Locations
Focus areas
Development financing
Summary
UNDP Moldova supports national efforts to reimagine how public and private resources are mobilized, allocated, and governed to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through our integrated approach, we work with the government, private sector, and international partners to build a more inclusive, efficient, and sustainable financing system in Moldova.
UNDP’s support also contributes to Moldova’s EU accession process and the implementation of the EU-Moldova Growth Plan Reform Agenda, helping align financing systems, public finance reforms, and investment priorities with European standards and national development objectives.
From improving tax systems and aligning budgets with development goals to mobilizing private capital and financing climate and biodiversity targets, our support is rooted in innovation, evidence, and national ownership. Moldova’s path to sustainable development requires a resilient financial ecosystem – and UNDP is working to make that vision a reality.
The Lower Prut reserve is located in the south-western part of Moldova, in the Cahul district. UNDP supports the Republic of Moldova to mobilize resources at scale to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework.
In depth
UNDP’s work on development finance in Moldova draws from its global Sustainable Finance Hub and is closely aligned with national strategies and EU integration priorities.
Strengthening domestic resource mobilization: Tax for SDGs
Tax systems are central to sustainable development. In April 2024, Moldova joined UNDP’s global Tax for SDGs initiative through the signing of the Country Engagement Plan between UNDP, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Tax Service. The initiative aims to enhance Moldova’s ability to:
- Combat tax avoidance, evasion, and illicit financial flows
- Align tax and fiscal policies with national SDG priorities
- Strengthen institutional capacities within the Ministry of Finance and State Tax Service
Beyond revenue collection, taxation is being used as a policy tool to shape healthier and more sustainable behaviours. Health-related taxes – on tobacco, alcohol, and fossil fuels – are recognized globally for their dual benefit of reducing non-communicable diseases while creating new revenue streams for development. UNDP supports evidence-based policymaking in this area, helping governments advocate for and implement reforms that improve health outcomes, fiscal sustainability, and economic resilience.
UNDP has supported analytical work and policy dialogue on health-related taxation, including tobacco and petroleum products, strengthening the government’s capacity to assess the fiscal and development impact of tax policy options.
Aligning public spending with development goals
Efficient and transparent public spending is key to sustainable development. Since 2018, UNDP has supported Moldova in introducing spending reviews as a strategic tool to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of public expenditures. Pilot spending reviews were conducted in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and social protection. In December 2025, Parliament institutionalized spending reviews as a permanent budgetary instrument within the national public finance framework. With support from UNDP and the Government of Slovakia, the national spending review methodology was developed and applied in practice, integrating SDG and gender considerations. UNDP continues to support the Ministry of Finance and line ministries in operationalizing this framework, strengthening evidence-based policymaking, and contributing to a more accountable and performance-based public finance system.
Unlocking private sector capital: SDG Investor Map
Achieving the SDGs requires mobilizing significant private sector capital. In Moldova, UNDP is working with the Invest Moldova Agency to develop the country’s first SDG Investor Map – a strategic tool that identifies high-impact investment opportunity areas aligned with national development objectives.
The SDG Investor Map builds on the 2022 Development Finance Assessment, which highlighted the need to diversify financing sources amidst underdeveloped markets and fluctuating foreign investment flows. By generating market intelligence on investable themes with strong SDG alignment, the Map helps bridge the gap between investor priorities and development needs.
Investment opportunity areas identified for Moldova have been published on UNDP’s global SDG Investor Platform, connecting local development solutions with global capital and enhancing Moldova’s visibility as a destination for sustainable investment. Building on this foundation, UNDP is expanding its support to further develop investment pipelines, strengthen engagement with the private sector, and support translating identified opportunities into concrete investment projects.
Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF)
UNDP supports Moldova’s efforts to strengthen policy, planning, and financing coherence through the development of an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). As a key instrument under the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the INFF helps governments align financing policies with national development strategies and the SDGs.
Following the Development Finance Assessment completed in 2022, Moldova has been working to identify financing gaps and map out public, private, domestic, and international flows. UNDP has supported the Ministry of Finance and other institutions in setting a strategic direction for financing reforms, including:
- Strengthening budget alignment with national and SDG targets
- Designing integrated financing strategies
- Improving data systems for expenditure tracking and results monitoring
- Enhancing transparency and accountability mechanisms
Building on this work, UNDP is expanding its support to strengthen the operationalization of the INFF, including further analytical work, investment mobilization efforts, and enhanced coordination between public finance reforms and private capital mobilization.
The INFF also reinforces links across the portfolio – connecting tax reform, spending reviews, investment promotion, and green finance into one coherent framework for action. This approach ensures that development financing in Moldova is inclusive, evidence-based, and resilient to future shocks.
Promoting nature-positive finance: Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)
UNDP is supporting Moldova to develop its first National Biodiversity Finance Plan under the Global Environment Facility umbrella. Through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), we help assess financing gaps, analyse harmful subsidies, and identify new financing mechanisms that support biodiversity goals.
This work goes beyond conservation – it ensures that Moldova’s biodiversity priorities are reflected in national budgets, public policies, and private investments. By linking the National Biodiversity Finance Plan with the broader SDG Finance Framework, we are helping to embed nature-positive approaches into the heart of sustainable development planning. The initiative also supports the exploration of innovative financing solutions that can mobilize public and private resources for biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration.
Knowledge that drives change
Effective financing requires strong institutions and skilled people. To support national capacity development, UNDP promotes open-access learning tools for public officials, partners, and development professionals.
Our e-learning modules on SDG budgeting, integrated national financing frameworks (INFF), and private capital mobilization are designed to equip practitioners with the knowledge to design, implement, and scale sustainable finance strategies.
These resources complement UNDP’s policy support by helping translate sustainable finance concepts into practical reforms and financing solutions.
Together, these efforts contribute to building a more coherent, transparent, and forward-looking development finance ecosystem in Moldova. By aligning public finance reforms, private investment mobilization, and innovative financing mechanisms with national priorities and EU integration goals, UNDP supports Moldova in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
