Project Summary:

The primary objective of the programme is to enhance the human security of Ukrainian refugees, third country nationals (TCNs) fleeing the war in Ukraine, and their host communities in Moldova. The programme will do so through putting in place resources to address the increasing vulnerabilities and support the social and economic integration of conflict-affected populations (bearing in mind elements such as gender, age, disability, and other diversity characteristics of individuals), as part of a transformative development process in Moldova.

Under this programme, UNDP and IOM will build resilience to the compounded crisis in Moldova, which has been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, while securing gains from humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian refugees, TCNs, and host communities.

Objectives:

• Infrastructure and basic services are effectively and adequately provided to the refugees, TCNS, and the host communities, demonstrating “build-forward-better” with green, energy-efficient and digital technologies;

• Refugees, TCNs, returning migrants and host community members, particularly women, older people and persons with disabilities, have access to livelihoods and employment opportunities, including in agriculture and food supply chains, that help them build self-reliance and live with dignity;
• Universal access to protection, including support to survivors of gender-based violence and trafficking in persons, is ensured for the refugees, TCNs, and Moldovan communities, with special attention to women, children, older people, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups;
• Refugees, TCNs, returning Moldovan migrants, and host communities live in an inclusive, non-discriminatory, and peaceful environment where social cohesion, mutual trust and enhanced human security prevail.

Expected results:

• The programme will adopt an area-based programming approach, focusing on at least five communities with a high concentration of refugees and TCNs, and high level of vulnerability with imminent needs across multiple sectors at a large scale;
• Residents in these communities, are estimated to be approximately 1,200 refugees and TCNs and 40,000 host community people in total;
• Local public authorities leading the target communities will benefit from support in upgrading the local public services and enhanced crisis resilience;
• The National Employment Agency and its territorial offices will enhance their capacity to effectively support refugees in need of assistance on their job-seeking journey;
• Private sector representatives will benefit from both capacity building activities and grant/support schemes.

Accomplishments:

• 5 communities where Ukrainian refugees have settled in larger numbers have benefited from the modernization of public infrastructure in order to improve access to services: 

1. 10 playgrounds were set up in Ungheni municipality in areas predominantly populated by Ukrainian refugees to ensure better social cohesion between them and the locals;
2. The Health Center in the town of Cornești, Ungheni municipality, was made energy efficient by replacing all windows and doors with new ones;
3. The Health Center in Sculeni, Ungheni, was equipped with a solid biomass heating system;
4. A mini-sports stadium was built on the territory of the "Dimitrie Cantemir" High School in Cahul municipality, where refugees from Ukraine study;
5. A playground was set up in the central park in the village of Burlăceni, Cahul;

• 80 representatives of LPAs from nine districts (Cahul, Ungheni, Straseni, Hincesti, Anenii Noi, Criuleni, Ialoveni, Călărași and Nisporeni) learned how to integrate key human security principles and approaches into their work through three capacity building trainings organized in cooperation with the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova;
• 47 police officers from 8 districts were trained, in collaboration with the General Police Inspectorate, on community policing - how to be closer to the community in which they work, to be proactive in identifying and solving security problems faced by community members, and to enhance community safety and trust in the police and three inspectorates across the country have been each equipped with a new car to ensure prompt intervention in remote locations;
• 17 professionals working in the areas of mental health including with survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and refugees successfully completed a 10-day training on Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) and a shelter for survivors of gender-based violence in the region was created in Ungheni;
• 186 young people from all regions of the Republic of Moldova, including from the Găgăuzia region, from the left bank of the Nistru River, as well as refugees from Ukraine, attended the summer camp "#YOUthAct - Youth for Justice" in July-August 2023 and gained knowledge about human rights and the justice system in Moldova;
• 365 local, diaspora and refugee children and youth participated in the #AcasăCamp2023 summer camps, organised in 15 communities by local hometown associations in July-August 2023 where they discovered together the traditions and potential of these localities for greater social cohesion. The national forum of hometown association “Social cohesion at home” was organized in October 2023 where 60 hometown associations gathered together and shared accomplishments and challenges encountered in 2023 and plans for 2024; 
• The National Employment Agency (NEA) was supported to organize a job fair for Moldovans, refugees from Ukraine, and third-country nationals job seekers, which was attended by 50 employers and over 2,000 jobseekers and 2 NEA mobile teams are fully equipped to provide outreach services in Criuleni and Dubăsari;
• The Council for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination and Ensuring Equality was supported to improve its capacity through the technical equipping of staff and to contribute to raising awareness of the general public on equality and non-discrimination by organizing several public meetings and events on the rights and instruments of protection against discrimination in Moldova, including for refugees. A study on observing changes in people's perceptions and attitudes towards equality during the crisis period was also developed.