In April-May 2017, the National Bureau of Statistics, with the support of the United Nations, will hold 10 consultations with men and women from vulnerable groups such as elderly, unemployed, single parents, migrants, etc. These will facilitate the collection of data that mirror multiple dimensions of poverty, such as access to health, education, transport and other services.

The piloting of the project is organized with the support of the Social Innovation Lab (MiLab), a project of United Nations Development Programme and the Centre for Electronic Governance. Experts of the Innovation Foundation NESTA, based in UK, will provide teams methodological assistance. NESTA is a foundation with extensive experience working globally with governmental partners on issues related to innovation of public policies and good governance.

The participatory approach will help assess the complexity of poverty phenomenon and its dimensions, given that economic indicators, such as income and expenses, are not always in line with those experiences and perceptions of people, that are deeply affected in day-to-day life.

“Our measurements do not always reflect the real society’s perception about poverty. We want to develop a methodology that can capture the voice of the poor, so that we can more efficiently estimate poverty dimensions and be able to engage civil society to maximize our efforts to collect data about poverty in Moldova”, said Ala Negruta, Deputy General Director of the National Bureau of Statistics.

A new approach to multidimensional poverty assessment will be identified, based on the premises of consultations to happen. The new survey will be piloted until the end of 2017, and its results will offer further insights for elaborating poverty reduction and sustainable local development policies.

A World Bank report "Poverty reduction and shared prosperity in Moldova" from 2016 shows that Moldova has experienced progress in poverty reduction, nonetheless, it remains one of the poorest countries in the region.

Areas of concern remain unsolved, such as inequality between urban and rural areas to access education and other services. Moreover, frequent macroeconomic shocks enhance the vulnerability of those affected by poverty.

By 2020, the Government of the Republic of Moldova pledges to take out of poverty over 150 thousand men and women. Currently, 6 percent of the Moldovan population live in extreme poverty and daily spend up to $ 2.5, equivalent to 50 lei.