2024 Moldova Refugee Response Plan (RRP) Objectives, Activities and Indicators and their Contribution to National Development Plans, January 2024

The 2024 Refugee Response Plan for the Ukraine Situation in Moldova represents an exemplary inter-agency and coordinated effort. The plan, developed through extensive consultations with diverse stakeholders, including government institutions, local authorities, the private sector, the UN, international NGOs, national and local civil society organizations, refugees themselves, and their host communities, exemplifies best practices in collaborative planning.

A key feature is the alignment between humanitarian community priorities and those of the Moldovan government. As enshrined in the 1951 Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), the primary responsibility for protecting and assisting refugees lies with national governments, who retain the ultimate responsibility for their welfare and lead the development and implementation of comprehensive refugee responses. UNHCR and other stakeholders support them in this, upholding the principles of solidarity and burden-sharing.

Fortunately, this ideal is a reality in Moldova. Since day one of the response, the government has demonstrated its commitment to refugee protection and inclusion, maintaining an open border policy and guaranteeing access to rights and services. Moreover, government institutions have shown exemplary leadership, promoting an evidence-based response aligned with international standards together with UNHCR and partners under the framework of the Refugee Coordination Model, and in line with the GCR. These efforts, widely recognized as best practices, have been supported by strong international solidarity for refugees from Ukraine and Moldovans.

As we move into the third year of the response, it is crucial that aid organizations continue supporting the government in fulfilling its obligations under international refugee law. Humanitarian activities must contribute not only to refugee well-being but also to the well-being of hosting communities. Therefore, this document presents an overview of how the 2024 Refugee Response Plan objectives and activities align with Moldova's national development plans and priorities, offering a framework to track their contributions to these priorities, and it is complemented by an RRP Annex that further elaborates the operationalization of the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus in Moldova. It is also the result of the strong collaboration between the government, Refugee Coordination Forum partners and the United Nations Country Team, a collaboration that enabled the country to smoothly respond to the surging needs following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This collaboration exemplifies how a whole-of-society approach, combined with international solidarity and burden-sharing, can empower countries of asylum to respond effectively while overcoming their own challenges and ensuring that no one is left behind.