain how inequalities for older persons have worsened and become more visible over the past two years.
“Many structural barriers persist and prevent older persons from fully enjoying their human rights,” Mahler said, pointing out older persons’ economic security, as well as their rights to equal access to the labour market, quality support and care, an adequate standard of living, including health and housing, and limited participation in decision-making.
The expert said that people who face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, such as older women, older LGBT people, older persons of ethnic and linguistic minorities, including older Roma people, and older persons in care institutions and prisons, are further at risk of age discrimination and being left behind.
“I hope that the preparation of a new National Human Rights Programme (PNADO) for the period 2023-2027 will contribute to strengthening human rights commitments at the international and regional levels, including for older persons,” Mahler said. “It would also contribute to Moldova’s European Union integration process, initiated in 2022,” she said.
The Independent Expert will present a comprehensive report of her findings and recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2024.
ENDS
Ms. Claudia Mahler (Austria) was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council as Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons in May 2020. She has been working for the German Institute for Human Rights as a senior researcher in the field of economic, social and cultural rights since 2010. She was also a visiting professor at the Alice Salomon Hochschule in 2020-2021. From 2001 to 2009, Ms. Mahler conducted research at the Human Rights Centre of the University of Potsdam where her main fields were in human rights education, minority rights and the law of asylum. In 2000, she received her doctoral degree and was appointed as Vice President of the Human Rights Commission for Tyrol and Vorarlberg.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights country page: Republic of Moldova
For further information and media requests, please contact Ms. Claire Mathellié at hrc-ie-olderpersons@un.org
For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Maya Derouaz (maya.derouaz@un.org) or Dharisha Indraguptha (dharisha.indraguptha@un.org)
Follow news related to the UN’s independent human rights experts on Twitter @UN_SPExperts.
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Press Release
21 November 2023
More than 50,000 vulnerable families from Moldova will receive vouchers for the replacement of used electrical appliances
Thus, "Rabla for Household Appliances" offers an opportunity for vulnerable families to reduce their electricity bills by replacing old electrical appliances with new, energy-efficient equipment.
The first stage of the programme starts today, 15 November, with a funding round for LED bulbs, during which free vouchers will be awarded to around 50,000 families. Vouchers will be awarded to consumers registered last year in the Energy Vulnerability Information System on the compensatii.gov.md platform who were assigned the very high energy vulnerability category. In the process of selecting beneficiaries, priority is given to families with at least one child, with the number of children in the family being a prioritization criterion. The electricity consumption is also analyzed.
Beneficiaries will be informed gradually, either by SMS, e-mail or phone, about the availability of vouchers in their personal accounts on the compensatii.gov.md platform. Also, beneficiaries who do not have mobile phones or internet access will be assisted by the representatives of the Unified Centers for the Provision of Public Services (CUPS).
"The given programme is an innovative example of capitalizing with maximum responsibility of the support given by the development partners, in an efficient manner, which ensures the continuation of the programme even after the completion of the external assistance project. The information system, which is the basis of the administration of the programme, allows the identification of voucher beneficiaries in an automated way, eliminating human intervention in the decision-making process. Thus, a transparent and impartial approach to the distribution of vouchers to those who need them is ensured. Through this programme, support is offered for the procurement of household electrical equipment with more efficient energy consumption, thus contributing to the promotion of a responsible and sustainable use of energy resources," says Ion Muntean, director of the Agency for Energy Efficiency.
According to estimates, just replacing a single 60W incandescent bulb with a 10W LED bulb, which is similar in brightness, brings savings of 328.5 lei per year. In a household with five light bulbs working simultaneously for seven hours a day, the replacement of light bulbs with economical LED ones will produce electrical bill savings of approximately 1642.5 lei per year.
With a total budget estimated at 5.8 million dollars, the "Rabla for Household Appliances" programme will provide financial support, by way of vouchers, of up to 80% of the cost of a refrigerator, electric stove, or washing machine. Beneficiaries will contribute 20% of the value of the equipment. At the same time, in order to redeem the voucher, the beneficiary will have to exchange a used electrical appliance of the same type. The vouchers for LED bulbs will be provided free of charge, without personal contribution.
Details about the programme are available on the ecovoucher.md website. Should applicants need support in redeeming the voucher, the Support Center at the Agency for Energy Efficiency may be contacted on 0 8005 5005.
The "Rabla for Household Appliances" programme is implemented in partnership with the Agency for Energy Efficiency (AEE) which is being reformed and will become the National Center for Sustainable Energy.
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