Moldova has been directly affected by the war in Ukraine. Among other things, it triggered a massive refugee influx, equivalent to 13 % of Moldova's population in the first few weeks alone. Even though the majority of them have moved on, the influx of refugees is overwhelming for such a small country: 107,728 refugees (almost half of them minors) are currently staying in Moldova (as of 05 March 2023), accounting for more than 4 % of the total population. In the field of education, the infrastructure of schools in Moldova shows severe deficiencies, e.g. in access to WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene): For example, about half of the students in schools only have access to low-quality water, and about 8 % of schools have no central water and sanitation system at all. In rural areas, where nearly three-quarters of educational institutions are located, about 70 % of schools and 40 % of preschools do not have indoor sanitation facilities.

Therefore, the project aims at strengthening the national system for the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to children in preschools and elementary school, as well as at health, social protection and child protection in the Republic of Moldova. This includes improving and rehabilitating WASH infrastructure and installing climate-resilient WASH systems, building capacity for early intervention services for young children with developmental delays and providing medical equipment in specific districts, as well as improving access to youth-friendly health services and clinics, especially in rural areas. It will also support the development of women-led civil society organizations to strengthen child protection and improve national welfare systems to close gaps in social protection for Moldovan and refugee children.

Project Outputs: 

Output 1.1: The education system, national and local authorities, have improved capacities to ensure safe and secure learning environment for all refugee and Moldovan children.

Activities under Output 1.1: Conduct a national assessment on access to WASH in preschools and Schools. Development of WASH Strategy and costed Action Plan for educational institutions, 2023-2030. Rehabilitation of schools’ infrastructure in targeted municipalities, including installation of cli-mate-resilient WASH systems.

Output 1.2: Early intervention services for young children, including refugee children with developmental delays and disabilities in two districts established and functional.

Activities under Output 1.2: Strengthening capacities of health providers (family doctors, pediatricians, nurses, social assistants, psychologists etc.) in two districts to provide early detection and intervention services; Refurbishment and procurement of equipment and tools for provision of early detection intervention for young children with developmental delays and disabilities in two Early interventions Centers.

Output 1.3: Mobile youth friendly health services (YFHS) in rural area in 2 pilot districts are established and functional.

Activities under Output 1.3: Capacity building of YFHS and PHC professionals to provide mobile and outreach services to Moldovan and refugee adolescents from rural area, including referral; Equipment of YFHS Mobile teams with transportation, equipment and SOP/protocols and other tools.

Output 2.1: The national system has strengthened capacities to provide children with nurturing family environment, access to improved violence prevention and response services, and child-friendly justice.

Activities under Output 2.1: Strengthen the prevention and response mechanisms to violence against children, including adolescents, based on what works and best practices; Strengthen the system and tools for preventing and protecting children from online violence and sexual exploitation; Empower girls and women, including through strengthening women and girls led organisations, to promote gender equality and address GBV; Strengthen vulnerable families' resilience to prevent child separation from their families, with a focus on children with disabilities; Develop integrated services for children victims and witnesses of crimes (Barnahus type Service) in Cahul.

Output 2.2: The national social protection system is more resilient and shock responsive to better address the needs of the most vulnerable.

Activities under Output 2.2: Support the MLSP to develop digitalized management information system for the national social assistance programme, including a single online registration and grievance mechanisms for eligible Moldovan families and refugees; Assess and revise the eligibility criteria of Ajutor Social, including Proxy Means Test (PMT) for Household Budget Surveys, and refugees’ needs assessments.

Output 2.3: Support the MLSP to increase coverage and efficiency of the national social assistance programme for vulnerable families with children and refugees.

Activities under Output 2.3: Conduct simulations for expansion coverage and benefits for most vulnerable households, including host communities and refugees; Support the analysis of social budgets to leverage domestic resources and public finance for strengthened social protection mechanisms for the inclusion of refugee households into the national social assistance programme.

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection

Ministry of Education and Research

Ministry of Health

Ministry of Justice

UNICEF has established partnerships with the following Civil Society Organizations:

TDH - Terre des hommes;

La Strada;

Health for Youth Association (Sanatate pentru Tineri);

LUMOS Association;

Prietena mea;

Association for Participatory Criminal Justice.