Locations
Focus areas
Gender equality
Summary
Women's rights are human rights
Overall, the national legal framework and institutional architecture advancing equality between women and men is in line with international standards and established good practices, placing Moldova 7th, among 148 nations, in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Index. Nevertheless, women are still facing multiple forms of discrimination and inequalities in social, economic, and political life, frequently rooted in persistent patriarchal norms and gender stereotypes. They often struggle with limited opportunities for effective participation in decision-making processes and public life, remaining disproportionately represented in leadership positions at all levels and across sectors. Even though women constitute nearly 54% of the population, they occupy less than 40% of seats in the Parliament and represent less than 25% of mayors in the country.
Moldova’s labour market presents a significant gap between men’s and women’s participation (averaging at 6%), with the sharpest difference experienced by women with at least one child under the age of 6 years – 17.5% fewer women employed, compared to men in the same family situation. Some of the main factors determining this dynamic include traditional gender roles, unpaid care responsibilities and limited access to certain professions or more flexible and accommodating work arrangements, all contributing to this persistent disparity. Women continue to be over-represented in rural and informal economies, as well as in most of the social sectors (e.g., education, health, social protection). 2024 study on women’s involvement in business indicates a lower share of women entrepreneurs compared to men (33.9% leading and 38.6% owning micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses), conditioned by a considerable number of barriers faced by women wishing to start their own business (e.g., access to finance, disproportionate burden of care and time poverty, lack of adequate support systems). Moreover, women rarely own large businesses (only about 1.3%).
Gender-based violence is still widespread in the country. Existing mechanisms for combating and preventing domestic violence and the remedies available are not fully efficient. The country has strong policies and legal instruments to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV), but its consistently high prevalence (above 70%) points to the gap between existing regulatory frameworks and the actual lived experiences of women and girls. Over one in three Moldovan women aged 15 years and older has experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. The prevalence of this phenomenon appears to be entrenched in a high level of societal normalization of violent behaviors within private contexts.
In addition, the war in Ukraine generated an influx of refugees and a compound crisis of energy security exacerbating, in multiple ways, already significant gender inequalities.
Commitment. Equal opportunities. Empowerment
In Moldova, UNDP works to help the country shift systems and power structures that generate gender inequalities and women’s disempowerment. A particular emphasis is placed on promoting measures that offer more opportunities for women to participate in decision-making, be more competitive on the labor market, take leadership positions in the private sector and consolidate efforts to fight gender-based violence. UNDP will strive to implement actions aligned with its Strategic Plan 2026-2029 that positions gender equality as an accelerator for progress across all its strategic objectives.
A regional centre for protection of women survivors of violence was established in Ungheni with the support of Japan and UNDP.
In depth
UNDP, alongside other United Nations entities, has partnered with civil society organisations in advocating for the adoption of legal provisions which established a 40% gender quota for political parties’ candidate lists and in the Government Cabinet, prohibition of sexism in media and advertising, and the introduction of 14 days of paternity leave. UNDP will continue to support gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment across key development areas in the country.
UNDP Moldova contributed to critical amendments to the legislation addressing gender-based and domestic violence, adopted in July 2016, that have introduced a 10-day restraining order that isolates the perpetrators from the family home, along with other unprecedented measures to increase the safety of victims. At the same time, UNDP Moldova provided critical support to women in leadership positions at all levels enabling them to become effective drivers of gender equality agenda, created jobs and supported women-led businesses, set-up services in support of the most vulnerable and marginalized women across the country.
Prevention and response to gender-based violence
In response to the spread gender-based violence, UNDP Moldova mobilized strong participatory processes and local responses which, in their turn, ensure greater impact and resilience to the GBV triggers.
In 2020, UNDP established a Regional Centre in Găgăuzia region for GBV survivors and impacted community members, which can offer access to psychological, legal, and social assistance services. A mobile team was set up, to serve remote localities in the region. The safe space aided both Moldovan GBV survivors and refugee women from Ukraine, adapting to their needs.
This model was extended to Ungheni district, where a similar Centre was established, ensuring accommodation and comprehensive services for GBV survivors, including legal, social, and psychological support and vocational counselling.
At the same time, UNDP contributes to enhanced community safety including by enhancing the police force's response capabilities to security threats and improved support for violence survivors.
