The United Nations Development Programme in Moldova (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, are initiating a major digital transformation project to improve, unify and digitalize social protection services. The project will assist in social protection system digitalization, developing people-centered policies and using reliable data to make informed decisions. 

UNDP and UNICEF will assess the existing digital capacities and resources of the Ministry and other subordinate social protection institutions and develop an integrated digital platform that will serve as a unified platform for all services managed through the 15 information systems currently in place. This will facilitate the work of the Ministry's employees, enabling faster, more efficient, and transparent processing of applications. This will improve citizens' experience of accessing social protection and other necessary services through a unified platform that will eliminate the need for repeated submission of the same documents.

Moreover, the platform will help the Ministry to detect and eliminate errors, fraud, and inequalities and the data collected through the platform will facilitate decision-making and the development of social policies that are fair, balanced and focused on the best interest of the beneficiary. To achieve these goals, the Ministry has created, with the support of UNDP and UNICEF, the Digital Centre for Social Innovation, which will host tech professionals and user experience experts. 

“The digitalization of social services will, first and foremost, make it easier for our frontline colleagues, who manage dozens of beneficiaries' cases. The digital transformation of the social protection system will also make it easier for citizens to access all social services and benefits and no longer need to come with dozens of documents, which make it difficult for them to engage with public institutions. We aim to digitalize all social assistance services and the entire social protection system as much as possible to be closer and more accessible to our citizens and to build together a European Moldova where every citizen is protected,” said Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection.

“UNDP and partners will support the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in creating a new integrated digital architecture, designed to link up, over time, all existing systems and digitize its business processes. Additionally, the establishment of a Digital Centre for Social Innovation within the Ministry will ensure standardization in software development and adaptation of automated systems to future demands across the areas in the Ministry’s responsibility. The envisioned impact is a national social protection system that is more agile, effective, and centered on people, aligned with EU approaches and standards, and capable of contributing to the country's strategic aims of reducing poverty, promoting social inclusion, and leaving no one behind,” said Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

“By digitalizing social protection services, we ensure that children and their families receive immediate and comprehensive support when they need it most. Beyond the financial assistance, they will be one click away from a full range of social services. This streamlined access allows us to more effectively prevent and address situations of risk faced by children,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova.

Implemented by UNDP, the three-year project has a total estimated budget of US$8.5 million. A first contribution of $850,000 is being provided by UNICEF from the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Federal Republic of Germany, through the German Development Bank (KfW). This will enable the creation and operationalization of the one-stop-shops of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection designed for the final beneficiaries, purchasing of the necessary digital equipment and the support of staff in the first year of activity.