Outcome MDA_D_1.3

By 2027, all people of Moldova, especially the most vulnerable, benefit from inclusive, competitive and sustainable economic development and equal access to decent work and productive employment. (UNSDCF Outcome 3)

The outcome has not been achieved, but government institutions enhanced the normative and policy framework, to advance women’s economic empowerment and improved their access to decent work. Main results for 2023 are as follows: The Government approved the National Program for childcare services for children under 3 years ( Government Decision n. 572 ) to improve women’s access to labor market and decent work. UN Women, leveraging on its coordination mandate, lead joint efforts with UNFPA and UNICEF to provide direct policy advice and expert assistance in the legal amendments, including providing the cost-benefit analysis of investment in childcare. Over 400 women and men at the National Inspectorate of Police and the private company Conteyor in Causeni now have childcare services within their workplaces, enhancing work-life balance and career advancement. All these efforts are expected to increase the number and retention of women employed within the public security system. Women have improved access to decent work in Moldova due to increased investment in alternative childcare and joint collaboration of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the National Fund for Regional and Local Development. 36 women initiated new businesses, while 182 expanded existing ones , experiencing a collective turnover increase of 1 million MDL. Business support programs, national and international fairs, and financial assistance contributed to their success, fostering both business and personal development. Women refugees from Ukraine have access to business support, livelihood and employment programmess, alongside with financial assistance through cash for work and vouchers for children, extended by UN Women and by fostering partnerships with local entrepreneurs for enhancing resilience during crisis . T o enhace women entrepreneurs access to resources, UN Women supported the Ministry of Economy to develop new program for women's entrepreneurship development, which was approved in November 2023 and will be implemented by the Organisation for Entrepreneurship Development. As a result of the establishment of the Business Incubator by Chisinau municipality, mentoring has been provided to 30 women-led businesses, while opportunities for women from vulnerable groups, including young girls and migrants, have been enhanced through access to business trainings and financial support. The incubator now offers co-working space, information access, and various events, further facilitating the growth and empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the community. 69 women, including Ukrainian refugee women, have better opportunities to access the labor market, with new acquired skills in Social Media Marketing and Software Testing after graduating from Women in Online Work Programme. 42 women refugees integrated into the labor market through the Cash for Work program, and 35 advanced in careers. Around 3000 pupils, including 25 child refugees, have advanced IT knowledge, following the creation of two modern digital labs in Causeni and Balti established by UN Women, to ensure inclusive and supportive education for girls pursuing STEM and IT careers. The ToC remains applicable. Due to improved legislation on child care services, flexible working hours, paternity leave, and t ailored programmes, such as for women entrepreneurship, women’s labor force participation rate increased with 3.8 % in the second quarter of 2023, compared to the same periods of the previous year (from 38.0 % to 41.8%). Government institutions, civil society and private sector are further committed to advance on gender equality and women economic empowerment. UN Women Moldova remains committed to contribute to inclusive, competitive and sustainable economic development and equal access to decent work and productive employment of women and girls from Republic of Moldova, especially the most vulnerable. The CO manged to secure 2.8 ml. USD for this outcome in 2023.

By 2027, all people of Moldova, especially the most vulnerable, benefit from inclusive, competitive and sustainable economic development and equal access to decent work and productive employment. (UNSDCF Outcome 3)

The outcome 3 has not yet been fully achieved, but significant steps have been made in enhancing the normative and policy framework to advance women’s economic empowerment and improve their access to decent work. 20 women entrepreneurs expanded their businesses and reported about 10 percent increase in performance as result of their participation in entrepreneurship support programs designed by UN Women, and in national and international fairs, such as the Local Women Producers Fair in Chisinau, the Riga Food 2024 and the Regional Women Expo 2024. 10 private companies from Moldova signed in 2024 the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) bringing to a total of 29 private companies implementing gender responsive policies and enabling more than 3000 employees to benefit from inclusive policies, from equitable access to career development and supportive work environments. The Central Government and the Chisinau Mayoralty opened for the first time, alternative childcare services within its proper structures enabling 400 employees- prevalently women- from the Ministries of Economy and Digitalization, Infrastructure and Regional Development, Energy, Education and Research, Culture, as well as State Chancellery to increase their productivity by working in flexible and child friendly environment , to have access to equal opportunities for career development and to retain their jobs. Similarly, the local authorities from Glodeni and Riscani Mayoralties in the north, opened for the first time creches (accommodating 40 children up to 2 years old) in the premises of public kindergartens, enabling young mothers to reduce their unpaid care work and/or undertake initiatives for improving their employability. Four Government entities, namely Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (MLSP), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI), as well as the State Labor Inspectorate (SLI) amended internal policies and developed new mechanisms – scheduled for Government approval in first quarter of 2025 -to address the persisting gender wage gap and ensure equal opportunities and competitiveness in public procurement and trade. MOF revised the public procurement practices in line with international standards on gender responsive procurement, while the MAFI assessed and amended Agricultural Chamber Law, ensuring that women have equal opportunities to access agribusiness development support programs and benefit from the newly established ecosystems at the regional level. Lastly, MLSP developed the mechanism to evaluate and classify job functions, ensuring equal pay for work of equal value, while the SLI developed a Gender Mainstreaming Strategy and gender-sensitive tools and indicators to monitor pay transparency, but also assess and act on sexual harassment at the workplace. The above-mentioned Government institutions and private sector entities contributed to the implementation of key national documents pertaining to gender equality, such as the Government Programme on Gender Equality, National Programme on Childcare, the Roadmap for Women Economic Empowerment, as well as to the CEDAW recommendations 32, 36 and 38 for Republic of Moldova. This was made possible thanks to UN Women technical assistance and expert advice and support, capacity development initiatives, reaching more than 650 civil servants and 550 private sector employees, as well as tailored advocacy and direct outreach to women in the regions, enabled through financial support from the Governments of Sweden and Switzerland. The ToC remains applicable. Although, the continued efforts of the Government to close the gender gaps and enable inclusive, competitive and sustainable economic development are demonstrating modest signs of improvement, these require continues support and investment, since the labor force participation of women remains stagnant (42,2% in the 3 rd quarter of 2024, compared to 42,1% in the same period in 2023). UN Women Moldova remains committed to contribute to equal access to decent work and productive employment of women and girls. In 2024, the CO-signed multiyear partnership Agreements with the Swiss Development Cooperation and the Austrian Development Agency for a total of 4.4. million USD in support of women’s business development and employability of most vulnerable groups of women.