GBV survivors benefit from stronger legal safeguards on their paths to justice as the Regulation on Medical Assessment of the Severity of Bodily Injuries, developed with UNDP support, considers the psychological effects of violence on person’s health, introduces the principle of reasonable accommodation, as well as includes indications for mandatory reporting of domestic violence cases, irrespective of the survivors’ consent.
Five mobile teams were operationalized with UNDP support in 9 districts across the country, helping women and girls address gender-based violence grievances and access multidisciplinary support services, such as legal and social assistance, psychological support, employment assistance and economic empowerment initiatives. Additionally, women, including refugees from Ukraine, are assisted by local partner CSOs in finding employment. These CSO-led services complement the work of national authorities, including the National Employment Agency, by providing tailored support and bridging gaps in access to job opportunities.
UNDP supports the professionals – psychologists, social workers, teachers, and lawyers – from specialised organisations from all regions of Moldova to offer counseling to a wider category of population. Thus, UNDP has adapted the Common Elements Treatment Approach – a unique treatment approach to multiple mental health challenges, which is now familiar to professionals in Moldova. This counselling programme, developed by specialists from Johns Hopkins University in the USA and piloted in several countries where there is a shortage of mental health services and professionals trained to provide them, enables professionals to assist people struggling with alcoholism, violence, as well as mild forms of anxiety and depression.
Gender equality and effective governance, justice & human rights
UNDP helps the national partners to develop gender-sensitive policies and budgets, introduce gender analysis in policymaking, set gender-sensitive targets and indicators, and collect and disseminate sex disaggregated data. The Parliament has been supported in the re-establishment of the Women Caucus and enhancing its role in law making and oversight. The capacity of the Central Electoral Commission to collect, analyze and disseminate sex disaggregated data on candidates, elected officials, electoral administrators and active voters was enhanced through the automated elections system developed with UNDP support.
Gender equality and inclusive growth
UNDP helps public authorities and private sector in Moldova to promote equal opportunities for women and men with interventions ranging from policymaking to implementation. Social and economic empowerment of women is an area of special interest for UNDP’s work in Moldova. We contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 5 by focusing on fostering women’s participation in decision-making and in local governance, social, human rights, and economic activities.
Aiming to achieve sustainable women’s economic empowerment, UNDP will address the factors that can most directly promote it: access to individual, household, and community resources; the breaking of unequal social norms and the building of strong, inclusive and gender sensitive institutions.
UNDP works with the private sector, improving access of women entrepreneurs to capacity development programmes and financing opportunities, as well as fostering cooperation and mutual support among business networks on both banks of Nistru River.
New technologies are changing the dynamics of work and the skills required presenting both opportunities for creating gender-equal economic opportunities for women, as well as important challenges. A key priority for UNDP is to ensure that women have relevant skills in the context of future of work. The need for skilling and reskilling will be addressed along with other factors constraining women’s equal access to economic opportunities, such as the unbalanced burden of unpaid care, social norms and stereotypes, and workplace inequality.
UNDP will continue to promote the advancement of digital literacy of women and girls, especially for those from disadvantaged groups, as well as for the advancement of women’s and girls’ access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math).
Gender equality and climate change, environment & energy
Environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change disproportionately affect men and women, with rural women in Moldova being particularly vulnerable. Due to their unequal economic and social status, rural women are more exposed to climate and environmental hazards. Their traditional roles as caregivers and providers for their families often increase their vulnerability when climate change impacts occur.
UNDP Moldova is actively supporting rural communities, especially women-led households and entrepreneurs, to enhance their resilience against environmental challenges. Through economic, social, and educational empowerment initiatives, UNDP aims to provide rural women with the tools and knowledge necessary to protect themselves, their families, and their ecological environment.
By focusing on improving women's access to education and knowledge, UNDP encourages the adoption of sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices and business models. These models often incorporate energy-efficient and renewable technologies, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic empowerment. Additionally, UNDP supports the identification of co-financing opportunities for climate-resilient agricultural production solutions at the local level, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Shifting the narrative from vulnerability to empowerment, UNDP's capacity-building measures aim to transform existing gender inequalities into opportunities for achieving gender equality. This approach challenges traditional gender stereotypes and cultural norms, empowering women to become active agents of change in their communities.
UNDP Moldova remains committed to promoting women's economic empowerment by facilitating access to employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, and essential resources. These efforts contribute to building more resilient communities and advancing Moldova's progress towards sustainable development goals.
